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ess' innocence is at risk her because she is not informed of the dangers of life by her parents; her mother does not even stop her from leaving with Alec, even though she has a feeling that Alec may take advantage of Tess. The greed for her daughter's marriage into a noble family has put the wool over her eyes. Another incident that adds to the tragedy of Tess is the letter that she receives from her mother just before her marriage to Angel, advising her not to tell him about her past life, including the rape and the baby. The deception and manipulation of Tess' parents triggers her tragic life. Angel Clare's refusing to accept Tess' unfortunate past is the beginning of an intensely tragic portion of Tess' life.