What is the theme of Hardy's Tess?

In his book, Hardy describes the impact of emerging industrialization and urban civilization on the old and rural Wessex region, and exposes the hypocritical morality that imprisons people's thoughts, emphasizes chastity and suppresses women's social status.

Hardy used Tess's miserable life to forcefully attack the Victorian patriarchal society at that time. Women living in this patriarchal society are doomed to be oppressed and controlled, and cannot escape their tragic fate.

In the eyes of the guardians of the mainstream discourse in the patriarchal society, women are always in a position of attachment and subordination. Although Tess began to resist unyieldingly, she even shouted out the essence of oppression of women in a patriarchal society.

Extended data:

The tragedy of Tess, who is beautiful and pure in heart, is caused by the ugly social reality. As a poor woman with low social status, Tess is inevitably oppressed and humiliated materially (including economy, power and body) and spiritually (including religion, morality and traditional ideas).

As a victim of society, Tess is not only hardworking and brave, but also pure and kind. Although she was born in poverty, she was full of beautiful ideals. In order to realize this ideal, she went out three times; But she was isolated and helpless, and she was hit every time, and it was heavier every time.

Tess's tragedy not only has its profound economic and class roots, but also has ethical and religious factors. Tess's economic status and class status determine that she must be in a passive position in the face of morality, religion and law serving the bourgeoisie.