The Isolating & Perverting Effect of Money or The Theme of Great Expectations

        Charles Dickens lashes out on the anomalies, social evils and injustice of his time. Such as imprisonment for debt, delay in justice, maladministration of public schools, greed of capitalists and cruelty on working class. 

In the last phase of his novels his main subject of attack is money and all that goes with it, such as power, position and authority. Interestingly, the novel “Great Expectations” is from the last phase of his novels. Here the main subject of attack is the isolating and perverting effect of money. Pip the main protagonist of novel is perverted and gets isolated from his loved ones. It is the irony of fate that he realizes at last that the money to which he owes everything has come from criminal. 

There are number of characters in “Great Expectations” who have so much greed for money.

Miss Havisham:

She is aristocrat lady. Her relatives behave so meanly and flatter her only to get some share in her wealth. Pip calls them toadies, means flatterers, humbugs, mean imposters and cheats. She is the victim of her lover’s greed for money. He robbed  a considerable amount of wealth and then deserted her. 

Estella:

Her decision to marry Drummle is because of his wealth. Otherwise he is repulsive character. Pumblechook’s attitude changes towards Pip according to the changes in latter’s fortune. Everyone worships, Mammon, the God of wealth, paying no regard to human values.

Pip (The Main Protagonist): 

He falls in love with Estella thinking that she would also love him. He is apprenticed to Joe, but feels ashamed and miserable while working as blacksmith boy. He wants to be unnoticed and remain in shadows. That is because of his love for Estella and his aspiration to become gentleman and marry her. The life of Pip changes when Mr. Jaggers announces a change in Pip’s fortune. This becomes the cause of his change in nature and he becomes snob. While living in London, he completely forgets his loves ones, Joe, Biddy and his sister. He disassociates himself from them. Money suppresses whatever is good and human in him. He is cold and snobbish. When Magwitch dramatically appears and reveals himself as his benefactor.  He is shocked to learn that his benefactor was a convict not Miss Havisham. 

To conclude, Dickens in “Great Expectations has showed the perverting effect of money in the life of an outstart like Pip.

Humour of the Charles Dickens or Humour in Great Expection

In Dickens novels, his most important quality is humour. He had a stupendous comic fertility. He is the creator of whole population of droll, eccentrics, grotesques and caricatures. There are hundreds of comic characters found in his each novel.

Dickens humour is chiefly humour of his characters. It’s his characters that are remembered not the book which contains them. Such as Mr. Pickwick, the Wellers, Mr. Wemmick or Pumblechook. Each one of his character has distinct mannerism and has his own distinct language. 

Two strong elements of Dickens humour is his curious childlike imagination and his amazing creative energy. The abandoned child of blackening factory never died in him. He was supreme mimic of the people. He observed the people as a child observes and sees them. For child the people are sometimes absurdly comic and sometimes terrifying.

His humour has two sides, sympathetic and satirical. Consequently, his comic characters fall into two divisions. When he rejoices in them, the result is pure humour. When sympathy is withheld, the result is savage comedy with no good nature in it at all.

Humour in “Great Expectations”

Mrs. Joe harsh treatment of her husband, Mr. Pumblechook fish like face and his hypocrisy, Mr. Wemmic mouth open like letter box and maintenance of his house like castle, Mathew Pocket’s bald head with only few hairs on it and his wife’s foolish snobbery are all examples of humour in characters.

To sum up, Indeed Charles Dickens was a great novelist and entertainer, probably the greatest entertainer in history of English fiction. He was a man of little knowledge, who had learnt from the streets of London and also from his experience as a laboring boy in blackening factory, as lawyer’s clerk and journalist. Besides that he was a great actor and orator. Having such qualities he strove to identify himself with public feelings, emotions, likes and dislikes. Suddenly, he became the conscious and the voice of his age.

Charles Dickens as Social Reformer

     In almost all novels of Charles Dickens he is found attacking the social evils and flaws of age, like imprisonment for debt, the miserable condition of public school and punishment of children by the hands of school masters, the condition of labour and working class and delay in justice.

