The Victorian writer Thomas Hardy questioned the link between virginity and virtue in his novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles, written in 1891. This question is still of current affairs and discussed today for its modern readers. Hardy challenged society's view of virtue as well as the double standard that a woman's moral character was tied to her virginity status. Additionally, the first novel to appear more than a hundred years earlier was Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, by Samuel Richardson. Both novels are similar in that they revolve around a female protagonist who is repeatedly questioned about her virtue and whether or not Victorian society will accept her sexual morality. The theme of virtue in Tess d'Urberville and Pamela is clearly evident in the subtitles alone. Hardy subtitles his novel "A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented", which created a great deal of controversy which led to his novel being censored and also a change in the title so that he could successfully publish it. For example, the incident where the character Ange carries the three women one by one across the river is revised by using a wheelbarrow to refrain from touching the women, which seemed too inappropriate to readers at the time. Additionally, Richardson's novel read Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, which also created some controversy in the sense that it gave readers the idea that if one meets the standards of virtue, he will ultimately be rewarded. The central theme that a woman is forever cursed and ruined by the loss of her virginity, defined in Pamela, is thus questioned and criticized in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The moral standards of a society are different from those of an individual... middle of paper... talk to him about his dark past and he is immediately shocked and rejects her. He says, you were one person now you are another.” Tess begs Angel to love her for who she is and not for what she did in the past, but cannot convince him to leave the past in the past. Virginity for one's wife is important and should not be debated. Angel doesn't realize that Tess's virtue should not be tied to her virginity. Hardy makes a strong statement about the double standards at play here. Alec and Angel judge and treat Tess badly. Angel justifies his mistreatment and rejection of Tess because of her past and impurity. Furthermore, why must a virtuous woman be a virgin? Pamela is clearly a model of good female behavior. Her answer to Mr./B's 48 Rules of Marriage highlights a woman who is 200 years ahead of her time..