法律视野下的苔丝杀人案研究

On the Case of Tess' Homicide from the Angle of Law

评论家们在研究《德伯家的苔丝》中的苔丝杀人案时,大都认为苔丝杀人伏法是为其疯狂行为所付出的代价。从法律视角对该案进行研究,苔丝虽有杀人事实,但在预谋、精神状态、法律执行等方面均存有辩护理由,这些理由可保全苔丝性命。但苔丝仍是被执行绞刑,其中过程可以反映出当时法律的不公平、不公正、不平等,也揭示出哈代的创作意图。

When studying the case of Tess＇ homicide in Tess of the D＇ Urbervilles , most critics hold that justice is done when she is hanged. Examined from the perspective of criminal law, the author finds that there exist many reasons for exempting her from execution in terms of criminal premeditation, her psychological status and law enforcement. Tess＇ final execution reflects unfairness, injustice and inequality in the law of that time, which coincides with the writer＇s writing intention.