     In “Great Expectations” the perverting affect of money in natural habit of Pip and getting isolated from his loved ones has been made a target. Pip believes that the money to which he owes has come from Miss Havisham, and it is the irony of fate when he comes to know that the money has come from a criminal Magwitch, a convict which he had met when he was a young boy.

     In “Hard Times” industrialization has been made a target, throwing light on the tussle between labour and capital. He himself went there to see everything with his own eyes and attacked the capitalist as he liked and pointed out the flaws that he found there.

     Nevertheless, many contemporary critics of his attacked Dickens for what they called his “Prophetic Mission”. James Stephen said that Dickens mission should only be to make the world laugh not to recreate and rehabilitate society. However, Dickens remained adamant to and continued to give answers and carried on the crusade in his own periodicals.  

     To Sum Up, The novels of Dickens belong entirely to the humanitarian movement of the Victorian Age. He was from first to last a novelist with a purpose. In nearly all his books he set out to attack some specific abuse or abuses in the existing system of things. Humanitarianism was indeed the keynote of his work.

Tess more sinned against than sinning

“Character is destiny” is a well known saying, but it cannot be applied to Hardy’s characters as in their case character is one thing and destiny another.

In the novel “Tess of D’Urbervilles” Tess is an instrument in the hands of fate. Fate plays through chance, love, nature and social hurdles. The same thing happens to Tess, though it can be said that she herself is responsible for the destruction, sufferings and her death. She might have been more sinned against than sinning, but she dies for whatever she has done. 

There are certain features in Tess personality which becomes the cause of her trouble. She has inherited some soft aspects of her mother along with enduring, patience and hardworking. She has docile nature which always causes her trouble. When she is molested by Alec, she did not show any refusal or resistance, although she was tired.

Again when she marries to Angel Clare, she was told by her mother to keep her pas secret and don’t reveal it to anyone. She told the secret and she was left by Angel.

The fact remains that Tess in more sinned against than sinning despite of the all charges brought against her. It was by chance that her father came to know that they are from noble stroke of D’Urbervilles. The only bread-winner, their horse met an accident and died. She is told to go and tell Mrs. D’Urbervilles that they are from D’Urbervilles family stroke. There she met Alec who seduced her and she lost her physical purity and virginity.

She came back and gave birth to a child who died soon. She started working in Toolbathays where she met Angel Clare and they both fell in love with each other. Now Tess was in conflict, she wanted to tell him about her past, but couldn’t find the courage. Before wedding she wrote a letter and put it under the door, but fate intervened, the letter slips under the carpet and remains unnoticed. She tells him everything, which changes Angel from being soft hearted to stony hearted and leaves for Brazil.

She again surrenders herself to Alec in order to support her family financially. When Angel realizes his mistake in Brazil, he comes back in search of her. At last he finds her and apologizes. She considers it the Alec’s fault and kills him for which she is hanged. 

To sum up, she is driven to that end. She suffers from the cruelties of society and asks for mercy to the world but all in vain. She was ruined by young man representing modern civilization and gross nature. Hardy calls her pure woman, as he believes purity is the innate purity of mind and soul not the physical one. The fate has predetermined her course of life. So, it can be said that her sins are insignificant compared to the sufferings she was subjected to. 

Minor Characters in Tess of D'Urbervilles

Minor Characters of Hardy are given of different names. They are called the “Rustic Chorus” and “Philosophic Party”. The word “Chorus” has been used in ancient Greek times. 

Rustic characters are very important for providing necessary information. They remain sidelines and do not contribute to mainstream action, but they are of very importance. 

When John D’Urberfield came to know that he is the descendent of noble family D’Urbervilles. He hopes for the bright future of his daughter. They are sitting in the Inn and a rustic character agrees with the expectation regarding the daughter.

Again, In Toolbathays when Angel Clare deserted Tess and was in disappointment. A pretty young maid agrees to the proposal leaving to Brazil with Angel. He asks her, does she love him as much as Tess and the maid becomes quite and says that no one can love him as much as Tess does. She can die for him.

