In Tess of the D'Urbervilles, heredity governs life. Through narrative voice and character responses, Thomas Hardy explains how Tess's "slight recklessness of character inherited from her race" (71) defines her life. More specifically, his parents' traits and his family legacy follow throughout his life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Tess's mental and physical predisposition originates from her parents. First, Tess conveys the physical beauty of Joan Durbeyfield, her mother. Hardy describes Joan as having the "freshness, and even beauty of her youth," which she passes on to Tess as "a gift from her mother, and therefore unchivalric, unhistorical" (12). This passage introduces a dichotomy between Tess's appearance and social standing. In many ways her beauty implies her own nobility, attracting respectable men. However, despite her outward elegance, she never surpasses her status as a maid during her life, remaining like her mother. Hardy describes her beauty as "strange" emphasizing Tess's normality in society. In the bigger picture, Tess is ordinary and unimportant mainly because of her class. The voice in this passage implies that Joan behaves like a low-class woman, describing her as "unhistorical." Her simplicity comes through in this passage, making Joan's character unmemorable and unimportant to the world. Tess's beauty strikes many people. Hardy focuses a lot on the impact of his eyes. For example, Tess's "reproachful flash of [her] dark eyes" (18) causes her parents to leave the bar. His gaze makes them feel certain emotions, turning them away from the bar, similar to how a look from d'Urberville's portraits will turn Angel away from the wedding. Throughout the novel, the reader finds similar instances where Tess speaks through physical expressions rather than words. These eyes also initiate a dramatic response from Alec d'Urberville when they reunite after his moral conversion. Tess, who had been quite unconscious of her actions and appearance, immediately withdrew the gaze of her eyes... there was revived in her the miserable feeling which had often come to her before, that dwelling in the tabernacle of flesh of which the Nature had gifted her, she was somehow doing it wrong. (243) The narrative voice in this passage restates how Tess's heritage impacts her life. She carries a burden with her appearance, handling it with shame as she unintentionally tempts Alec. His appearance is in control rather than his reason. Her unconscious gaze turns Alec into an obsessive man who follows Tess around the country. The power of his aspect guides Alec until his death. Tess's "charm and manners" (244) go beyond her appearance, integrating into her supernatural outlook on life. Joan and Tess share a mystical view of the world. A fantastic force governs Joan's spiritual life, as she relies on a fortune-telling book for information. Tess carries forward this superstitious and visionary nature. He worries about the deterministic implications of bad omens. For example, after leaving Trantridge for the first time, she finds a rose thorn in her breast. “Tess was immersed in prefigurative fantasies and superstitions: she thought this was an ill omen – the first she had noticed that day” (32). He develops a negative inclination towards Alec after their first meeting, and his intuition proves true, as their meeting ultimately leads to his downfall. This also directs attention to his mental connection to the future. She feels strange atAlec's presence, yet she doesn't understand exactly how to interpret his feelings. He develops his self-awareness throughout the novel and ultimately foresees his own death. He prepares for this by wanting Angel to marry his sister and thus preserve his legacy in both minds. Tess also displays characteristics found in her father, Jack.Durbeyfield. Jack's reputation as the town drunk influences the opinions of others and overshadows his positive qualities. However, Hardy provides details about Jack's compassion for the living. For example, he decides to give Prince, his old horse who dies suddenly, an honorable burial for dedicated service: "He served me well during his life, and I will not part with him now" (23). Treat the animal as a partner, appreciating the years of useful work. This understated interaction with the horse helps the reader deduce his intentions towards those he loves. The narrator does not provide many details about Jack's moderate state, however his love for Prince supports the idea that he wants the best for his family, especially Tess. This scene of natural respect occurs similarly in Tess. While traveling to visit Angel's parents, Tess encounters a group of injured pheasants. His reaction comes from his internal compassion. “With the impulse of a soul that could feel compassion for its suffering brothers as much as for itself… with his own hands he broke the necks of as many as he could find” (219). Instead of passing the injured birds around indifferently, he extinguishes their pain. Hardy's simplistic style makes this scene horrifying, yet redemptive at the same time. Eliminate violent descriptions to add tenderness in their deaths. Heredity acts like destiny in Tess's life; however in this scene he forgets his misfortune and shows compassion as he controls the fate of the birds by mercifully alleviating their suffering. Tess speaks deeply in the novel, setting her apart from other maids. He shows a brilliant and innate education of thought but obviously lacks common sense in relation to humanity. This aspect mainly refers to his young age and not to his learning abilities. Hardy describes his father, Jack, as "clueless", but shows a thoughtful thought process. In one scene, Joan encourages Tess to get a job with Alec d'Urberville. Jack comments sardonically on Alec's character when he dreamily murmurs "maybe to show off his diamond ring" (33). Her father notices Alec's artificiality, foreshadowing how he attracts Tess with his material power. Furthermore, his “attitude of neutrality” (34) shows readers that Joan controls every situation, as he gives in to her ideas, just like Tess. She loves her daughter and knows the danger Alec is in, but the decision about his departure rests entirely with Joan. The final aspect of legacy that has a major impact on Tess is the legacy of her d'Urberville name. Early in the novel, Jack Durbeyfield discovers information that traces his family back to a great lineage. This prospect gives the Durbeyfields hope for social progress, putting pressure on Tess to take advantage of their bloodline. Tess, however, behaves noble by nature. Even before her name was discovered, Tess stands out from other rural women by her presence and thought. She claims to be only outwardly a peasant, while naturally she is an intellectual and virtuous woman. Two dramatic life-changing events occur because of Tess's noble lineage: the affair with Alec d'Urberville and the separation from Angel Clare. The incident with Alec d'Urberville occurs when Tess goes to his estate to claim relatives and help her family. . Tess's interaction., 1991