Lots of blood on both sides . . . Potatoes planted partly because other crops were trampled so frequently in war . . . Famine/suffering among the poor. . . Political oppression is overwhelmingly of English origin. . . Church of Ireland (a branch of C of England) brings with it many privileges. Scots-Irish, presbyterians, are second on the list. Irish Catholics a distant last. Scots-Irish immigrate to American after Revolutionary War. Crisis for England--Catholics becoming overwhelming majority. England has lost in America; Irish are restless; concessions made at end of 18th Century.
"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...
Comments
Post a Comment