Hardy used them much in his plays “The Mayor of Casterbridge” and “The return of Native”. In “Tess of D’Urbervilles” and “Jude the Obscure” these rustic characters are not used as much as used in the former novels.

To sum up, chorus or rustic characters play an important role in Hardy’s novels. Their conversation brings humour and happiness in the atmosphere of Tragedy.

Character of Tess or Character Sketch of Tess

       Tess is the protagonist and the heroine of the novel “Tess of D’Urbervilles”. She is attractive, fascinating and alluring. Her beauty wins the attraction of everyone. Her mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes adds beauty to the shape and colour. She is the perfect ideal of womanhood. She is simple young girl. She is round character who changes from young simple girl of sixteen years into complex woman in five or six years. Her beauty causes her trouble and he meets two men in her life. Angel Clare says”

“A fresh and virgin daughter of nature”

Tess most prominent aspect is her helping attitude. She is light and tender hearted. She suffers and dies due to her parents, brothers and sisters. 

On the day of May when she returned home, her mother was busy. She offered her help despite that she was tired. 

When her father drank too much at Rolivard Inn and was unable to move his commodities and was not in position to ride on horse, Tess offered him help. On the way they met an accident and the horse named “Prince” died. She was very sensitive girl and she considered it her fault and was thinking how her parents now will earn their income.

She was selfless and dedicated girl. When there was no mean of income, she went to Trantridge and there she lost her physical purity. When her father died and Angle Clare deserted him, she once again surrendered her body to Alec in order to support her family. 

Among the critics of Hardy she is not considered as pure woman and the sub-title “The Pure Woman” caused a storm among the people and they considered it offensive. Hardy does not judge the purity of Tess from Victorian point of view. He believes that purity cannot be judged by physical chastity. It means the purity of innate mind and soul.

To sum up, Tess is fascinating, charming, alluring and pure woman. She suffers and dies because of fate and chance. She tries to face the challenges and finds no way but destruction.

Character of Alec or Character Sketch of Alec D'Urbervilles

       Alexander D’Urbervilles is the full name of Alec D’Urbervilles. He is generally known as Alec in the novel. He is not from genuine D’Urbervilles stroke. His father old Mr. Simon made enough as an honest merchant. He decided to live his life as counterman in the South England. He did not want to be identified with the smart tradesman of the past. So, he decided to annex some old family names and he found D’Urbervilles very useful.

Alec is a man of twenty four or twenty six years age and tall young man. He is the only son of late Mr. Simon stroke. He wears moustache with points curled.

Tess came to visit Mrs. D’Urbervilles and tell her that they are their relatives and from D’Urbervilles stroke. Alec met her there at the first time and set his cunning eyes on her. He took her to the lawns, flower-bed and fruit garden. There she asked her, is she liked strawberries. She inclined his face towards her to kiss her, but it did not happen. He had spoiled many innocent girls life and was trying to seduce Tess for his animal desire. He succeeded in his aim and raped her last. He could not feel the pain and suffering that he had caused to a sensitive sprit. After his conversion, he developed great attachment for her, but this attachment was purely for sensuous desire.

To conclude, Alec is selfish, lustful person. When novel opens, positive hated is developed for him when he tries to seduce Tess. When he is killed by Tess, no sympathy is developed for him.

Character of Angel Clare or Character Sketch of Angel Clare

Angel Clare is the most important character in the novel “Tess of D’Urbervilles”. He is the youngest son of Reverend Clare and Mrs. Clare. He appears in the first phase of the novel where some girls were dancing and he didn’t dance with them. Then he reappears in the third phase of the novel in Toolbathays dairy farm.

He does not have any university degree like his brothers, because of religious difference with his father, yet he has real taste for reading books. His father was shocked once to receive a book by mistake ordered by Angel Clare. The book dealt with philosophy which was against the views of his father.

