Stepping out of Paradise into...The Garden of Eden?

It's easy for many to say that Tess Durbeyfield from Tess of the d'Urbervilles has wandered out of her place of relative comfort and into the snake's pit. The beginning of her story sets her in the rural English region of Wessex, a place where she lives in contentment. Unlike her parents, she is fitted for the country, always ready to work when necessary. However, the untimely death of her "Prince," the family horse, plummets her into a chain of events that lead her to the doorstep of the d'Urberville mansion. Who be there to greet her? None other than Alec d'Urberville, the ominous villain behind dark clothes.

One of the story's greatest themes is the idea of a predetermined fate, something anyone would be anxious of. Well, the stars don't say much for Tess, because how ill-fated it is for her father to come to know of his family's distant lineage, for Tess to meet Angel Clare, for their horse to die in a tragic manner, for her guilt to become her motivation for being led to an ominous household.

It is widely discussed that the story of Genesis of the Bible has a significant influence on the story's events, how Satan the serpent lured Eve to the forbidden fruit much similar in the manner Tess is urged on by the scheming Alec to produce a proper whistle. However, what strikes the curiosity of many is that Tess never actually produces a very successful whistle. This leads to wonder: has she partaken of the forbidden fruit, or is that a part of Alec's schemes?

It is said that the future is so unknown to humans to the point where only God can know its secrets. If He had created humans to be pure, only for the cunning of a serpent to turn them away, and He knew about it, why was it allowed to happen like that? 

Purpose.

Many believe that God allows everything, good or bad, to happen because they commit to some greater purpose. Could the same apply to Tess's ill turn of fate? If so, then the predetermination of her life itself presumably carries a purpose. And what is that purpose? That is a question unanswered, for sometimes only oneself can discover the meaning behind every one of their troubles. 

With this in mind, how do you believe Tess is believing all this?

One thing's for certain, a heart placed in paradise full of temptation can hardly be considered sanctuary compared to one of contentment full of little material value.