Deat Nobody

The two novels in question, "Dear Nobody" and "Tess of the D´urbervilles" (hereafter referred to as "Tess"), raise surprisingly similar issues for books written in such different times and among such varying attitudes. However, the period difference does highlight some major contrasts, most relevantly, the censorship that would have taken place, had Hardy alluded to any details concerning sex or seduction. In both books, the situations and moral messages reflect the author´s opinions and ideas on ethical subjects such as premarital sex, pregnancy, single motherhood, and above all, the trials and tribulations of love. Obviously, the two heroines, Tess Durbeyfield and Helen Garton, were born into very diverse circumstances: Helen came from modern day family, with every opportunity to do whatever she wants to in life available to her. Tess, by contrast, was brought up in a poor, country family from the 1890´s. This simple but vital contrast, is highlighted, perhaps inadvertently, by Ha...