# Tess Durbeyfield — Tess of the d’Urbervilles character guide > Tess Durbeyfield in Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Tess, Durbeyfield, Tessy, Cousin Tess, Simple Tess Durbeyfield, fair Tess, the lonely Tess **First appearance:** 0002-tess-of-the-d-urbervilles ## Snapshot A dairymaid of old blood and new poverty whose beauty and vitality make her both desired and judged in a world that offers her no clean escape. ## Who they are Tess carries the d'Urberville name in her veins but not in her purse, and the gap between those two facts shapes everything that follows. She works the harvest with a baby at her breast and a gaze that drifts to the hilltop, her tenderness and her shame braided so tightly they cannot be separated. Her fierce capacity for endurance — and her refusal to be merely a victim — is what makes her the moral center of the novel's long middle. ## Relationships ### [Angel Clare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/angel_clare) _romantic_ Angel is Tess's husband who idealizes her but abandons her after learning of her past, creating a tragic romantic bond. ### [Dairyman Crick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/dairyman_crick) _professional_ Dairyman Crick is Tess's kind employer at Talbothays Dairy, treating her with respect and fairness. ### [Marian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/marian) _friendship_ Marian is a loyal friend and fellow dairymaid who supports Tess through hardships and later works alongside her. ### [Joan Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/joan_durbeyfield) _family_ Joan is Tess's mother, a well-meaning but naive woman who pushes Tess toward Alec d'Urberville for financial gain. ### [Farmer Groby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/farmer_groby) _professional_ Farmer Groby is Tess's harsh and vindictive employer at Flintcomb-Ash, treating her cruelly. ### [Izz Huett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/izz_huett) _friendship_ Izz Huett is a fellow dairymaid and friend who admires Tess and briefly considers marrying Angel after Tess is abandoned. ### [Jack Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/jack_durbeyfield) _family_ Jack is Tess's irresponsible and alcoholic father whose pride in their lineage leads to the family's ruin. ### [Car Darch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/car_darch) _rivalry_ Car Darch is a former rival of Tess's at Talbothays, resentful of Tess's beauty and Angel's attention. ### [Retty Priddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/retty_priddle) _friendship_ Retty Priddle is a gentle fellow dairymaid and friend who suffers from unrequited love for Angel. ### [Liza-Lu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/liza_lu) _family_ Liza-Lu is Tess's younger sister, whom Tess entrusts to Angel after her own death. ### [Abraham Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/abraham_durbeyfield) _family_ Abraham is Tess's younger brother, who accompanies her on the fateful journey that leads to the family horse's death. ### [Angel Clare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/angel_clare) _romantic_ Angel is Tess's husband who idealizes her but abandons her after learning of her past, creating a tragic romantic bond. ## In the story ### [Tess of the d'Urbervilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/tess-of-the-d-urbervilles) The protagonist, a pure and resilient young woman whose life is altered by her family's discovery of noble lineage. ### [Phase the First: The Maiden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-first-the-maiden) The protagonist, a young maiden whose life is altered by her family's discovery of noble ancestry and her encounter with Alec. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as a member of the women's club-walking, though she does not appear directly in this chapter. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/ii) A fine and handsome girl with a mobile peony mouth and large innocent eyes; she is embarrassed by her father's drunken behavior and is hurt when Angel Clare does not choose her as a dance partner. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/iii) Returns home from the dance, feels remorse for not helping her mother, learns of the family's noble ancestry, and goes to fetch her father from Rolliver's. ### [The Ruin of Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/iv) Consumed by guilt after Prince's death, she blames herself entirely for the family's misfortune. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/v) Tess is the protagonist, feeling guilty for Prince's death and reluctantly agreeing to visit the d'Urbervilles. She is innocent, proud, and artless, troubled by her mother's matchmaking hints. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/vi) Returns home from Trantridge, troubled by an ill omen from a rose thorn. Reluctantly agrees to work at Mrs. d'Urberville's poultry farm due to family pressure and guilt over Prince's death. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/vii) Awake before dawn, she submits to her mother's dressing-up and leaves home with a heavy heart, ultimately accepting Alec's ride. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/viii) Tess is subjected to Alec's reckless driving and sexual advances, resisting his kiss and asserting her will by walking rather than riding with him. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/ix) Tess starts her new role caring for fowls and is asked to whistle to bullfinches by Mrs. d'Urberville. She is uneasy but curious about her new position. ### [The Chaseborough Fair and the Flight with Alec](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/x) Tess is tired and reluctant, but eventually gives in to Alec's invitation to ride home, abandoning the drunken party. