Tess of the D'Urbervilles Angel Clare Quotes

Angel Clare

Quote 4

[…] he had asked himself why had he not judged Tess constructively rather than biographically, by the will rather than by the deed? (53.25)

Angel realizes his own injustice, and that the only real justice is in judging people by their intentions, rather than by their actions: "by the will rather than by the deed."

"[…] since you will probably have to leave at Christmas, it is in every way desirable and convenient that I should carry you off then as my property." (32.18)

It's surprising to realize that even a relatively good man like Angel Clare would buy into the idea that a wife is her husband's property.

"How can we live together while that man lives?" (36.82)

In other editions, Angel adds that Alec is Tess's husband in nature, if not legally. So again, there's a distinction between natural law and social law.