Tess v Melia

Hardy’s novel “Tess of the D’urbervilles” has a similar theme as his poem, “The Ruined Maid.” Both works are about a woman’s loss of innocence. In Hardy’s poem the woman; Melia is decadently dressed in “gay bracelets and bright feathers” because she says “that’s how we dress when we’re ruined.” This is an odd way to think of what becomes of a woman once she has lost her virginity. Melia ‘s sarcastic tone throughout the poem hints that wealth is worth the trade for her sexuality. She never has to “work” because she is “ruined.” Yet, she speaks of herself as “ruined,” which means she cannot possibly be fully satisfied with this state. I think Tess in Hardy’s novel feels a lot more “ruined” after Alec takes advantage of her because unlike Melia she would prefer her innocence over the vast wealth Alec can give her. Tess is a tragic character because she is fated to be unhappy. Hardy makes Tess fated because she is a woman, therefore she is forced and cannot get away from Alec’s dominating manhood. Alec asks Tess, “why do you always dislike my kissing you” and Tess responds, “I suppose-because I do not love you.” Alec cannot fathom why Tess resents the kisses he plants on her, yet it is obvious that Tess does not want to be coerced into a relationship especially with someone she has not true affection for. In fact, Alec makes Tess very uncomfortable and she tries to thwart his attempts to seduce her but ultimately fails when he rapes her in the night.