Explore how Bathsheba Everdene is presented in Far From The Madding Crowd
In this essay, I am going to be deciding on how Bathsheba Everdene is presented in the book, and how much she changes throughout.
When we first meet Bathsheba she is going to live with her aunt, and is probably dependent upon her. Then, Bathsheba inherits a farm and money. This should give her more independence in her spending so in some way, I think Thomas Hardy is trying to show that Bathsheba is going to be put through a lot of changes through the book. Since her life changes even at the start of the book, we can tell that Hardy is showing the reader that Bathsheba is going to be the one who goes through a lot, whether it be decisions, experiences and as I have learned reading the book, love life.
When first reading the book, you see that Bathsheba is a very shallow, vain and quite rude person. Within the first four chapters, a lot happen for her, mainly her meeting with Gabriel Oak. This is when Gabriel sees her in her carriage and she is not being let through the gate because she refuses to pay any more than twopence. In this scene, we see Bathsheba show her shallow side, in that Oak pays for her to pass through the gate, yet Bathsheba just gazes on, without a sign of gratification. Also within this scene, the reader sees her vainness. Thinking that no-one is watching her, she quickly gets out a mirror and checks herself. Gabriel Oak even says himself;
‘Gabriel, perhaps a little piqued by the comely traveller’s indifference, glanced back to where he had witnessed her performance over the hedge, and said, “Vanity.”‘
In another chapter, Oak and Bathsheba meet again when the shepherds hut is being filled with smoke with Gabriel Oak inside it! Bathsheba acts quickly and pulls him out. Here we see Bathsheba’s flirtatious side coming out. I think this is due to her feeling more independent and the knowing that she is her own woman and she can do what she wants. Bathsheba not giving her name shows that she is being seductive in that she wants him to find out. Also, another very flirtatious quote from the book is when she offers her hand to Oak to touch, but the suggests that he may kiss it if he wants;
“There — that’s long enough,” said she, though without pulling it away. “But I suppose you are thinking you would like to kiss it? You may if you want to.”
This meaning she obviously does want him to, but does not want to admit that she wants him to. She seems to be flirting with him by suggesting he want to kiss her and to want him to, even though she denies it.
In chapter 13, we discover Bathsheba’s valentine card to Boldwood. Although the card was sent to be a joke, Boldwood took it quite seriously. At first, my thoughts were that Bathsheba also took quite an interest in Boldwood after her asking Liddy all about him, and how she took discomfort in that he did not notice her at the Corn Market, but I later realized that it was the complete opposite. It’s quite interesting how this is though, as Bathsheba referred to him as;
“Interesting man in that he is so wrapt up and indifferent, and seemingly so far away from all he sees around him.”
I don’t think Bathsheba intends to explain how he didn’t notice his surroundings, but how he didn’t notice the one person everyone else seemed to take interest in, which was Bathsheba herself.
Ever since then Bathsheba had a certain part of her mind on him. I think this shows a certain naiveté in that she is quite inexperienced in relationships. As soon as someone doesn’t pay attention to her, she reacts.
After the valentine Boldwood’s behavior completely morphs from not noticing her, to not being able to take his eyes off of her. This is when Bathsheba’s intensions of him also change. Now she tries to avoid him at every cost.
Chapter 24 is another pivotal moment of the story for Bathsheba. The first time she meets Sir. Francis Troy. Her flirtatious side rages on throughout the chapter. She also shows quite a fragile side of her personality, but this may just be another way to flirt with the Unknown Soldier. In a way, Troy controls her emotions within their meeting, and he makes her feel, exactly how she wants her to feel. She deliberately shows her weakness when they are tied up, and Bathsheba does not want to leave his side in such sentences as;
“She softly tugged again, but to no purpose”
This is implying that she is making out that she is trying to escape from Troy. She obviously is not when we can see throughout the text that she is quite fond of him.
When finally being untangled from the provocative soldier, she wastes no time by running to Liddy and asking of Troy and what are his characteristics. The reader is left with no doubt about Bathsheba’s fancy for him after her description of Troy.
“Rather gentlemanly for a soldier and good looking”
No doubt we’ve met yet another love affair in Bathsheba’s story.
After Fanny’s death and Troy and Bathsheba’s conflict over Fanny’s coffin, We start to see Bathsheba maturing. The legal formalities connected with Bathsheba’s tenancy of her farm are introduced by Hardy to suggest the possible tragedy in store for her. Troy did not give a single thought about how his disappearance would impact Bathsheba or the farm. Troy, like Bathsheba used to be, is totally immature. He can only think of himself. In reflection of Troy, Bathsheba, who was a thoughtless woman before her sad marriage, has matured. She cannot even throw the lock of Fanny’s hair in the fire, but saves it as a memory. With maturity, she accepts Troy’s bond with Fanny and her mistake in having married him.
Boldwood’s obsession with Bathsheba is basically madness. Hardy hints that he must control it or else it will destroy him eventually. Gabriel, on the other hand, is very patient. He continues to be devoted to Bathsheba, but calmly lives with the pain of her rejection. He, however, has become bailiff on the farm, and fate seems to be smiling on him, hinting of good things to come.
Now we hit the climax of the whole story. Now at chapter 53, we see Bathsheba’s full colours, and how she deals with all of her emotions. First, we’re shown Bathsheba and Boldwood within a room. Quite a sad scene, but a great way to uncover what is lying beneath Bathsheba. In the part of the scene, Boldwood reveals a beautiful ring to Bathsheba and implies that she must wear it tonight. Bathsheba denies it. I think this shows Bathsheba still has quite strong feelings for Troy, and does not want to be seen as an unfaithful woman in the eyes of all that she knows. Boldwood forcefully puts the ring on her finger. Her fragile side shows yet again, and she gives in to Boldwood pleading with her head buried in her tear soaked handkerchief;
“Very well, then, I will, to-night if you wish it so earnestly.”
Boldwood leaves with;
“I am happy now. God bless you.”
Bathsheba then tries to leave, not being able to hide her unhappiness. But then she is stopped by Troy, entering the room, and demanding for Bathsheba to come with him. Boldwood can do nothing but agree. Bathsheba cannot move, as the book says;
“Bathsheba was beyond the pale of activity”
And when Troy pulls her arm, she lets out a low scream. This really emphasizes how distressed Bathsheba is after this series of bewildering events in such a short amount of time.
Until, Troy is shot by Boldwood. The room dies with silence. Boldwood then fails to commit suicide, after aiming the gun at himself, where Samway quickly stopped him from doing so. He kissed Bathsheba on the hand, and walks out of the house, with Bathsheba left in a dismal state. I think Bathsheba is just so shocked, that she cannot take in what just happened. Yet again, she shows her weak side, a common emotion we’ve seen throughout the book.
Finally, when all events come to a close, we are shown the true lovers of the book. All’s well that ends well. Sadness is expelled rather unusually in this novel. The novel ends on a note of good humour and happiness with no visible trouble in store for Bathsheba and Oak. The novel is rounded off with excellent country dialogue between Coggan and Mrs. Tall introducing a scene of realistic comedy.
The delightful vision of a long and peaceful life for Bathsheba and Oak is a natural end of the novel. After long suffering, they are truly entitled to their happiness. Fortunately, Bathsheba matured and put away her vanity, pride, and false appearance. She marries Gabriel for love, not out of infatuation or guilt.
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