In Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," Sorrow is Tess's baby, born after she is raped by Alec D'Urberville. The name Sorrow reflects Tess's deep sadness and the difficult circumstances surrounding the child's birth.
Sorrow's birth is a tough time for Tess. After Alec abandons her, she returns home to her poor family. The community judges her harshly for having an illegitimate child, showing how society is unkind to women in her situation. Despite this, Tess loves her baby deeply and cares for him as best as she can.
Unfortunately, Sorrow is born weak and sickly, symbolizing the suffering and hardship Tess endures. Tess baptizes him herself when it becomes clear he won't survive, as no priest is available. This act shows her concern for her child's soul and her strength in a desperate situation.
When Sorrow dies, Tess buries him in a corner of the churchyard meant for unbaptized babies. This sad burial highlights the strict and unfair social and religious rules of the time. Sorrow's short life and death deepen Tess's sense of loss and isolation and highlight the novel's themes of suffering, social injustice, and the struggle for redemption.