Angel and Alec: Angel and Devil?

Let's focus for a moment on the men in Tess's life. How should the reader regard Angel Clare and Alec d'Urberville? How similar are they? How different? How does each view, and care about, Tess?

Fallen Women

OH MY GOSH! What a discussion this week! I can see that my teaching days are limited with you lot!

We mentioned this in class, but I'd like you to discuss the different views of the fallen women from the poetry thus far (and the poetry for next week if you'd like) and from Tess. According to these works, what does it mean to be fallen and can/should a fallen woman be redeemed?

I cannot wait to see what you have to say. . . . .

I am posting early, so you can still get your posts in on the discussion due this week before I grade them.

Tess as Nature Goddess

List as many references as you can from the novel so far where Tess is described as a part of nature in some way. Why do you think Hardy is setting her against this background? Does it make her situation more or less tragic--or more at odds with Victorian mores and religious morality?