His brother ordained ministries and his father wanted Angel to join Church but he was not satisfied and convinced with the practices of Church. He was interested in the field of agriculture. 

In Toolbathays dairy farm he fell in love with Tess. Tess was beautiful, simple, light-hearted and innocent girl. He wanted to marry her and few times he desired to kiss her, but always requested her permission and desisted. This shows the innocence & simplicity of Angel Clare. He was guilty of life spent with dissolute woman of forty eight hours, who was older than him. He was the victim of same sin as Tess was, but he becomes stony hearted when Tess revealed her secret of losing virginity. He leaves for Brazil, but there he senses arise and realizes that he has done wrong to her and came back in search of her. At last he found her and apologized to her. 

To sum up, Angel Clare is the important character after Tess. He has tendency of dry reasoning which make his life unhappy. He is innocent, simple, light-hearted character in the novel “Tess of D’Urbervilles”

Hardy as Tragic artist or Hardy's Tragic Vision

Thomas Hardy goes against Aristotle & Shakespeare in writing Tragedy, because of being pessimist. He does not follow the rules which are defined by Aristotle and Shakespeare. Though rules of Aristotle are followed by many Tragedians in many centuries, but Hardy ignores them. He redefines the meaning of Tragedy in his novels. Hardy’s Tragedies are combination of the following:

• Coincidence
• Unfavorable events
• Fate 
• Chance

        The combination of above elements in tragedy is called Hardian Tragedy. 

In writing Tragedy Thomas Hardy differs from Aristotle & Shakespeare. According to Aristotle the protagonist of novel must have Hamartia, which becomes the cause of his downfall, but Hardy’s protagonists does not have any flaw in their character, its fate & chance which leaves them with no way but destruction and suffering. Aristotle says that the main character of novel must be from elite & noble class, but in Hardy’s Tragedies the main character is from lower & poor class.

In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” the protagonist is from elite class. He has Hamartia of indecisiveness, which becomes the cause of his downfall. But in Hardy’s “Tess of D’Urbervilles” the main character “Tess” has no any Hamartia, it’s fate & chance which becomes the cause of her downfall and she is from lower and poor family.

To conclude, Hardy’s tragic vision is different from other common writers. So, it cannot be said that his has defect in his Tragedies; he has his own way of writing Tragedy and it make him a successful tragedian of Victorian period.

Mental & Physical Purity of Tess or Tess as a pure woman

     Thomas Hardy is Victorian novelist and Modern Poet. The purity of Tess has been a debated topic among the critics. It was published in 1981 and the sub-title “The Pure Woman” created a storm among people and they considered it offensive. Hardy regretted that his critics did not know the real meaning of “Pure”. According to Victorian society purity meant the physical purity and virginity of woman. But Hardy says that it means, the purity of mind and soul not the physical one. 

      It is obvious from the scenes in the novel that she did not want to be harassed and raped but it was the fate which left her with no way but destruction. When Alec took her from the party on horse and tried to seduce her, she preferred to walk rather than riding on horse. 

      When Angle Clare was trying to propose her for marriage, she rejected it again and again and told him that he can marry other maids working here better than her. She was aware of her past and did not want to offend him.

      Again when Alec came after Angel left her, he spoke against Angel, but Tess told him to not speak against him, because he is absent.

      To sum up, purity is not determined from the physical sense but by that it means, the purity of mind and soul. It became clear that Tess was a pure woman

Treatment of Nature by Hardy in Tess of D'Urbervilles.

