Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

This extraordinary novel is set in the Victorian era - in rural England - in an area reduced to poverty known as Wessex. 

Prophecy and fortunetelling are both practices that involve predicting future events. In prophecy there is foreknowledge and forecasting of future events, past events of no memory, and present concealed things.

Within the first 10 pages of this story, we witness a comparison of women to property. At the mention of the reading of The Compleat Fortune Teller, we expect that there will be a life full of great sorrow, and longing. As we read on, that is just what we find.

Tess Durbeyfield is feeling overwhelmed by the tragic loss of the horse, Prince. She feels responsible for the impact it places on her family and claims kinship with the wealthy D’Urbervilles to gain some of their family fortune. 

Much of this read makes me feel slightly unwell - as it should. The storyline provides a view of unhealthy relationships with people depicting disrespect for boundaries. We see that Tess' dire situation made her feel a need to be subservient to an evil man while she pined for one who neglected her. In the end, Tess self-destructs. 

Thomas Hardy was poised between the 19th and 20th centuries. We know that he admired William Wordsworth. Perhaps Hardy was trying to express that he'd examined cultural expectations and wished to warn readers that human exploitation appears in a class-based society no matter what century you are in. 

This narrative appears connected to Adam and Eve as well as 1 Timothy. 

Where there is life  - there is hope! At the end of this story, we find two speechless gazers. These two announce a flag of mourning  and we remember Tess at an enduring symbol that inspires unity and peacefulness.

Of Note: My copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles has an introduction and notes by David Galef. Published in 2005 by Barnes & Noble Classics.