Shewasseducedbyaso-calledgentleman—Alec,andfromthenonherlifetotallychangedfromthislossofinnocence.Peoplelookeddownonherandrespectedhernomore.Actuallyshedidnothingwrongbecausebeforeshewasseducedsheknewnothingofmen.Shewasjustagirlwhenshefirstmetthatterribleman.
Shewasforcedbythegossipsandthechurchtoblameherselfforthisaccident,soshethoughtshedeservednothinggood.Inordertogetridofthepastshedecidedtogotoadistantdairyfarmbutwasstillsayingtoherselfthatshewaswrong.MaybeGoddidn’tagreewiththat,becausetheLordgavehersomeoneshelovedwithherwholeheartandlife—AngelChare.Angelpoppedthequestiontoherbutsherefusedhimwithoutsayingwhy.Shesaidshelovedhimdeeplyandperhapsnooneintheworldcouldlovehimmorethanshedidbutshecouldnotmarryhimforsomeunspokenreason.Angelwasn’tsatisfiedwiththisvagueansweranddidhisbesttowinTess.Somehowsheagreedandtheysoonfixedtheweddingday.SoonaftertheirweddingAngelconfessedthecrimehecommittedtoawomanlongtimeagoandaskedforTess’sforgiveness.TesswasnotatallangryandforgaveAngelatonce;infactshewasratherhappyandexcitedforshealsohadthingstoconfess.
ShesatandtoldeverythingtoAngel,hopinghewouldforgiveherashewasforgivenbutshewaswrong.Shewasnotforgiven,notasshethoughtshewas.Thewomanpays.
WithoutAngel’slove,nothingmeantanythingtoher.Theresultwasn’timportantnow.Tesswasarrestedforhermurderofthatso-calledgentleman.Why?ShestilllovedAngelandwhenhefinallywentbacktoherandaskedforHERforgiveness,afterheregrettedwhathehaddoneunfairtoTess,shewasdesperate.Thatwastoolate—AlechadalwaystoldTessthatAngelwouldnevercomebacksohewonTess’strust.UnluckilyAngeldidcomebackandfoundTess.!Everythingwastoolate!
TesswasdeceivedandshelostAngelforthesecondtime!Thestrenghofherlovewassostrongthatshehadforgottenthedifferencebetweenrightandwrong.BeforethatshehaddonenothingwrongbutwhenshekilledAlec,everythingreallychanged!Shebecameacriminal!Howcoulditbe?ShewasaspureandinnocentasthegoodwifeintheBible.Herwholecharacterwashonestandfaithful.Angelfiguredoutatlastthatapersonshouldbejudgednotonlyonwhathehasdonebutalsoonwhathewantedtodo!
Tessdidn’twanttobeseducedbymanandshehadnopowertodefendherselfsoshelostherinnocenceandthat’sall!AngelalsodidthewrongthinganditwasevenmoreseriousthanTess’scrimebutHEwasnotblamedforit.Whyitisalwaysthewomanwhopays?Whytheyarealwayshurt?WhywasTess’sgirlishpuritylost?Whydoesthewrongmantakethewrongwoman?Whydothebadoftenruinthegood?Whyisbeautydamagedbyugliness?Womenaretooweak!Thousandsofyearsofhistoryhaveshownusthatwomenhavealwaysbeentreatedunfairly!
InoldChinatherewasaculture,whichdidn’tthinkofwomenashumanbeings.Ifyouaskedoneifhewastheoldestinhisfamily,hewouldprobablyanswer“theoldestone”evenifhehadsomeeldersisters.Ifyouaskedwhythenhewouldsay,“Ha,theyarenotincluded!”
Peoplegavebirthtomanygirlsinordertohaveonlyoneboytokeepthefamilynamegoing.Theythoughtgirlshadnouseforthefamily.Theywouldbemarriedandgotolivewiththeirhusbands’homeandbetheirwivessomedaysoonerorlater.Sotheywereextremelyhardongirls.
Girlsshouldbehardworking,faithful,loyal,intelligent,andvirtuousandthemostimportantthingwasshemustbeamaiden!Ifherhusbandwasthefirstmanwhotouchedherthenshewasagoodgirl,agoodwifenomatterhowshethought.Ifshewasn’t,thenshewouldgainaverybadreputationandnobodywoulddaretogonearher.Whataboutmen?Peopledidnotcarewhetherhewasanexperiencedmanornot,nordidtheycareabouthischaracter.Theythoughtmanequalspowerandpowerequalsrights…
Nowlet’snotbesobitter.Nowadayswomen’ssituationshavebecomemuchbetter.Somearebecauseofthechangeofsocietyandsomearebecauseofcivilization.JustletthosepoorpainfulwomenlikeTESSbejustamemory.
