Existential Crisis in Hardy’s “Tess’s Lament”: Text, Context, and Psychological Praxis

Abstract

Thomas Hardy is the last of the great Victorian novelists. He is known as one of the best English novelists. He is more well-known for his novels than for his poems. Tess of d’Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented is one of those hallmarking and time-beating novels, he has written. The unique thing annexed to this novel is that he has composed a non-narrative poem expressing Tess’ deep pain and pang over her loss entitled “Tess’s Lament”, which seems to be it's supplementary. It appears that its miniature presents the whole through the part. Existential crisis, usually considered a complicated event, can be seen as the core of psychology, which comprises emotional, cognitive, and behavioural parts. Both in the poem "Tess's Lament" and in Tess's own life, the psychological practice of existential crises plays a key role. Whatever she does, she feels sad, alone, and helpless. It also makes her feel like her life has no meaning or purpose, and it keeps her from interacting with other people, which upsets the emotional, mental, and behavioural parts of her existence and being.