The Role of Setting In the novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, Tess is faced with many different levels of happiness, from pure joy to absolute unhappiness. As she moves from location to location, the setting of these places portrays Tess' joy. From her pure happiness at Talbothay's Dairy, to the turning point of Tess's joy at the old D'Urberville house, to her most unforgiving stay at Flintcomb-Ash, to her final contentness before …showed first 75 words of 1016 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1016 total…peacefulness, such as it was" (367). They were free to love each other in peace. The entire cottage was draped in amiable warmth. Upon their leaving Tess sighs, "Ah, happy house-good-bye!" (369). It is while at Bramshurst court that Tess feels her greatest joy and peace, and Hardy shows that well through his light and joyful descriptions. From the playful atmosphere at Talbothay's Dairy, to the mysterious gloom apparent at the old D'Urberville house, to the d