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xi) Exhausted from a week of early rising and the evening's events, she falls asleep in the woods and is left vulnerable to Alec's advances. ### [Phase the Second: Maiden No More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-second-maiden-no-more) Tess is the central figure of this phase, grappling with the aftermath of Alec's seduction, the birth and death of her child, and the weight of societal shame. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xii) Leaves Trantridge on foot, burdened by her experience with Alec; feels her views of life have been totally changed; confronts her mother about not being warned of men's dangers. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xiii) Returns home and struggles with shame and depression; isolates herself from society, venturing out only at night. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xiv) Returns to harvest work, baptizes her dying baby Sorrow, and grapples with social shame and personal grief. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xv) Tess reflects on her past experiences, her baby's death, and her own mortality. She resolves to escape her past and accepts a position at Talbothays Dairy, determined to be simply a dairymaid. ### [Phase the Third: The Rally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-third-the-rally) Arrives at Talbothays Dairy, seeking a fresh start and finding solace in the rural work. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xvi) Leaves home for the second time, traveling to the Valley of the Great Dairies. She feels a renewed sense of hope and freedom, contrasting her past experiences. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xvii) Arrives at Talbothays Dairy, begins milking, and recognizes Angel Clare from the Marlott club-dance. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xviii) Tess is now working at Talbothays Dairy. She speaks of souls leaving the body while gazing at stars, which draws Angel's attention. He sees her as a 'fresh and virginal daughter of Nature' and feels a sense of familiarity with her. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xix) Contemplates revealing her noble ancestry to Angel, then decides against it after hearing Clare's views. Discovers Clare's considerateness in arranging the cows. Drawn to his harp-playing, she shares her existential fears with him. ### [Phase the Third: The Rally — Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xx) Tess is deeply happy at Talbothays, physically and mentally suited to her new life. She rises early to milk and shares private dawn walks with Angel, feeling like Eve in a new world. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxi) Tess is deeply affected by the dairyman's story about Jack Dollop, which reminds her of her own seduction by Alec. She later overhears the other milkmaids discussing their love for Angel Clare and struggles with her conscience about whether to encourage his attention. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxii) Tess heroically tries to recommend Izz and Retty to Angel, avoiding his company and sacrificing her own chances. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxiii) Tess is one of the four dairymaids; she is carried last by Angel and feels both love for him and guilt toward her friends. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxiv) Milks Old Pretty; yields to Angel's embrace in a moment of ecstatic joy, then becomes agitated and tries to withdraw. ### [Phase the Fourth: The Consequence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-fourth-the-consequence) Tess is the central figure in this phase, grappling with the consequences of her confession. She is heartbroken by Angel's rejection but remains loyal and hopeful for a reconciliation. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxv) Though not present in the chapter, Tess is the central subject of Angel's thoughts; he reflects on her profound influence and the seriousness of his feelings for her. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxvi) Discussed as Angel's intended wife; her social background and Christian faith are debated by Angel and his parents. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxvii) Appears downcast and troubled; avoids Angel's question about marriage, disturbed by the allusion to Alec d'Urberville. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxviii) Tess is torn between her love for Angel and her conscience, which forbids her from marrying him due to her past. She experiences intense inner conflict and ultimately agrees to give him an answer on Sunday. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxix) Torn between her love for Angel and her guilt over her past, Tess repeatedly refuses his proposals but eventually yields. ### [The Milkmaid's Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxx) Tess reveals her d'Urberville ancestry to Angel and agrees to marry him, despite her inner turmoil. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxi) Falls deeply in love with Angel Clare, idealizes him, and struggles with the decision to confess her past after her mother advises silence. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxii) Agrees to marry Angel, though she harbors fears about her past and the future. She writes to her mother for advice but receives no reply, and is moved by Angel's thoughtful gifts of clothing. