The Theme of Nature In Tess of the D'Urbervilles Nature is an important theme employed in many novels, especially throughout Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Hardy, however, skillfully uses nature specifically to express Tess's emotions. He is able to substantiate those emotions with natural images that are well known and comprehendible. He also presents different aspects of nature such as weather, landscape, and animals, using their connotations to exemplify Tess's feelings of happiness and sorrow. When Tess is desolate she inhabits the barren fields of Flintcomb-Ashe; however, when she is content, she is depicted wi