Hardy portrays Angel as a close-minded intellectual instead of portraying him as a man who can open himself to his true inner feelings. Indeed, this portrayal of Angel is a true reflection of the times in the setting of Tess . When Angel s bride reveals to him that she has committed the sin of premarital sex, as did Angel, he begins to reveal to the reader the ignorance probably very true to life during these times. In her sin, forgiveness does not apply . Angel s double standard shows the reader that sexism existed even in the more open-minded characters during this era. Angel believes that his wife s sin was not a question on respectability, but one of principle. Hardy portrays a time period where men where entirely concerned with how society viewed them.
Men still had not completely broken away from societies norms although they believe themselves to be men of the modern world. Instead of following their hearts, they made choices in accordance with what others would think. Perhaps that is initially why Tess would be the perfect woman. Surely with looks so pure and astonishing, this would certainly lead to the envy of all other men.
Sadly, both Alec and Angel view women only as objects without feeling or intellect.