Tess of the d'Urbervilles

A full-length novel by British author Hardy. Published in 1891. Also translated as "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." The female protagonist, Tess, is a descendant of medieval aristocracy, but is now the daughter of a poor farmer. She works as a servant in the household of a nouveau riche who takes the d'Urberville name by herself, but is raped by her playboy son Alec and gives birth to an illegitimate child. After the baby dies, she goes to work on a farm, where she meets Angel Clare, the son of a clergyman who rebels against his parents' faith and seeks independence as a farm owner. They fall in love and get married. However, when she honestly confesses her past, Angel, an idealistic man, is shocked and leaves her behind, leaving him abroad. Tess becomes a hired girl on the farm and endures hard work, but when her parents and siblings are driven out of the village and become wanderers, she becomes Alec's custodian. Then Angel returns to Japan. In despair, Tess kills Alec and experiences a moment of happiness on the run with Angel, who regrets his cruel treatment of her, but they are captured and sentenced to death. Set against the impressive backdrop of rural life, this work depicts the chastity of a woman who cannot be violated by anyone, and the passion of a woman who overcomes the incomprehension of two contrasting men and remains true to her love. One of the masterpieces of 19th century British literature.

[Hiroshi Ebine]

"Tess of the d'Urbervilles, World Literature Collection 56, translated by Hiroyuki Ide (1980, Shueisha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスの作家ハーディの長編小説。1891年刊。『ダーバビル家のテス』とも訳される。女主人公テスは中世貴族の末裔(まつえい)で、いまは貧しい農家の娘。ダーバビルの家名をかってに名のる成金の家に奉公するが、道楽息子アレックに犯され私生児を産む。赤ん坊の死後働きにいった牧場で、両親の信仰に反発し農場主として独立を図る牧師の息子エンジェル・クレアと知り、愛し合って結婚する。しかし彼女が正直に過去を告白すると、観念的な理想主義者エンジェルはショックを受けて彼女を置き去りにし、外国に去る。テスは農場の雇い女となってつらい労働に耐えるが、親兄弟が村を追われて流浪の身となったため、アレックの囲い者となる。そこにエンジェルが帰国する。絶望したテスはアレックを殺し、過酷な仕打ちを悔いるエンジェルとの逃避行につかのまの幸福を味わうが、捕らえられて死刑となる。何者にも犯せない女の純潔、対照的な2人の男のそれぞれの無理解を超えて愛を貫く女の至情を、印象的な農村生活を背景に描き出す。19世紀イギリス文学の傑作の一つ。

［海老根宏］

『井出弘之訳『世界文学全集56　ダーバヴィル家のテス』（1980・集英社）』

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