    Nature as subject has been interpreted by many poets, dramatist and novelist. As Wordsworth is the interpreter on nature in field of fiction and one who reads his longer novels feels as if he has spent a day in country side. This treatment made him a prophet and he calls nature “mother” or a “friend”. P.B Shelly got the lesson of optimism from nature. He says:

“If Winter comes can Spring be far behind”

Hardy was deeply interested in nature, as one reads his novels, feels as if one is spending time in Wessex country side. Hardy’s concept of nature is more realistic than Romantic. Nature is the important element in Hardy’s novels specially in “Tess”, nature serves as a living character. In Hardy’s novels nature is not friendlier; rather it’s cruel and relentless. It’s because of his temperament that he does not turn to other aspects of nature. According to Hardy:

“Happiness is but an occasional episode in general drama of pain”

In the hands of Hardy, nature becomes almost as much a character as any other human being. Like human beings, it has life, feels, speaks and it breaks and castes in own influence on the things around it. Duffin says:

“If word-pictures could be hung on walls, a great gallery could be filled with Hardy’s nature pieces”

In “Tess of D’Urbervilles”, it’s nature which leaves Tess alone with no destination. Nature has nothing good to offer to Tess but only destruction and suffering. She has to support her family for which she goes from one place to another to find work. But she is caught by the cruel clutches of nature in the shape of Alec and she becomes a victim in the lustful and wanton nature of Alec. 

Nature is not always cruel as it seems, sometimes it is holy. In “Tess of D’Urbervilles” at Talbothays dairy farm, Angel Clare falls in love with Tess and proposes her for marriage in a very romantic day.

To sum up, nature has been presented in a very lively manner by Hardy almost in all his novels. It at times is holy and romantic and times cruel and relentless. Hardy confines himself only to the dark aspects of nature it is because of his temperament that he does not turn to other aspects.

Realism of Hardy or Hardy as realist.

The novelist of 18th century, particularly Henry Fielding gave a new theory that a novel is comic epic poem in prose. Realism was made the greatest characteristic of novel by Fielding. 
In his all novels, particularly “Tom Jones” and “Joseph Andrews”, he pictured a real and faithful account of contemporary English life. After Fielding Realism and Romanticism walked hand-in-hand. It was only in the hands of Charles Dickens that it flourished.
In the hands of Thomas Hardy it also became a greater force. Hardy has so realistically pictured the rivers, oceans, lakes, trees, plants, mountains, animals, birds, villages, towns, men and woman that many of reader of his novels find themselves there. Hardy paints his characters in a very few words that it becomes easy to distinguish one from another. 
The greatest expression of Hardy’s Realism can be found in the portrayal of his low characters. He knows that they are conventional, superstitious, gamblers and given to easy way of life. He does not caricature these characters but presents both men and women as they are.
In the “Mayor of Casterbrdige” he has presented the problems of labour and capitalism beautifully. His expression of Realism is found in the treatment of nature. Nature has its own cause and effects and it influences human life by bringing happiness and unhappiness. It has its own way and mood and works according to its own fixed mechanical laws.
To conclude, Hardy was realist in the sense that he had the force of personal wisdom and insight and they were expressed with perfect fidelity and sincerity. He not only gave the photograph of things, men and manners but a lively speaking picture which was a real work of literary art.

Hardy as pessimist (Tess of D'Urbervilles)

     Hardy being a pessimist is a much debated and controversial topic. Some critics believe that hardy is a pessimist. They say that Hardy’s view of life is full of sufferings and suffering is a universal law for Hardy. According to Hardy “Happiness is an occasional episode in general drama of pain”. By deep studying his novels it becomes clear and crystal that he is a pessimist towards life.

      Hardy’s view is pessimistic regarding the creator of universe who we call “The first cause”. He does not believe in the first cause, rather he believes in Darwin’s philosophy and other revolutionary scientists who believe that this universe in not created but evolved. He believes in the first cause but not in religious context. He believes that God is malevolent and cruel on human beings. In his novels his characters are faced great challenges and sufferings. 

      To sum up, it is unfair to consider Hardy completely pessimist or optimist. Hardy himself rejects all these charges and calls himself meliorist. He believes in the betterment of human life. He believes that betterment cannot come from outer force, for it one has to struggle, strive and face all the challenges and threats posed by nature.

      On the other hand every writer is the product of his age. The age in which he lived was Victorian age, where despair, doubt selfishness, frustration and industrial revolution were at its peak. He predicted and portrayed everything which he observed in cotemporary English society. So, Hardy cannot be considered as fully pessimist but he was a realist.