Abstract: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald‘s Masterpiece The Great Gatsby and Thomas Hardy’s most famous novel The Tess of the D’Urbervilles have been read in many different ways since they were published. The two protagonists, Daisy and Tess, though born in different times and different countries, are the representatives of the women of their eras. This paper, by comparing their social status in the patriarchal society, family background and their marriages, aims to dig up the similar factors leading to their tragedies. Besides the external causes, this paper also analyzes the internal reasons for their doomed fate. Different weaknesses existing in Daisy and Tess’s character and morality are undoubtedly the important elements contributing to their misfortune. The paper concludes that the external factors may lead to their tragedies, but it is the internal causes that destroy Daisy and Tess’s life.

Key words: tragedies, social status, personality, Daisy, Tess

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction. 1

   1.1 Introduction to The Great Gatsby

   1.2 Introduction to The Tess of the D’urbervilles

   1.3 Literature Review

2 The Similar Causes of Tess and Daisy’s Tragedies. 3

   2.1 Women’s Low Social Status

 2.2 Family Influence

   2.3 Marriage

3 The Different Reasons for Daisy and Tess’s Tragedies 6

   3.1 Character

   3.2 Morality 

4 Conclusion 8

Bibliography. 9

Acknowledgements. 10