Tess of the D'Urbervilles characters

Appears from the start

The eldest daughter of the poor Durbeyfield family of Marlott. Tess is capable, conscientious, and keenly sensitive to the consequences of her family's choices. Her father has just learned that the family descends from the once-powerful d'Urbervilles, a discovery that she regards more cautiously than her parents do.

Also known as Sir John d'Urberville

Appears from the start

Tess's father, an impoverished haggler from Marlott. A passing parson tells him that his family descends from the ancient d'Urbervilles, and John immediately takes pride in the connection despite having neither wealth nor practical advantage to show for it.

Appears from the start

An antiquarian clergyman who recognizes the Durbeyfield name and tells John about his noble ancestry. His chance disclosure sets the family thinking about whether the old name can improve their circumstances.

First appears in chapter 2

A young man who passes through Marlott with his brothers and briefly joins the village club dance. He notices Tess but leaves without choosing her as a partner, making their first meeting no more than a missed encounter.

First appears in chapter 3

Tess's energetic, credulous mother, who manages a large household with limited means. Joan is delighted by the d'Urberville connection and begins imagining that Tess might claim kinship with a wealthy family of that name.

First appears in chapter 4

Tess's young brother, who accompanies her on the family's nighttime journey to market after their father is unable to go. His questions about the stars reveal both his trust in Tess and the family's dependence on her.

First appears in chapter 5

The fashionable young heir at the estate called The Slopes, whose family adopted the d'Urberville name after making its fortune. He receives Tess as a supposed poor relation, though the two families are not actually connected, and takes an immediate personal interest in her.

First appears in chapter 7

Alec's elderly, blind mother and the owner of The Slopes. She is devoted to her poultry and employs Tess to tend the birds, taking little interest in the supposed family connection that brought Tess there.

First appears in chapter 14

Tess's infant son, born after her return to Marlott. When he becomes dangerously ill, Tess baptizes him herself and gives him the name Sorrow.

First appears in chapter 17

The genial master dairyman at Talbothays, where Tess goes to work among a large household of milkers. He values practical skill, keeps a welcoming table, and treats the dairy workers with an easy familiarity.

First appears in chapter 18

A confident dairymaid at Talbothays and one of Tess's close companions there. Marian shares the other women's admiration for Angel Clare while recognizing that his attention is increasingly fixed on Tess.

First appears in chapter 18

A dark-haired dairymaid at Talbothays, reserved but perceptive. She is one of Tess's friends and, like Marian and Retty, quietly loves Angel Clare.

First appears in chapter 18

A gentle young dairymaid at Talbothays. Retty joins Marian and Izz in their friendship with Tess and in their unreturned affection for Angel.

First appears in chapter 25

Angel's father, a sincere and austere country clergyman. He expects his sons to serve the church and is disappointed that Angel has chosen agricultural training instead, though he remains concerned for his son's future.

First appears in chapter 52

Tess's younger sister, now old enough to share some of the burden created by the family's worsening circumstances. She resembles Tess and helps Joan care for the younger children during the family's displacement.