I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book, and I could have given it 1 star for the oppressive, male world Tess' story resides in, but I don't think that's a flaw in Hardy's novel. Because it was published in the Victorian era, the struggles Tess faced both externally and internally (i.e. blaming herself for being raped, Angel Clare's lack of forgiveness for a "sin" he also committed) are an excellent critique of the high standards the Victorian Era forced on women. Is Tess a feminist heroine? I'm not sure, but she does have her moments. She is not the typical heroine, but I liked her for that, and I also loved that it was not a happily ever after in the traditional sense.

Overall, Hardy made an excellent societal critique, among other themes (nature/industrialization), without being too obvious about it. Tess is a wonderful, interesting character and I enjoyed watching her change throughout the novel as she tried to overcome hardship after hardship. No one catches a break in this book, so I can imagine someone looking for a more modern feminist narrative and/or that happy ending would not find this novel as enjoyable as I did.