Tess of the D'urbervilles

As I read the novel Tess of the D'urbervilles, I slowly realized the theme that was encompassing all the events that had occured in the novel. The theme was that love is not blind in the face of extreme tragedy. Although Tess and Angel had sincerely become madly in love, Tess's tragic past essentially shattered their love. Her tragic past also reminds us, as the readers, of the fact that no one can really escape their pasts. Even though Tess had tried on numerous occasions to tell Angel of her tragic past, he had refused to hear her saying that whatever it is he could forgive and forget. She even decided to put a note underneath his door that explained her past but I guess it was fate that he didn't get to read the note. Had he just read that note or allowed Tess to share her past, they might've not become married and their situation wouldn't have been so tragic. Whatever it was that prevented Angel from hearing about Tess's past, he was so confident that their love could overcome anything. This was clearly not the case as once Angel actually heard about Tess's past, he became distraught. It was her past that ultimatley led to Tess's arrest and death at the conclusion of the novel. If love was really blind, Angel should've been able to disregard and forget her past but it was so overwhelming and extremely tragic that it caused him to leave Tess and be alone for a couple years. The direct consequence of Angel's actions was Tess reluctantly becoming married to Alec after he constantly tempted her with financial support. During Angel's absence, Tess desperatley pleaded to Angel to forgive her and expressed her love towards him through her letters. We as the readers find out later that Angel had never gotten them and it only adds more to the tragedy. When Angel finally returns home and finds out that Tess was too proud and stubborn to ask for financial help from his family, he realizes the hardships Tess must've faced while he was abroad. He immediatley embarks on a journey to find Tess and when he does it's already too late. Once Tess sees Angel, her long hibernated love is rejuvenated and this ultimately causes her to kill Alec and run away. However, the townspeople find both of them in the end when all seems to be happy and Tess is hanged. This shows that love is not blind and can "expire". This story's tragic nature is only enhanced by the fact that both Angel and Tess at one time thought love is blind. They both find out the hard way and they both pay a heavy cost. This theme applies to life as well. Love isn't really blind and love can disintegrate because of someone's past. Even if both parties involved in a love affair sincerely believe they can overcome the other person's flaws and pasts, if the flaw or past is too overwhelming then the love disintegrates. This is the realistic view on love the author is trying to portray throughout this novel.