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Far From the Madding Crowd
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June 2015: Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
RitaSkeeter wrote: "Bloggeretterized wrote: "@RitaSkeeter and everyone else :)I know what you mean and that's exactly who I'm comparing Bathsheba too! But I think the difference between them is that Scarlett knew wha..."
Is this Scarlett from Gone With the Wind? Man I really need to catch up on my classics.
RitaSkeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip. Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I feel very different about Gabriel. To me he is "the salt of the earth", humble, hard-working, dependable.
I agree with your post RebeccaS (message 57), Bathsheba is making a bad choice. What the Heck!! Love can make people act irrationally.
RebeccaS wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Bloggeretterized wrote: "@RitaSkeeter and everyone else :)I know what you mean and that's exactly who I'm comparing Bathsheba too! But I think the difference between them is th..."
Yes, sorry Rebecca - Scarlett O'Hara.
Laurie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip. Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I feel very different about Gabriel. To me he is "the..."
Yeah, I can see that. And he is a strong contrast to the other psychos courting Bathsheba, and to Bathsheba herself, which I think it what Hardy intended. Just a bit too good for me. It feels a bit like hanging out with your dad to me.
It does make me wonder though. Leaving aside the questions of who B does or doesn't marry, do we think at this point Gabriel would be a good match for B? I think he is probably the most suitable of the suitors because he calls her out on her crap, and balances and grounds her.
Bethwyn wrote: "hi all! I have been a part of this group for a while but finally made a point of joining in properly - I am not super far into this month's read but I am getting there!I am enjoying the descriptiv..."
Welcome! Great to have you jump in. Tess is a great book too; though she is a very different heroine to Bathsheba.
I'm still in chapter 18 and really admiring Bathsheba's strength at this stage.
Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Laurie wrote: "RitaSkeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip. Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I feel very different about Gabriel. T..."
I definitely think Gabriel is the best match for her! He's hard working and not crazy and not (too) full of himself. He does what needs to be done.
Thanks for the links to renovated shepherd's huts, Emily. They look great.
Gads I got to get moving on this. I got a little bogged down with it and have got behind.
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I still on chapter 8, so I am probably the most behind.
I am really enjoying this. A lot has happened in the last ten or so chapters, and I have no idea where it is all heading.
I have two different Kindle versions of this book and I found that the description of Sergeant Troy in Chapter 25 in the Penguin Classic and Chapter 26 in my other edition. Here specifically is why I have my editions are numbered differently:
Accordingly, for presentation purposes, this edition notes the 1874 serial arrangement of chapter clusters, but does not include Helen Paterson’s woodcut illustrations as designed for each Cornhill number with the illustrated plate facing the new instalment’s title page. 1 This edition does not follow the serial in one other respect: the extraneous, two-page, ‘All Saints’ and All Souls” chapter (XVI) featuring Fanny’s and Troy’s aborted attempt at marriage is omitted. Although this insert may seem intrinsic to Hardy’s original text, it was grafted on to the story on proofsheets and does not represent an extant part of the holograph manuscript. (Following Stephen’s advice on pace and plot, Hardy also shortened the lengthy and rather meandering Chapter XV featuring the ‘malthouse’ garrulous gossipers, and inserted the ‘All Saints” piece to tighten up the slack midpoint section of the April issue.) To omit this chapter simply to preserve the integrity of this manuscript-based edition may seem overly scrupulous given that there are probably some invisible ways in which its inclusion shaped Hardy’s creation of all that followed thereafter in the novel’s ultimate development. It is included as Appendix III, so that readers may judge for themselves.
Hardy, Thomas (2007-08-02). Far from the Madding Crowd (Penguin Classics) . Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition (location 512).
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Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I think that this is where Gabriel shows his strength. If Gabriel had already left town, there would have been more suffering and death, so that is a minor point against him.
Bathsheba needed to be taught that there are consequences to arrogant behavior and demands. If he had just rushed over to help, she would have learned nothing.
