Summary
Tess continues her backbreaking work at Flintcomb-Ash farm when Alec d'Urberville appears again, now dressed as a preacher but still carrying his old manipulative ways. He proposes marriage, claiming it's his Christian duty to make amends, but Tess reveals she's already married to Angel Clare. This news devastates Alec, who tears up the marriage license he'd brought. When Tess explains that Angel is far away and doesn't know about her harsh working conditions, Alec sees an opening. He returns later, abandoning his preaching duties to confess that seeing Tess has destroyed his religious conversion. He blames her for his spiritual backsliding, calling her a temptress while simultaneously claiming to love her. Tess defends Angel's honor and begs Alec to leave before causing scandal. The chapter reveals how Alec's religious transformation was shallow—based on emotion rather than genuine change. His mother's death and a desire for novelty, not true conviction, drove his conversion. Now, faced with Tess again, his old obsessions resurface. Meanwhile, Tess remains loyal to Angel despite his abandonment, even starting a letter to him that she doesn't finish. The chapter shows how abusers often return when their victims are most isolated, using guilt, religious language, and claims of change to regain control.
Coming Up in Chapter 47
Alec's renewed pursuit of Tess intensifies, and his abandoned religious duties create consequences that will ripple through the community. Meanwhile, Tess faces a crucial decision about her future.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
LVI Several days had passed since her futile journey, and Tess was afield. The dry winter wind still blew, but a screen of thatched hurdles erected in the eye of the blast kept its force away from her. On the sheltered side was a turnip-slicing machine, whose bright blue hue of new paint seemed almost vocal in the otherwise subdued scene. Opposite its front was a long mound or “grave”, in which the roots had been preserved since early winter. Tess was standing at the uncovered end, chopping off with a bill-hook the fibres and earth from each root, and throwing it after the operation into the slicer. A man was turning the handle of the machine, and from its trough came the newly-cut swedes, the fresh smell of whose yellow chips was accompanied by the sounds of the snuffling wind, the smart swish of the slicing-blades, and the choppings of the hook in Tess’s leather-gloved hand. The wide acreage of blank agricultural brownness, apparent where the swedes had been pulled, was beginning to be striped in wales of darker brown, gradually broadening to ribands. Along the edge of each of these something crept upon ten legs, moving without haste and without rest up and down the whole length of the field; it was two horses and a man, the plough going between them, turning up the cleared ground for a spring sowing. For hours nothing relieved the joyless monotony of things. Then, far beyond the ploughing-teams, a black speck was seen. It had come from the corner of a fence, where there was a gap, and its tendency was up the incline, towards the swede-cutters. From the proportions of a mere point it advanced to the shape of a ninepin, and was soon perceived to be a man in black, arriving from the direction of Flintcomb-Ash. The man at the slicer, having nothing else to do with his eyes, continually observed the comer, but Tess, who was occupied, did not perceive him till her companion directed her attention to his approach. It was not her hard taskmaster, Farmer Groby; it was one in a semi-clerical costume, who now represented what had once been the free-and-easy Alec d’Urberville. Not being hot at his preaching there was less enthusiasm about him now, and the presence of the grinder seemed to embarrass him. A pale distress was already on Tess’s face, and she pulled her curtained hood further over it. D’Urberville came up and said quietly— “I want to speak to you, Tess.” “You have refused my last request, not to come near me!” said she. “Yes, but I have a good reason.” “Well, tell it.” “It is more serious than you may think.” He glanced round to see if he were overheard. They were at some distance from the man who turned the slicer, and the movement of the machine, too, sufficiently prevented Alec’s words reaching other ears. D’Urberville placed himself so as to screen Tess from the labourer, turning his...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of False Redemption
When someone uses claims of moral transformation to regain access to those they've harmed, without genuine accountability or lasting change.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between genuine accountability and manipulative performance designed to regain access.
Practice This Today
Next time someone who hurt you claims to have changed, test it by maintaining your boundaries—real change respects your limits without pressure or guilt trips.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Turnip-slicing machine
Agricultural machinery used to cut root vegetables for livestock feed. Represents the mechanization of farm work that made labor more efficient but also more monotonous and dehumanizing.
Modern Usage:
Like assembly line work or data entry jobs - repetitive tasks that treat workers like extensions of machines rather than people.
Flintcomb-Ash
The harsh, barren farm where Tess works after being abandoned by Angel. The name itself suggests something cold and lifeless - flint is hard stone, ash is what remains after fire.
Modern Usage:
Any toxic workplace where you're stuck because you need the paycheck - the dead-end job that drains your soul.
Religious conversion
Alec's supposed transformation from rake to preacher, which proves to be shallow and temporary. Shows how some people use religion as a costume rather than genuine change.
Modern Usage:
Like someone who claims they've changed after rehab or therapy but reverts to old patterns when tempted - surface-level transformation without real work.
Backsliding
Religious term for returning to sinful behavior after conversion. Alec blames Tess for causing his spiritual failure, refusing to take responsibility for his own choices.
