# Retty Priddle — Tess of the d’Urbervilles character guide

> Retty Priddle in Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Retty, Poor little Retty, wondering Retty

**First appearance:** 0022-xvii

## Who they are

A dark-eyed, heavy-tressed milkmaid at Talbothays whose hopeless passion for Angel Clare turns her from a cheerful worker into a figure of silent heartbreak.

## Relationships

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_friendship_

Retty Priddle is a gentle fellow dairymaid and friend who suffers from unrequited love for Angel.

### [Angel Clare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/angel_clare)

_social_

Angel is aware of Retty's quiet affection for him but does not reciprocate, causing her heartbreak.

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_friendship_

Retty Priddle is a gentle fellow dairymaid and friend who suffers from unrequited love for Angel.

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_friendship_

Retty Priddle is a gentle fellow dairymaid and friend who suffers from unrequited love for Angel.

### [Angel Clare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/angel_clare)

_social_

Angel is aware of Retty's quiet affection for him but does not reciprocate, causing her heartbreak.

### [Angel Clare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/angel_clare)

_social_

Angel is aware of Retty's quiet affection for him but does not reciprocate, causing her heartbreak.

## In the story

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xix)

Mentioned by Dairyman Crick as a descendant of the Paridelles, an old family scorned by Clare.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxi)

Retty is the youngest and auburn-haired milkmaid. She cries herself to sleep after the conversation about Angel, and she is the last bud of the Paridelles, a family important in county annals.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxii)

Retty is the other dairymaid Tess recommends to Angel, noting she colors up when he looks at her.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxiii)

Retty is the youngest and most emotional, weeping and wishing she were dead because of her unrequited love.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxix)

Spasmodically insists the widow should have refused the man, adding to the chorus of opinions.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxi)

A dairy maid who loved Angel; she admits she wants to hate Tess but cannot.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Retty attempts suicide after Tess's marriage, as reported by Jonathan Kail.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/retty_priddle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters