Tess Of The Durbervilles: Coincidences Lead To Consequences Essay

The belief that the order of things is already decided and that peoples lives are determined by this "greater power" is c all in alled fate. Many people, called fatalists, believe in this and that they have no power in determining their futures. Despite this, many others believe that coincidence is the only explanation for the way their lives and others turn out. Thomas venturesome portrays chance and coincidence as having very significant roles in "Tess of the dUrbervilles" continuously. Three such coincidences were quite influential and had large effects on Tesss future. The first macrocosm that Tess Durbeyfields set about, discovered that their family came from the oldest, (and at one time) most wealthiest family in England. A nonher event that occurs by mere chance in Tesss life is when Tess slips a letter of acknowledgment underneath both her lovers door and (by accident) the carpet, where he could not see it. The final coincidence would be the death of Tess s father, which not only leaves Tess in a allege of deprivation, but also the rest of her family including her mother and six siblings. All of these coincidences had consequences that would change Tesss life,.For the first sixteen years of her life, Tess Durbeyfield and her family lived in a middle-class-like situation in the townspeople of Marlott. Since her father, was a life-holder on the cottage in which they lived, his rank was above the farm laborers. However, John Durbeyfield is not in good health when we meet him and he does not put much interest in working, and instead spends time drinking. Upon returning to his home one evening, Durbeyfield meets a man named Parson Tringham who tells him that the Durbeyfield family is the "lineal representative of the quaint and knightly family of the dUrbervilles, who . . . came from Normandy with William the Conqueror."(p. 18) This news suddenly changes Durbeyfields view on his familys lifestyle and he decides that they should be living as their knightly and noble ancestors once did.With this new lifestyle in mind for his family, Johns wife, Joan Durbeyfield recalls that a man by the name of dUrberville lives not far from their home and might be able to help them in their elusive times, seeing as how he is kin to them. After the death of their only horse, the Durbeyfield family must do something to sustain themselves, but Mr. Durbeyfield ref... ... comes of this major coincidence in Tesss life, because if her father hadnt died and Angel hadnt returned at just the right moment, she would not have killed Alec and would not have been sentenced to an execution for her crimes.Through each and every one of these coincidences, Tesss life changed quite dramatically. to each one event that occurred by complete chance left Tess in a predicament where she was compelled to take control and do something to improve the situation. No matter where she was--in the hole of her birthplace, a sheltered little town, or i n the comfortable landscape that surrounded the dairy, or even in the harsh scenery of the farm-- Tess always knew where she belonged and what she was meant to do in each place. Every coincidence or occurrence that came along, forced Tess to rethink her situation and draw up the courage that to realize who she was and where she was going. The consequences that came, due to her decisions were all ones that Tess was ready for. Even when sixteen men followed her so that she could be punished for the murder of Alec dUrberville. "It is as it should be. . .This happiness could not have lasted. . .I am ready." (p.417)