Tess of the d'Urbervilles, by Thomas hardy (I)

SUMMARY OF THE PLOT

Tess Durbeyfield is a 16-year-old simple country girl, the eldest daughter of John and Joan Durbeyfield. In a chance meeting with Parson Tringham along the road one night, John Durbeyfield discovers that he is a descendant of the d’Urbervilles, an ancient, rich family who had land holdings(1) as far back as(2)William the Conqueror in 1066. Upon this discovery, the financially strapped Durbeyfield family learns of a nearby(3) “relative,” and John and his wife Joan send Tess to “claim kin”(4) in order to alleviate their impoverished(5) condition. While visiting the d’Urbervilles at The Slopes, Tess meets Alec d’Urberville, who finds himself attracted to Tess. Alec arranges for Tess to become the caretaker(6) for his blind mother’s poultry(7), and Tess moves to The Slopes to take up the position. While in residence at the d’Urbervilles, Alec seduces and forces Tess.

Tess returns home, gives birth to a son, Sorrow, and works as a field worker on nearby farms. Sorrow becomes ill and dies in infancy, leaving Tess devastated at her loss(8). Tess makes another journey away from home to nearby Talbothays Dairy to become a milkmaid to a good-natured dairyman, Mr. Crick. There she meets and falls in love with a travelling farmer’s apprentice, Angel Clare.

Vocabulary:

1. land holdings: propiedades (tierras)
2. as far back as: en los tiempos de
3. nearby: cercano
4. claim kin: reclamar parentesco
5. empoverished: empobrecida
6. caretaker: cuidadora
7. poultry: granja de pollos
8. loss: pérdida