Tess of the d’Urbervilles · Chapter
VI explained
Tess returns home from Trantridge, troubled by omens and her encounter with Alec.
What happens
Tess returns home from Trantridge, troubled by omens and her encounter with Alec. Her mother reveals a letter from Mrs. d'Urberville offering Tess a position managing a poultry farm. Despite Tess's reluctance and unease about Alec, family pressure—especially guilt over the horse Prince's death—compels her to accept.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
The Durbeyfields' hope that Tess's connection to the d'Urbervilles will elevate their social standing reflects the class dynamics and aspirations of the rural poor.
Fate and Inevitability
Tess's superstitious reaction to the rose thorn and her reluctant acceptance of the position suggest a sense of fate guiding her toward a predetermined path.
Love and Marriage
Joan Durbeyfield's matrimonial hopes for Tess, viewing Alec as a potential husband, highlight the societal pressure on women to marry for security rather than love.
Characters to notice
- Tess Durbeyfield
Returns home from Trantridge, troubled by an ill omen from a rose thorn. Reluctantly agrees to work at Mrs. d'Urberville's poultry farm due to family pressure and guilt over Prince's death.
- Joan Durbeyfield
Eagerly pushes Tess to accept the position, seeing it as a chance for Tess to marry Alec and improve the family's fortunes.
- Jack Durbeyfield
Dreamily supports the idea of Tess marrying Alec to 'improve his blood' by linking to the old d'Urberville line.
- Alec d'Urberville
Visits the Durbeyfield home on horseback, pressing Tess to accept the poultry farm position and showing interest in her.
- Abraham Durbeyfield
Notices Alec's diamond ring and innocently questions his gestures; joins siblings in crying when Tess hesitates to go.
- Prince
Tess walks over Prince's grave in the garden, reflecting on her guilt for the horse's death.
Key passages
“Like all the cottagers in Blackmoor Vale, Tess was steeped in fancies and prefigurative superstitions; she thought this an ill omen—the first she had noticed that day.”
Tess, like other rural folk, believed in omens and considered the rose thorn prick a bad sign.
Highlights Tess's superstitious nature and her foreboding about the future.
“I killed the old horse, and I suppose I ought to do something to get ye a new one.”
Tess feels responsible for Prince's death and believes she must work to replace him.
Shows Tess's sense of duty and guilt driving her decision to accept the position.
“Being mentally older than her mother she did not regard Mrs. Durbeyfield's matrimonial hopes for her in a serious aspect for a moment.”
Tess is more mature than her mother and dismisses Joan's fantasies about her marrying Alec.
Illustrates Tess's realism and independence compared to her mother's romantic notions.