Quote by Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbe
There was no exaggeration in Marian's definition of Flintcomb-Ash farm as a starve-acre place. The single fat thing on the soil was Marian herself; and she was an importation. Of the three classes of village, the village cared for by its lord, the village cared for by itself, and the village uncared for either by itself or by its lord (in other words, the village of a resident squires's tenantry, the village of free or copy-holders, and the absentee-owner's village, farmed with the land) this place, Flintcomb-Ash, was the third. But Tess set to work. Patience, that blending of moral courage with physical timidity, was now no longer a minor feature in Mrs Angel Clare; and it sustained her.
Summary
In this quote, Marian describes Flintcomb-Ash farm as a barren and impoverished place, where even the people living there struggle to find enough food. The only thing of value on the farm is Marian herself, who is seen as a rare exception. It is explained that there are three types of villages: those taken care of by their lord, those that take care of themselves, and those neglected by both lord and residents. Flintcomb-Ash falls into the third category, as it is a village farmed by absentee owners. Despite the challenging conditions, Tess, the protagonist, remains determined and patient, relying on her moral strength to persevere.
Topics
Patience
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