Essay on the contrasting settings in Hardy's Tess d'Urberville The setting(s) of a novel are often an important element of the work. Many novels use contrasting locations, such as towns or villages, to represent opposing forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. In Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles, the contrasting settings of Talbothays Dairy and Flintcomb-Ash represent the opposing forces of good and evil in Tess's life. A significant portion of the novel takes place at Talbothays Dairy, which represents the force of good in Tess's life. In Talbothays, the air is “clear, invigorating and ethereal”; the river flows like the “pure river of life” and the air “wonderfully excites [Tess’s] spirits.” The author describes the valley as a kind of paradise, with clean, fresh air and a flowing river. Upon entering the area, Tess reaches an emotional high, encouraged by the beautiful atmosphere. At Talbothays, the milkers form “a small battalion of men and women”, often “singing songs to attract the cows »....

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