Hardy title character (4)
I believe the answer is:
tess
'hardy title character' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for tess that I've seen before include "Hardy's pure woman" , "Thomas Hardy heroine" , "- of the d'Urbevilles (Hardy)" , "'Justice' finally done on her (Hardy)" , "- - of the d'Urbervilles" .)