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxiii) Torn by guilt, she attempts to confess her past to Angel but is deflected; she writes a letter and later destroys it, then writes another and slips it under his door. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxiv) Tess is anxious and conflicted, struggling with her secret as Angel confesses his own past. ### [Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-fifth-the-woman-pays) Tess confesses her past to Angel after their wedding, leading to their separation. She later faces poverty and is pursued by Alec. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxv) Confesses her past to Angel, pleads for forgiveness, and is devastated by his rejection. ### [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxvi) Tess is in deep despair after her confession, considering suicide and agreeing to part from Angel. She feels utterly worthless and blames herself for ruining his life. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxvii) Tess submits to Angel's conditions, endures his sleepwalking episode, and refrains from revealing his unconscious tenderness to avoid angering him. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxviii) Returns home in despair after Angel leaves her; confesses to her mother that she told Angel about her past; feels betrayed by her parents' lack of support. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxix) Absent but constantly in Angel's thoughts; he imagines her voice and touch, and feels guilt for his harsh judgment of her. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xl) Tess is mentioned as Angel's estranged wife; he deposits money for her and mourns their lost happiness. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xli) Now a lonely, impoverished woman working as a supernumerary milkmaid; she has spent most of Angel's allowance and is too proud to ask his father for help; she travels to an upland farm recommended by Marian, is accosted on the road, and spends a fearful night in a plantation. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlii) Tess travels to Flintcomb-Ash, disfigures her face to avoid admiration, and takes up rough field work, hiding her identity as Mrs. Angel Clare. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xliii) Works hard at Flintcomb-Ash, endures physical and emotional strain, learns of Angel's proposal to Izz, and struggles with her feelings of neglect. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xliv) Tess walks to Emminster Vicarage to seek news of Angel, but is humiliated by the discovery of her boots and returns without making contact. ### [Phase the Sixth: The Convert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/phase-the-sixth-the-convert) Tess is working at Flintcomb-Ash and encounters Alec, who has become a preacher. She resists his advances and remains haunted by her past. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlv) Tess is returning from Emminster and encounters Alec, now a preacher. She feels a profound sense of despair and the weight of her past. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlvi) Tess resists Alec's advances, reveals her marriage to Angel, and defends her husband's beliefs. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlvii) Working on the threshing machine at Flintcomb-Ash; confronts Alec d'Urberville and strikes him with a glove after he reappears and pressures her. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlviii) Tess is exhausted from threshing, her face coated with corndust, and she is in a stupefied reverie. She has written a heartbroken letter to Angel, pleading for his return and expressing fear of Alec's temptations. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlix) Tess writes a letter to Angel, practices old ballads hoping to please him, and decides to return home after learning her mother is dying. ### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/l) Works on the allotment, sings sadly, rejects Alec's advances, and learns of her father's death. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/li) Tess reflects on her perceived evil influence on her family's eviction, writes a reproachful letter to Angel, and rejects Alec's offer of a cottage. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lii) Tess helps her mother move the family to Kingsbere, feeling listless and overwhelmed by their situation. She later encounters Alec d'Urberville in the church. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/liii) Her angry letter to Angel is quoted, accusing him of monstrous treatment and declaring she cannot forgive him. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/liv) Sought by Angel; her past at Flintcomb-Ash and her dignified silence about her marriage are noted. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lv) Living as Mrs. d'Urberville at The Herons; she confesses to Angel that Alec has won her back. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lvi) Overheard in a state of despair, kneeling and lamenting Alec's persuasion and the loss of Angel; later leaves the house fully dressed and veiled. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lvii) Confesses to Angel that she has killed Alec, driven by grief and love for Angel. She is exhausted but determined to stay with him. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lviii) Tess is exhausted and resigned, finding solace at Stonehenge where she lies on an altar and speaks of her impending death. ### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/lix) Her execution is implied by the raising of the black flag; she is the subject of the chapter's tragic conclusion. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield - 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