Alec And Tess example essay topic

Self-centered I believe that many people throughout history and today care more about themselves than anything else. To them the only things that matter are those that directly affect their lives. They do not care about other's feelings, and how their actions may affect others around them. Thomas Hardy also demonstrates this idea in Tess of the D'urbervilles. In this book a character named Alec D'urberville went through his life only thinking of himself. Alec D'urberville was by far a self-centered man.

First of all, he seems to always need to have his way with everything that he feels concerns him. He believes that since he is from a family of power that no one should stand up to him. If anyone dared to refuse him, he fought until he was given his way. When Alec first picked Tess up from her house in Marlott he insisted that she ride behind him on his horse. Tess found this improper and proceeded to walk to the manner. After much nagging by Alec, Tess finally agreed to accompany him on his horse.

While on the way to the manner, Alec then ordered Tess to let him kiss her. Tess protested this idea, but after growing tired finally gave into his order. He then planted a warm kiss on her cheek. Another example of this is while Alec and Tess were in the garden of the manor having a picnic. When it came time for desert, Alec pulled out a bundle or strawberries and tried to feed the to Tess. Tess found this repulsive and backed away from him.

Alec knowing that he had authority over Tess forced her to eat them out of his hand. She obeyed his order and the ordeal ended. A third example was when Tess had gone down to a party in the next town over. Alec had surprised her by showing up at the party. Upon leaving, Alec made Tess let him take her home.

She refused his offer and said she would walk the ten miles back to the manor. Alec in response, threatened to send her away from the manner. The thought of this frightened her, and she agreed to ride with him. After a little while of riding Alec knowingly got off track and rode into the woods.

He then forced Tess to stay with him overnight. My second reason for calling Alec self-centered is that he often used harsh words and actions towards those who opposed him. He was easily angered when people had other views than his own. Alec often responded in a negative way to the situations. After the first time Alec met Tess he called her "a crumby girl" because she had refused to have dinner with him that night. This comment came from Alec not getting what he wanted at the time, for in reality he thought she was beautiful.

Secondly, while they were on their way to the manor, Tess had backed away when Alec had tried to kiss her. Alec felt betrayed by her, and in response he jerked back the reigns causing the horse to buck. After blaming Tess for the horse's actions, he then proceeded to say, "So you can go from your word like that, you witch?" A final example happened while on their way home from the party. Tess had accidentally dropped her hat causing Alec to have to stop and let her off the horse. When she refused to get back on the horse right away he cursed and swore at her. He called her everything he could think of at the time.

My third reason for believing Alec was self-centered is that he was constantly trying to get Tess to fall in love with him. He thought nothing about her feelings and of how she felt about him. Alec felt that if he had her nothing else would matter. As Tess was leaving the manor for good, Alec told her that she would have been lucky to marry him, or a man like him. He told Tess that all of the previous women have so far regretted leaving him. Alec was attempting to make her re-think her decision of leaving him and the manor.

Alec knew that if she left he would never have a chance with her again. When Tess finally came to him a second time after many years had passed Alec thought this was it. He already had a marriage agreement drawn up to make everything official. Tess, seeing his intentions, was scared off. She eventually decided the only way to end this ongoing problem was to murder Alec, which she ended up doing. Finally, while Tess was living at the D'urberville manor Alec chose to take advantage of Tess.

During her stay there, Alec rapper her causing her to become pregnant with his child. Alec was secretly hoping that this baby would secure their futures together. Tess, in response to her pregnancy, moved back to her home in Marlott. This move caused the opposite effect that Alec had been hoping for. In conclusion I truly feel that Alec D'urberville was a self-centered man. He was responsible for many hardships and heartaches in Tess's life.

His consistent drive to always have to get his way caused Tess to distrust men for the rest of her life. She vowed from then on that she would die unmarried. In the end it was his unwillingness to listen to others that ended up costing him his life.