Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy is a tragic novel about Tess Durbeyfield, a poor country girl whose life is shaped by fate, social pressures, and personal misfortunes.After her family learns they may be descended from the once-noble d'Urbervilles, Tess is sent to claim kinship with wealthy relatives. There, she is exploited by Alec d'Urberville, which marks the beginning of her struggles. Later, she falls in love with Angel Clare, a kind but idealistic man who abandons her upon learning of her past. Tess's attempts to find happiness are continually thwarted by poverty, betrayal, and societal judgment.In the end, worn down by despair and injustice, Tess kills Alec in desperation, briefly reunites with Angel, but is soon arrested and executed. The novel highlights themes of fate, class, morality, and the harsh treatment of women in Victorian society.