Week 5: Patriarchal Dominance and Sexual Harrassment in the novel

Male predominance and sexual Harassment:

Sex and femininity are two crucial parts of Hardy’s novel. In 19th century there was rule of man and man was dominant figure of society while women were like helpless creatures. Man used to rule over woman in Victorian society during 19th century. She was like a puppet in the hands of man. As we see in Alec’s statement when he says that:

                     “I was your master once and I will be your master again”

In novel Alec uses his power and Tess resists and rejects his advancement. He gives her strawberry but she refuses and says that I can hold in my own hand. This is obvious foreshadowing. Tess says to Alec that:

                        “I hate and detest you”

But he succeeds in his evil purposes and seduces her and entraps her. On the other hand Angel Clare also shows love for Tess but when Tess reveals her past he does not forgive her and leaves her alone. Male dominant and sex harassment is clear when Tess accidently meets Alec after two years and he is not guilty for his evil deeds which he had done. He just condemns her and says;

                        “Don’t tempt me again by your beauty”

There is another thing we see in the novel that women are passionate for their beloved for example when Retty and Marian are unable to get Angel they are unable to control themselves and Marian become alcoholic while Retty suicides. Tess also suffers because she loves Angel more than anything in the world.