Or, Discuss Hardy's pessimistic view is evident in Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

Or, Would you call Thomas Hardy a pessimist or a realist? Give reasons for your answer in the light of Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

Or, Do you like to consider Hardy a pessimist? If so, argue.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is often called a pessimist because his novels end in sadness and suffering. But many critics also call him a realist, because he shows life as it truly is. In “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” (1891), Hardy shows both these sides. He does show pain, death, and injustice—but not because he enjoys sadness. He writes about these things to show how cruel life and society can be, especially to innocent people like Tess.

Hardy as a Pessimist: Tess’s Life is Full of Suffering

Tess is a good and pure-hearted girl. But from the beginning, her life is full of troubles. She never gets the happiness she deserves. Cruel fate always works against her. Tess’s parents send her to the nearby d'Urberville family to seek help. But this only leads her to Alec. Alec rapes her and ruins her life.

Later at Talbothays Dairy, Tess finds love in Angel Clare. But even this ends in sadness. On their wedding night, she tells him the truth about her tragic past. But Angel cannot forgive her. He thinks Tess is not a pure woman anymore. He thinks Tess is not the same woman he married—

“You were one person; now you are another."

“Had she ever intended to do wrong; yet these hard judgments had come.”

However, we must also see that Hardy does not create sad stories just to make people cry. He writes about real problems in society. In Tess’s story, we see how women are judged unfairly. Tess is blamed for Alec’s crime. Society does not see her as a victim. They blame her for giving birth out of marriage. Even Angel treats her unfairly. He thinks Tess is not a pure woman anymore. He says:

“O Tess, forgiveness does not apply to the case!”

Hardy also realistically portrays the hard life of the poor. Tess’s family becomes homeless when her father dies. She must work in fields to earn food. When she goes to Flintcomb-Ash, she works in bitter cold. These are the real sufferings of poor people in Victorian England. Tess sadly says:

“Once victim, always victim--that's the law!”

The Role of Fate and Chance

Hardy also uses chance and fate to shape Tess’s life. Many small events lead to big tragedies. For example, the letter Tess writes to Angel slips under the carpet. If Angel had read it, things could have been different. Hardy seems to believe that fate is blind and cruel. No matter how good Tess is, she cannot escape her tragic end. This belief makes him a pessimist. But Tess’s fate also shows how little control people have over their lives, especially women and the poor.

So, is Hardy a pessimist or a realist? The truth is—he is both.

In conclusion, Thomas Hardy is a realist because he shows the true pain of life. He shows the unfairness of society and the hard life of poor people. But he is also a pessimist. Because he believes that fate, chance, and society will always win against good people like Tess.