comparing Hardy's Tess with Great Expectations

[di52]

Hi all - I am writing because I am trying to help my high school age son write a paper that he is having trouble with. I just finished reading Tess and I find myself as clueless as he is as to how to find any similarities in the 2 books. The thesis can't have anything to do with the obvious - plot, characters, etc. Something creative, which he is not, nor am I. We've been to libraries and on-line, read a bunch of critical essays but have found nothing that they have in common. Any suggestions?

[kiki1982]

I am also at a loss, actually... Some teachers have the habit of issuing the most difficult and meaningless assignments even uiversity professors wouldn't bother themselves with. :alien:

But anyway. Assignment is assignment...

I haven't read Great Expectations, so don't shoot me if I make some really stupid remarks. I read the summary and analysis on Wiki, which seemed pretty ok in order to have an idea to be able to help you...

Something to do with the last scene? Both couples (Pip and Estella; Clare and (little Tess) 'Liza-Lu) walk away hand-in-hand. Is there something in that?

There is suffering, imprisonemnt, gratitude in Great Expectations. Suffering seems to be vastly present in Tess. (Suffering in both novels, though, seems to have another outcome. Tess is rather pointless; Great Expectations is, I think, slightly more positive towards the end.

Class also seems to present in both novels. Tess's father despises his working class status when he discovers he is a d'Urberville. Pip starts to do the same when he is in London.

Is that a start?

If there is anyone who has read Great Expectations and knows better, please correct.

[qimissung]

Maybe you could try discussing Tess and Pip's respective lives regarding the philosphical ideas of freedomand determinism.

It's worth a thought anyway. Good luck.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Philosophy-in-a-Nutshell---Freedom-Versus-Determinism&id=1641074

[mollie]

Di52,

Don't know if you still need this!

I suppose you could take the theme that here are two characters taken out of the milieu into which they were born and into one "above their station". The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of the rise of the middle classes, and there was some anxiety during Victorian times around whether people should remain within the station in life given them by God, or if they should try better themselves. It was a time, remember, that the nouveau riche - people who were considered "common" or "vulgar" - rose to great wealth and status and in some cases "bought" their way into Society-with-a-capital-S. Some more about the tensions that existed between arrivistes and the Establishment may be found in summary here, at the review of the book attached to this link. http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/c/crook-rise.html. Similar themes may be found in Gaskell and Wharton among others.

To compare, both Pip and Tess have their expectations thrust upon them by others - Tess by the exploitative demands of her father that she fulfil her (economic) potential by using her Durbeyfield roots, and Pip by the money left him by somebody else. (Trying not to include spoilers! :) ) You can compare and contrast their reactions to their newly improved social standing for your paper - how do they cope - well or badly? You might also look at what effect emphasis on social standing has on the characters. What is the author trying to say by this?

The theme of expectations is also one you might look at. What is expected of the main characters by others? What do they expect of themselves? In what ways do these expectations form the eventual fate of the characters? What difference do their respective expectations have on their lives?

The theme of exploitation is also a potentially fruitful one. Both characters in some measure are exploited - for example - Tess for the economic gain of her family, Pip for the requirements of Miss Havisham. Comfort and/or self-indulgence is gained or aimed for at the expense of others. Other characters in the book are likewise exploited.

Don't know if that's any use to you. Best of luck with it.

[mollie]

double post - sorry!