Role of Fate and Chance in Tess of D"Urbervilles

In the world of Thomas Hardy Happiness and Misery, Joy and Sorrow are not there because of the actions of the human beings present in this world, they are there because some external force called fate and chance.

    In Hardy's novels fate and chance play a vital role in connecting the incidents together. According to Hardy human beings have no existence of their own, they are controlled by fate and chance. They are just mere puppets in the hands of fate and chance.

    In life fate and chance happens, sometimes it determines the course of life for good and sometimes for bad, but in Hardy's novels fate and chance always leads the life towards misery and sorrow.

     Fate and chance starts playing its role from the very first chapter in the life of Tess, when her father (Jack) meets and a person named Parson Tringham on the way back home. He is told that he belongs to knightly family of D'Urberfield. Upon hearing this he starts thinking and acting like rich man and urges his daughter (Tess) to go and work for a family named Mrs. D'Urberfield. This journey of life leads Tess towards misery and unhappiness as he meets with a wrong person named Alec. He seduces her and she bears a child who dies soon.

     Then Tess leaves Alec and starts working in a Farm, where he again meets a person named Angel. He falls in love with her and proposes her for marriage. Tess tries to tell him about her past but couldn't find a way. She writes a letter and puts in under the door, but unfortunately the letter gets under the carpet of door. When they get married Angel tells her about a sin that he committed. Tess being a pure heart lady tells him about her past. Upon hearing this Angel leaves her and goes to Brazil. After facing a lot of troubles she meets again Alec and due to financial problems she agrees to marry him. 

      In Brazil Angel realizes his mistake and comes back to find Tess. At last he meets Tess and apologizes for his mistake. Tess Kills Alec and goes with Angel. They try to run away from law and unfortunately they are caught by law. Tess is punished for her crime and she is hanged.

     To sum up, it is fair to say that fate and chance plays a vital and significant role in Tess of D'Urbervilles by connecting the incidents and situations together.