The First Half of Tess's Story - Giant Mess

So trying to get into this book was like trying to get into any book writen in this time period, or about this time period; it was extremely BOREING and simple. At the same time it was also hard to understand because it would bring in characters and not explain them untill way later. We hear about Angle in the second chapter for all of four or five paragraphs and he is not mentioned again untill chapter seventeen, and by then you have forgotten him; or bring in events and not clarify on what they ment. For example, the "rape" scene; it is understood from many different sources that she was forced, or raped, by Alec but it is never said directly, or even indirectly.

This is one of those turning points in the book that is not a good one. eventhough it was not her fault, Tess, not Alec is punished through out her life for this thing; and that is terribly wrong. He even has the nerve to blame her for "tempting" him, when she did no such thing. I think it is really her parents falt to beging with. If her father hadnt been a drunk, Tess would have never ended up killing the horse doing work for her father; and if her mother had not practicaly forced Tess to go meet the U'Urbervilles, Alec would have never felt the urge to have control over Tess in th first place. If Alec hadn't been , as the narrator and Alec himself said, "born bad" he would have never taken advantage of Tess. it just seems that Tess is always in the wrong place at the wrong instance.

Her mother never educated Tess in the ways of male needs and desires when it comes to women either. If Tess had realized the dangers of being alone with Alec and had realixed what his advances ment, she might have never gotten raped. it is odd that Joan never explained even the slightest bit about sex to Tess, since everything happed at a much earlier age back then, due to a low life expectance and high infant mortality rates; especially in the poor country side where the novel is based. im thinking that Hardy is trying to make a point on how the uneducated poverty in England at this time was treated, women in particular, and how easily that effects people in a very adverse way.

I still dont understand how so many people could be so judgemental of Tess for something that was entirely out of her hands. Then again, it is these adversities that make the story interesting. The towns people all make fun and gossip about her, like it was her fault she got raped bu her imposter cousin.Her mother was judgemental about her when she came home after she was raped, and said Tess should have been welcoming the advances so she could marry Alec and not fighting him off. Her mom ovbously doesnt understand what happened to Tess, and any negative that comes out of all of this was Tesses fault, as far as her mother was concerned. Angel is the worst culprit of them all. He confesses that he had an affair with an older woman, willingly, when he was young and stupid; and Tess frogives him before he even tells her what he did.But when Tess tells Angel about her being raped and carrying Alec's child, Angel cant forgive her; though she was forced into this position and Angel willingly entered his. And Tess even tried to tell him before they were married, but he wouldn't listen to her. If Tess can forgive Angel for his past discressions, why cant he seem to return the favor.

Tess can just never get a break, can she? Im kinda scare to see what happens to her in the second half!!!