Modern Usage:
When someone breaks their diet, relapses, or returns to bad habits and blames external circumstances instead of owning their decisions.
Temptress
Alec's label for Tess, claiming she seduces men into sin just by existing. Classic victim-blaming that makes women responsible for men's lack of self-control.
Modern Usage:
Still happens today - 'she was asking for it' mentality, dress codes that blame girls for 'distracting' boys, or any time a woman is blamed for a man's bad behavior.
Isolation manipulation
Alec returns precisely when Tess is most alone and vulnerable, cut off from support systems. Predators often target people during their lowest moments.
Modern Usage:
Abusive exes who show up when you're going through a divorce, financial stress, or family crisis - they sense weakness and exploit it.
Characters in This Chapter
Tess
Protagonist under siege
Working brutal manual labor while isolated from any support system. Despite her abandonment by Angel, she remains loyal and tries to protect his reputation when Alec attacks it.
Modern Equivalent:
The single mom working multiple jobs who still defends her absent partner
Alec d'Urberville
Manipulative predator
Returns as a fake preacher but quickly drops the act when he sees Tess. Blames her for his spiritual failures while positioning himself as her savior from poverty.
Modern Equivalent:
The abusive ex who finds religion in prison but hasn't actually changed
Angel Clare
Absent husband
Though physically absent, his abandonment of Tess creates the vulnerability that Alec exploits. His moral judgment continues to haunt Tess even from afar.
Modern Equivalent:
The partner who leaves during tough times but whose influence still controls your self-worth
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I have come to tempt you back to ruin"
Context: Alec admits his true purpose after dropping his preacher facade
Rare moment of honesty from Alec about his predatory intentions. He's not offering salvation but deliberately seeking to destroy what little stability Tess has found.
In Today's Words:
I'm here to mess up your life again because I can't stand that you're surviving without me
"You have been the cause of my backsliding"
Context: Alec blames Tess for his abandonment of religious life
Classic abuser tactic of making the victim responsible for the abuser's choices. He can't take responsibility for his own spiritual failures.
In Today's Words:
It's your fault I'm acting badly - you made me do it
"Why do you keep away from me? I would help you!"
Context: Alec positioning himself as Tess's rescuer from poverty
Manipulation disguised as generosity. He's offering to solve problems he helped create, making himself appear as savior rather than predator.
In Today's Words:
Let me save you from this mess - even though I'm the one who caused it in the first place
Thematic Threads
Manipulation
In This Chapter
Alec uses religious authority and marriage proposals to pressure Tess, then blames her for his spiritual 'failure'
Development
Evolved from physical coercion in early chapters to psychological manipulation using moral language
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone uses therapy language or religious conversion to justify renewed contact after harmful behavior.
Isolation
In This Chapter
Alec targets Tess when she's most vulnerable—separated from Angel, doing backbreaking labor, with no support system
Development
Tess's isolation has deepened since Angel's departure, making her more susceptible to manipulation
In Your Life:
Predators often return when you're isolated, stressed, or going through major life changes.
False Authority
In This Chapter
Alec adopts preacher's robes and religious language to legitimize his pursuit of Tess
Development
New development—Alec previously relied on wealth and social position, now uses moral authority
In Your Life:
Someone might use professional credentials, recovery programs, or spiritual roles to mask unchanged harmful intentions.
Loyalty
In This Chapter
Tess defends Angel's honor and remains faithful despite his abandonment and her desperate circumstances
Development
Tess's loyalty has remained constant even as Angel's support disappeared
In Your Life:
You might struggle with loyalty to someone who isn't showing the same commitment to your wellbeing.
Blame-shifting
In This Chapter
Alec calls Tess a 'temptress' responsible for destroying his religious conversion
Development
Continues pattern of Alec refusing accountability for his choices and actions
In Your Life:
Someone might blame you for their inability to maintain positive changes or healthy boundaries.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What changes has Alec made to his appearance and behavior since we last saw him, and how does Tess react to his marriage proposal?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Alec's religious conversion fall apart so quickly when he sees Tess again, and what does this reveal about the nature of his change?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people use claims of change, therapy, or religion to try to regain access to someone they've hurt before?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between someone who has genuinely changed and someone who is performing change to manipulate you?
application • deep - 5
What does Alec's pattern of blaming Tess for his own choices teach us about how manipulative people avoid taking real responsibility?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Red Flags
Make two lists: one of Alec's words and actions that might seem positive on the surface, and another of the red flags that reveal his true intentions. Then think about someone in your own life who has tried to return after causing harm. What were their 'positive' approaches, and what red flags did you notice or miss?
Consider:
- •Notice how quickly he abandons his religious role when it doesn't get him what he wants
- •Pay attention to how he makes his problems Tess's fault rather than taking responsibility
- •Consider how he uses guilt and religious language as manipulation tools
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone tried to reconnect with you after causing harm. What did they say or do to seem changed? Looking back, what signs showed their real motivations?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 47: The Machine and the Tempter
The coming pages reveal exhausting work can leave us vulnerable to manipulation, and teach us people abandon their principles when desire overwhelms reason. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.