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VICTORIAN MORALITY

In the Victorian era society was ruled by the upper class and aristocratic

family, especially by men. The moral values were mostly implemented upon

women and lower class people, and they were easily exploited by rich people

for their means. In short, the more a person was rich the more he was free

form the bond of moral values.

THE PICTURE OF VICTORIAN MORALITY IN HARDYS TESS OF THE

DURBERVILLES:

Thomas hardy portrays the Victorian morality through Tess, a poor innocent

country girl, who is victimized by the hypocrisy of the Victorian male centered

society. Tess is sacrificed as she violates the conventions which are in favor of

male superiority and dominance over women. Therefore, she is destined to

tragedy and designated as a fallen woman. She is refused by the society, and

there is no chance for her to resume her social status. As in the church people

whisper ,,,,, she knew that their whisper were about,,, and felt that she could

come to the church no more (p. 99, ch.13).

MALE DOMINACNCE AND DOUBLE MORAL STANDARD

In the Victorian society, men (especially of higher class) were dominant and

superior to women. Moral norms and social values were in accord with mans

will and man-favor principles. The men were master while women were at the

mercy of them. As Tess said to Alec after her seduction:

See how you have mastered me!

Her complain to her mother also depicts mens control over women.

Why didnt you tell me there was danger in men-folk?

Male dominance is also depicted in Alecs warning to Tess:

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Remember my lady, I was your master once; I will be your master again

(p.358, ch.48).

In the novel, hardy paints the double moral standard of the Victorian society,

one standard for women and another for men. He exemplifies it through thecharacter of Alec and Angle Clare.

Alec, the archetypal seducer, violates Tesss chastity and does not realize his

sin, but he blames Tess for tempting him with her beauty. He does the wrong

and throws it onto the victim. Tess suffers for the sinner, and the sinner is

later converted to a priest instead of being criticized be t he society.

The sinner can became a saint, but the innocent Tess is deprived of the right

to be a normal member of the society.

The greater the sinner the greater the saint: it was not true to dive far into

Christianity to discover that (p.330)

THE VICTORIAN MORAL ATTITUDES TOWARD MARRIAGE

Hardy again exemplifies Tess to challenge Victorian attitudes toward

marriage. When Angle confesses his amorous relation with a woman to Tess

at the wedding night she forgives him. But when Tess confesses herinvolvement with Alec, Angle abandons her with little money. Thus to seek

financial support for her family, she returns again to Alec. In this way she

suffers physically as well as emotionally.

MORAL VAUES IN RELIGON

The church ruled throughout Victorian period with great care of the upper

class people and cared little of the lower class