Discuss the role of society in the shaping of individual life and destiny in The Mill on the Floss and Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

Societal Context: *The Mill on the Floss*

The society depicted in *The Mill on the Floss* is rooted in the provincial life of rural England, dominated by the values of family, property, and reputation. Class distinctions are significant, with the Tullivers representing a declining gentry family struggling to maintain their social standing. The legal and economic systems, particularly the bankruptcy laws, play a crucial role in the family’s downfall. Furthermore, the restrictive moral code, particularly concerning women, limits Maggie’s opportunities and subjects her to harsh judgment.

Maggie Tulliver: A Life Constrained

Maggie’s life is shaped by societal expectations from the outset. Her passionate and unconventional nature clashes with the rigid norms of her community. Her attempts to find intellectual and emotional fulfillment are consistently thwarted by societal constraints. Her brother Tom’s adherence to conventional morality and his insistence on upholding the family’s reputation directly contribute to her unhappiness. The societal condemnation of her relationship with Stephen Guest, even though she resists his advances, leads to her tragic end during the flood, symbolizing her complete destruction by societal forces.

Societal Context: *Tess of the d'Urbervilles*

Hardy’s novel portrays a more critical view of Victorian society, exposing the hypocrisy and injustice inherent in its structures. The novel focuses on the plight of the rural working class and the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society. The legacy of the feudal system, the exploitation of agricultural laborers, and the double standards applied to male and female sexuality are central themes. The Victorian obsession with female purity and the consequences of ‘fallen’ women are brutally exposed.

Tess Durbeyfield: A Victim of Circumstance

Tess’s destiny is determined by a series of unfortunate events rooted in societal inequalities. Her family’s poverty and her mother’s belief in their aristocratic lineage lead to her seduction by Alec d'Urberville. This event irrevocably shapes her life, branding her as ‘ruined’ in the eyes of society. Despite her genuine desire for a virtuous life with Angel Clare, societal prejudice and Angel’s own moral failings prevent her from achieving happiness. Her eventual murder of Alec, while an act of desperation, is presented as a consequence of the societal forces that have driven her to the brink.

Comparative Analysis

Feature	*The Mill on the Floss*	*Tess of the d'Urbervilles*
Social Focus	Declining gentry, provincial life	Rural working class, agricultural exploitation
Key Constraints	Class, gender roles, family reputation	Class, gender, sexual morality, patriarchal structures
Protagonist’s Agency	Limited; Maggie attempts rebellion but is ultimately crushed	Slightly more; Tess actively tries to escape her fate, but is largely unsuccessful
Tragic Outcome	Death by flood, symbolizing societal destruction	Execution, representing societal injustice

Both novels demonstrate a deterministic worldview, where societal forces exert a powerful influence on individual lives. However, Hardy’s critique of society is more explicit and radical than Eliot’s. While Eliot focuses on the internal conflicts of her characters within a specific social context, Hardy directly challenges the moral and social structures of Victorian England. Both Maggie and Tess are victims of a society that offers them limited opportunities and punishes them for transgressing its norms.