Tess of the d'Urbevilles Quotes

Chapter 1: “Chasten yourself with…

… the thought of ‘how the mighty fallen’”

Chapter 1: “Produced a shilling, one of…

… the chronically few that he possessed”

Chapter 2: “natural shyness…

… of the softer sex”

Chapter 2: “white…

… frock/flowers”

Chapter 2: “they were genuine country girls, …

… unaccustomed to many eyes”

Chapter 2: “her mobile peony mouth and…

… large innocent eyes”

Chapter 2: “She wore a red…

… ribbon in her hair”

Chapter 2: “Tess’ pride would not…

… allow her to turn her head again”

Chapter 2: “Phases of her childhood…

… lurked in her aspect still”

Chapter 2: “three young men of…

… a superior class”

Chapter 2: “pouted-up…

… deep red mouth”

Chapter 2: “I’m inclined to go and…

… have a fling with them” - Angel

Chapter 2: “Dancing in public with…

… a troop of country hoydens” - Angel’s brother

Chapter 2: “All of them, except, …

… perhaps, one”

Chapter 2: “She was so modest, so expressive, …

… she had looked so soft in her thin white gown”

Chapter 2: “He dismissed the…

… subject from his mind”

Chapter 3: “She did not…

… so easily dislodge the incident”

Chapter 3: “thy cherry mouth! …

And thy Cupid’s Thighs”

Chapter 3: “to help her mother…

… in these domesticities”

Chapter 3: “take the…

… Compleat Fortune-Teller”

Chapter 4: “I tried her fate…

… in the Fortune-Teller”

Chapter 4: “‘I wouldn’t have it for the world’ …

… declared Tess proudly”

Chapter 4: “A blighted…

… one \[planet\]” - Tess

Chapter 4: “his life’s blood…

… was spouting in a stream”

Chapter 4: “the huge pool…

… of blood”

Chapter 4: “To think that I was…

… such a fool” - Tess

Chapter 4: “Nobody blamed Tess…

… as she blamed herself”

Chapter 4: “She regarded herself…

… in the light of a murderess”

Chapter 5: “swarthy complextion, with full lips…

… badly formed, though smooth and red” - Alec description

Chapter 5: “touches of barbarism…

… in his contours” - Alec description

Chapter 5: “there was a singular force…

… in the gentleman’s face”

Chapter 5: “my Beauty” …

… “my dear”, “my pretty girl”

Chapter 5: “he insisted, and in a slight distress, …

… she parted her lips and took it in”

Chapter 5: “the blood-red ray…

… in the spectrum of her young life”

Chapter 5: “She was doomed to be seen and…

… coveted that day by the wrong man”

Chapter 6: “She thought this…

… an ill omen”

Chapter 8: “if such has the power, …

… I am he” - Alec

Chapter 8: “Now, damn it -- …

… I’ll break both our necks” - Alec, after receiving no kiss

Chapter 8: “you young…

… witch” - Alec to Tess

Chapter 8: “d’Urberville gave her…

… the kiss of mastery”

Chapter 10: “Out of the frying pan…

… into the fire”

Chapter 11: “This immediately…

… put her on the defensive”

Chapter 11: “But, might some say, …

… where was Tess’ guardian angel?”

Phase the Second:

Maiden No More

Chapter 12: “Did it ever strike your mind…

… that what every woman says some women may feel?”

Chapter 12: “Why didn’t you tell me…

… there was danger in men folk?”

Chapter 14: “a child’s child”, …

… “the girl-mother”

Chapter 14: “Sorrow the Undesired -- …

… that intrusive creature”

Chapter 20: “As if they were…

… Adam and Eve”

Chapter 21: “She was wretched -- …

… O so wretched”

Chapter 23: “Three Leah’s…

… to get one Rachel”

Chapter 23: “It reminded Angel that he was…

… somewhat unfairly taking advantage of an accidental position”

Chapter 24: “He had allowed her…

… to free herself”

Chapter 24: “something had occurred which…

… changed the pivot of the universe”

Chapter 25: “Clare was a man…

… with a conscience”

Chapter 27: “he saw the red interior of her mouth…

… as if it had been a snake’s”

Chapter 29: “What was comedy to them…

… was tragedy to her”

Chapter 29: “he was so…

… godlike in her eyes”

Chapter 29: “her nature cried…

… for his tutelary guidance”

Chapter 30: “with a…

… mute obedience”

Chapter 30: “Tess you must…

… spell your name correctly”

Chapter 30: “O, I hope that is of…

… no ill-omen to us”

Chapter 33: “Was she not more truly…

Mrs Alexander d’Urberville?”

Chapter 33: “These violent delights…

have violent ends”

Chapter 34: “made a spot like…

… a paint-mark set upon her”

Chapter 34: “they had deserved better…

… at the hands of Fate”

Chapter 34: “he plunged into eight-and-forty hours…

… dissipation with a stranger”

Chapter 34: “I am almost glad - …

… because now /you/ can forgive /me/”

Chapter 35: “I have forgiven you…

… for the same!”

Chapter 35: “how can forgiveness meet such a…

… grotesque prestidigitation as that!”

Chapter 35: “I will obey you…

… like your wretched slave”

Chapter 35: “You were more…

… sinned against than sinning”

Chapter 37: “Pride, too, …

entered into her submission”

Chapter 41: “There seemed only one escape…

… for her hunted soul”

Chapter 41: “Was there another such a wretched being…

… as she in this world?”

Chapter 44: “She had set herself to…

… stand or fall by her qualities”

Chapter 46: “You temptress, Tess; …

… you dear damned witch of Babylon”

Chapter 47: “I saw you innocent, …

… and I deceived you”

Chapter 47: “her being a vessel of…

… emotions rather than reasons”

Chapter 47: “A scarlet oozing appeared…

… where her blow had alighted”

Chapter 47: “Once victim, always victim - …

… that’s the law!”

Chapter 47: “I was your master once! …

… I will be your master again”

Chapter 49: “told Clare that he was wrong…

… in coming away from her”

Chapter 53: “it occurred to Angel that…

… her pride had stood in her way”

Chapter 56: “a spot in the middle…

of its white surface”

Chapter 58: “What must come…

… will come”

Chapter 58: “My life can only be…

… a question of a few weeks”

Chapter 58: “This happiness…

… could not have lasted”

Chapter 59: “the President of the Immortals…

… had ended his sport with Tess”