Why does Tess agree to marry Angel
Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a notable literary work by Thomas Hardy. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Answer
Why did Tess agree to marry Angel? [NU: 2018, 20] ★★★
In “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” (1891) by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), Tess loves Angel Clare deeply. She agrees to marry Angel even though she feels she is not worthy of him. This is because she feels guilty about her past. Still, many strong reasons led her to accept Angel’s proposal.
Angel is Kind and Respectful: Tess meets Angel at the dairy farm at Talbothays. Angel is very different from Alec. He is kind, respectful, and gentle. He treats Tess like an equal. Slowly, Tess begins to love him. She feels happy and safe with him. For the first time, she experiences true love. The narrator says:
“She loved him so passionately, and he was so godlike in her eyes;”
Tess Wants to Tell the Truth: Tess knows she has a tragic past. Alec had raped her, ruined her life. So, Tess is reluctant at first to accept Angel’s marriage proposal. She says to Angel:
“I am not good enough—not worthy enough.”
Tess wants to be honest. She wants to tell Angel everything before the marriage. She even writes a letter and sends it under his door. But the letter slips under the carpet. Angel never reads it. As Angel behaves normally the next day, Tess thinks Angel has read the letter and accepted her. This is another reason behind Tess agreeing to marry Angel.
Tess’s Fear of Losing Angel: Angel is the only true love of Tess’s life. Though she is reluctant at first to marry Angel, she cannot resist her love. She wants to spend her life with him. She does not want to lose Angel. This is why she agrees to marry Angel.
In short, Tess agrees to marry Angel because she truly loves him. She also hopes that Angel will accept her tragic past because she is only a victim.