In "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," Tess is really sad sometimes, even though her husband Angel is nice to her. It's not because of him, though. It's because of her past and what people think of her. She feels guilty and ashamed about things that happened before she met Angel, especially being with Alec D'Urberville. Even though Angel forgives her and loves her, Tess can't forgive herself. She feels like she's not good enough for him.
On top of that, Tess feels
pressure to be perfect according to society's rules for women. She's supposed
to be pure and moral, but her past doesn't fit that image. Trying to live up to
these expectations makes her unhappy.
Through Tess's story, the author,
Thomas Hardy, shows how hard it can be for women in a society that judges them
based on outdated ideas of virtue and morality. Tess's unhappiness shows us the
toll these expectations can take on someone's happiness, even in a loving
marriage.