Mildred involved--almost as a 'Fifth Business' character--in a variety of couples. Julian, the rector whom many thought M. would marry--has proposed to Allegra, the widow of a churchman. Allegra wants Winifred away from her brother Julian and tells Mildred she'd like her to take Winifred as a roommate. Rocky and Helena have big argument--Helena moves out, expecting to move in (it seems) with Everard Bone, the anthropologist whom she seems to love. But Bone has asked Mildred to tell Helena--though she doesn't do it in time--that he does not love Helena and that she must stop acting foolish. It sounds like a comedy, but isn't, because there is a general unhappiness/longing in Mildred. Mousy, unadventurous--she doesn't expect love to come her way . . . but she wouldn't mind. I'm thinking this is headed toward a "she lives alone" ending, not a cheery surprise love/marriage.
"To all humankind, Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends, she was only a frequently passing thought." Angel Clare is a good character. He's "enlightened," in so many ways, but when Tess's confesses her "crime," he reverts to ancestral form . . . Tess's "confession" comes earlier than I expected, right after Angel reveals that he has had a bad moment with a woman. Tess points out the similarity in their transgressions, though his is the only true transgression, expecting forgiveness. She doesn't get it. She returns to her mother . . . realizes she can't stay with her. Thoughts to suicide. Unhappiness that divorce is not possible. Departs. Tragic in that the two, if Angel could just see clearly, would indeed be a great couple, each adding to the other. Nature as a definite force involved in the tragedy. It's not neutral--when things go bad, the very skies mock Tess. Tess as unaware of the power of her bea...
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