This is the first death in which propels the narrative forward - it lays the foundations for Tess's descent in to her 'fallen woman' status - and Prince's own name is indicative of chivalry, nobility and protection, and it is symbolic that Tess kills a creature of this sort - as it not only establishes her as a self-proclaimed, 'murderess' and therefore foreshadowing Alec's death, it deprives her family of the wealth needed to survive, and Tess is left with no other option than to fulfil the status in which her family desires of her, to claim kin at Trantridge.
The significance of Prince's name echoes the opening chapter: 'How are the mighty fallen!' - due to its connotations, and therefore is utilised as a narrative tool in order to prognosticate Tess's inevitable fall.
This is a biblical reference to 2 Samuel 1:19, 25, and 27, as David laments the death of King Saul and Jonathan - their unexpected death in battle
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'The atmosphere turned pale, the birds shook themselves in the hedges, arose and twittered; the lane showed all its white features, and Tess showed hers, still whiter. The huge pool of blood in front of her was already assuming the iridescence of coagulation; and when the sun rose a million prismatic hues were reflected from it.'
Hardy utilises imagery to aestheticise the tragic - 'prismatic hues' and 'huge pool of blood' are juxtaposing phrases. As a result, Hardy creates a grotesque beauty. This manifestation of beauty into tragedy distorts the archetypal expectations of tragic literature - indicating how Tess's downfall will not follow the same generic codes - where the innocent falls. Tragic literature often follows how a noble will fall, yet the nobility here is passed to Prince, not Tess.
The symbolism of the birds established the 'caged bird' motif which will be prevalent to the novel, symbolising Tess's moral decline.