# VI explained — Tess of the d’Urbervilles

> Chapter companion for Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters