O merciful God have pity have pity upon my poor baby In Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - Tess the main character speaks these words in a challenging and sad situation Tess is a young woman who encounters many challenges and hardships She is a kind and loving person She cares deeply for her family especially her baby In this particular moment Tess is asking God for mercy and compassion She is begging God to pity her baby Her baby is in a very vulnerable and helpless condition Tess is a mother who loves her child dearly and worries about her baby's well-being The word merciful means showing kindness and forgiveness Tess asks God to be kind and forgiving towards her and her baby She is going through a tough time and seeking help from a higher power Tess's plea to God reflects the difficult circumstances she finds