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SymbolisminTessoftheD’Urbervilles2012.10.30CONTENTS•CharacterSymbolism•ColorSymbolismSymbolism•Symbolismisthepracticeofrepresentingthingsbysymbols,orofinvestingthingswithasymbolicmeaningorcharacter.Charactersymbolism•Tessisasymbolofunclearandunstablenotionsofclassinnineteenth-centuryBritain,whereoldfamilylinesretainedtheirearlierglamour,butwherecoldeconomicrealitiesmadesheerwealthmoreimportantthaninnernobility.Thesymbolismoftheheroine---Tess•TessrepresentsthechangingroleoftheagriculturalworkersinEnglandinthelatenineteenthcentury--------Possessinganeducationthatherunschooledparentslack,Tessdoesnotquitefitintothefolkculture.Shebelongstoahigherworld.ThereisaristocracyinTess’sblood,visibleinhergracefulbeauty—yetsheisforcedtoworkasafarmhandandmilkmaid.•苔丝·德贝菲尔苔丝是这部小说中的中心人物，她聪慧，异常迷人，而且感情热烈，有很强的道德感。不过，她不仅仅是一个独特的人物，哈代把她塑造成有些神化的女主角。是另一个因为为实现更高的理想而付出生命代价的殉道者有时叙事人自己不只把苔丝描写为一个女性个体，而且把她当作全体女性的化身。在第14章中，他写到她的眼睛“说它黑也不是，说它蓝也不是，说它灰，说它紫，都不是，不如说这些深浅不一的颜色，样样都有（neitherblacknorbluenorgreynorviolet;ratherallthoseshadestogether.）”，她像“女性中的完人（analmoststandardwoman）”。ThesymbolismofAngel•Angelisarepresentativeofthetraditionalmoralconcepts.Atthattime,thewholesocietyisfullofthoseridiculoustraditionalmoralconcepts.•Atfirst,AngelconsidersTessas“thefreshandvirginaldaughterofnature”,butwhenheknowsthehistoryofTess,heabandonsher.Hesays“forgivenessdoesnotapplytothecase.Youwereoneperson;nowyouareanother”.Thisshowsthetraditionalmoralconceptsarestilldeep-rootedinhismind.•HefallsinlovewithTess,adairywoman,andhedoesn’tcarewhethersheisborninagoodfamilyornot.ItseemsthathislovetoTessistruelove.However,whenitcomestomarriage,hestillconsidersTess’socialstatus.HewantsTesstotake“mistressTeresad’Urbervillesashernameandheclaimsthatthechange“maytakeanappreciabledifferenceto（society’s）acceptanceofyouasmywife”.•AlltheseprovethatAngelislikeallotherpeopleinthesociety.•Theyallvalueagirlbysocialstatus,theso-calledchastityandreligion.ThesymbolismofAlec•Alecisarepresentativeofthebourgeoissociety’sauthority,thewealthandtheevil.Hehasanaristocratd’Urbervillessurname,alargeamountofmoneyandagreatpowerwhichdominatethelocalpeople.•HetakesadvantageofTess’poorfamilycondition,andtemptsherwithmoneytogotohisfamilyasaservant.HealwaysforcesTesstodosomethingsheisnotwillingtodo.Forexample,wheninthecart,Tesswantshimtoslowdown,buthesaysthathewillnotdounlessTesslethim“putonelittlekissonthoseholmberrylips”(Hardyp57).ThatisatotalinsulttoTess.ThenheseducesTess,destroyingherchastitywhichmeansallherlife.•Attheendofthestory,whenTess’fatherdies,andherfamilyishomeless,Alec“helps”heragain.HetellsTessthatherfamilycanmovetohiscottage,and“thechildrencangotoschool”(Hardyp385).Infact,hejustwantstopossessTess.Heisfullofviolenceandplots.HesaysthatheisTess’“friend”,butheisunlikelytotreatTessashisrealfriendbecausetheybelongtodifferentsocialclassandtheyhavetotallydifferentstatusandlifeexperiences.ColorsymbolismTheSymbolismofColorsrepresentmanydifferentitemsofsacredsignificance.Purity,virginity,innocenceandvirtue.Power,importance,warmthanddangerRenewal,hope,lightandpurityNature,fertility,hope,bountifulnessandfreedomfrombondageDeath,fear,ignoranceandwasusedtoindicateauthorityandpower.Heavenlygrace,hope,goodhealthandthestateofservitudeRedinTess1.Sheworearedribboninherhair,…(ThomasHardy,12)----Theredribbonimpliesunknownevilanddanger,andmiserablefateofTess.2.Itwasarecenterection-indeedalmostnew-andofthesamerichredcolorthatformedsuchacontrastwithevergreensofthelodge.(ThomasHardy,46)3.Strawberry(ThomasHardy,50)4.…,assheinnocentlylookeddownattherosesinherbosom,thattherebehindthebluenarcotichazewaspotentiallythe“tragicmischief”ofherdramaonewhostoodfairetobetheblood-red-rayinthespectrumofheryounglife.(ThomasHardy,51)----(2,3,4)Theredcolorofthelodge,thestrawberriesandtherosesisinsharpcontrasttothesurroundings,whichconveysthetragedylifeofTess.5.Theredandwhiteherdnearestathand,whichhadbeenphlegmaticallywaitingforthecall,…(ThomasHardy,147)6.…,wheretheyhadmaintainedtheirpositiontilltheygrewweakerwithlossofbloodinthenight-time,whentheyhadfallenonebyoneasshehadheardthem.(ThomasHardy,384)7.Apieceofblood-stainedpaper,caughtupfromsomemeat-buyer’sdust-heap,beatupanddowntheroadwithoutthegate;…(ThomasHardy,412)8.…thatitwasred.Theoblongwhiteceiling,withthisscarletblotinthemidst,hadtheappearanceofagiganticaceofhearts.(ThomasHardy,531)----(5,6,7,8)Redisthecolorofthethreshingmachine.Atonelevel,themachinebecomesanimageofhell,evilanddanger,andthemurderisanactdoneoutofloveandpassion.9.,crimsondamaskhangings,andanenormousfour-postbedstead,alongtheheadofwhichwerecarvedrunningfigures,apparentlyAtlanta'srace.(ThomasHardy,540)----TheredbedrepresentsthesafetyandpeacethatTessisalwayslongingfor.WhiteinTess1.Tessoftenwearswhite,asatthefirsttimesheisseen(Ch2).2.InCh11sheiswearinga'whitemuslindress'justbeforesheisviolated,suggestingherinnocence.Hertissueis'whiteassnow'whichisviolated(readersmayassumethesuddenpresenceofredbloodasTess’svirginityistaken)3.Whiteisalsoassociatedwiththesoul/spirit-themistssurroundingTessarewhiteThankyouforyourlisteni