Week 3: Role of Fate and Chance in Tess

Role of fate and chance:

                                      The most striking element in the story is role of fate and chance over the lives of certain characters. It is strange thing that in the world fate or destiny of poor is always considered predestined while rich are always able to do what they want. Tess the protagonist of the novel is surrounded with uncontrollable circumstances and fate, chance and circumstances all stood against her. Her sufferings do not let her escape and Hardy also mentioned that there is external force which plays role and controls our lives. Every effort of man to change his fortune and seek happiness is futile and useless because this evil force rules the world. There is irony of circumstances in the novel. Incident of horse death is the beginning of Tess’s tragedy. She was carrying load of beehives to be delivered in a distant market but a mail van was coming from opposite side of her and there happened an accident and horse died. Second incident occurs when she tries to tell Angel everything about her past but she fails and after marriage when she reveals the truth he rejects her and says that:

                        “Oh Tess if you had only told me sooner I would have forgiven you”

She also says at once that:

                        “Why did not you stay and love me when I was sixteen”

She was not willing to leave her home but fate forced her and she left her home and went to D’Urbervilles house to seek some favor for her family. Here when she leaves her home she says:

“She had hoped to be a teacher at the school, but fate seemed to decide      otherwise”

Fate against plays its role and when after two years she accidently meets with Alec and his lust again awakens and he uses his money to again seduce Tess and for this time she is again forced to do what he is willing to do her. She follows her because her father has died and she says to him that:

                        “Now command me. What shall I do?”

There are many other incidents of fate and chance which force Tess and Lead her to miserable end. She faces all sufferings deliberately and does not detest. It is true that fate and chance plays a vital role in every man’s life but it is limited while in Hardy’s work overstatement and exaggeration is also seen.