Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1913)

Parson Tringham discovers that John Durbeyfield is the lineal descendant of the ancient and knightly family of the D'Urbervilles. Tess, his eldest daughter, has inherited all, the weakness and passions of her ancestors. Durbeyfield abandons himself to a life of ease and indolence, and to advance their financial prospects, Tess is sent to claim relationship with the rich and powerful D'Urbervilles of the adjacent county. Tess encounters Alec D'Urberville, who deceives her, and in humiliation she returns home, where her child is born. The child eventually dies, and Tess makes a determined struggle to reclaim her ruined life. She meets Angel Clare; the two fall in love, and once more her future begins to promise happiness. After their marriage. Angel tells Tess of a former fall from grace, and Tess promptly forgives him and relates her indiscretion with Alec D'Urberville. Shocked by the revelation, Angel leaves her until he can bring himself to forgive her. Destitute, Tess is again found by D'Urberville. He offers her protection and support, and she again pays the price for existence. In the meantime, Angel's love reasserts itself, and he returns. He finds her in luxury and splendor in D'Urberville's home. Torn with despair as she sees her last chance of happiness slip away, Tess in insane anger kills Alec. Her crime is detected, and she surrenders herself to the law. In a grim, gray prison, safe at last from the world that had tempted and cursed her, Tess spends the remaining years of her life with her broken heart and shattered hopes, a martyr to man's wrong.