Tess of the D'Urbervilles Lesson Plan

Discuss Angel's reaction to Tess's confession. Based on what we know about Angel at that point, was that the reaction you expected? Why or why not?

Students responses to this question will vary. Angel has been portrayed as very open-minded up to this point. We see him reject many of the societal and religious conventions of his class and family, in favor of something that resembles Secular Humanism (a code of morality that is not connected to religion or theology). Especially after Angel's own confession of adultery, his cold and angry reaction to Tess's story is unexpected and hypocritical. Other students may point out that Angel is still deeply connected to the...