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Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I feel very different about Gabriel. To me he is "the..."
I agree. He is the kind of person that gets overlooked, but is really the kind of person all of us need in our lives.
☯Emily wrote: "He is the kind of person that gets overlooked, but is really the kind of person all of us need in our lives."I think he's very admirable. When misfortune fell, he paid up his debts and moved on with his life. He's honest and steady, and does what needs to be done without whining or feeling sorry for himself.
☯Emily wrote: "Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but Gabriel is the world's biggest drip. Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I think that this is whe..."
Yeah, I take all your points Emily and Kim, but I still don't like him. I think he's rather a prig actually. He's set himself up as Bathsheba's moral guardian/conscience, unasked for. Presumptuous.
Re this - I don't agree. I would never leave animals to suffer regardless of whether I liked the person requesting help or thought they needed teaching a lesson. If I were hiring a shepherd I'd be wanting someone who had the welfare of animals first and foremost. Wasn't Gabriel the arrogant one in this example. He offered an opinion, and then cracked the sulks when Bathsheba didn't do what he wanted?
☯Emily wrote: "I am puzzled as to why Bathsheba is always so neat and clean if she is a hands-on farmer. Real farmers get dirty and smelly. The dirt is very hard to be removed. Hands get chapped and faces get ..."I think it's the 19th century version of TV hospital doctors, who always look clean and well groomed, even at the end of a 30 hour shift.
Henry wrote: "I have two different Kindle versions of this book and I found that the description of Sergeant Troy in Chapter 25 in the Penguin Classic and Chapter 26 in my other edition. Here specifically is w..."
Interesting Henry. I have this chapter in my edition, but in addition there are a whole heap of appendices that include various out-takes etc. I'm not sure whether I'll read those or not, but interesting that they were included.
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In Chapter 20, Bathsheba does ask for his opinion. She says. "Well, what is your opinion of my conduct," she said quietly.
When he tells her, she gets angry and fires him. Why would he come back when she demands that he do so? Not any real man I know! He comes back when she is more polite.
Chapters are a little skewy across the editions, so it's chapter 19 in my edition;"I can say that to them if you wish, Miss Everdene. And I could likewise give an opinion to you on what you have done."
"I dare say. But I don't want your opinion."
She thought about it, and the asked him quietly for his opinion. Rather than tempering his opinion with kindness, he chose to stick the boot in. Would anyone react well to being told "That it is unworthy of any thoughtful and meek and comely woman." (And lets face it, even when at her most well behaved, Bathsheba is never going to be described as meek). And then rather than leaving well enough alone, he keeps on at her.
Yes, she is an arrogant twit, who was quick to anger, and she shouldn't have sacked him. However, could this interview have gone better if Gabriel had approached it differently? Could he have helped her to reflect on her actions (given she showed some interest by returning to ask for his opinion) if he had been kind rather than not?
Would Gabriel have behaved such towards his employer had they been a man?
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"I can say that to them if you wish, Miss Everdene. And I could likewise give an opinion to you on what you have d..."
Gabriel never gave his opinion until she asked him, so he was not presumptuous. Bathsheba had no one else to give her advice and she needed his, whether she liked it or not.
☯Emily wrote: "Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Chapters are a little skewy across the editions, so it's chapter 19 in my edition;"I can say that to them if you wish, Miss Everdene. And I could ..."
I take back presumptuous. I hadn't recalled that chapter entirely correctly.
Maintain my views on Gabriel in general though.
I like Gabriel but he is sort of frumpy, and his moralizing could get tedious. He strikes me as someone that a mother would want for her daughter's husband.Troy on the other hand, strikes me as a flashy scoundrel, and I have hard time understanding Bathsheba's attraction to him.
On a battlefield, give me Oak any day over Troy.
I grew up on the land with sheep, goats and cattle, so enjoy the details of the animal husbandry Hardy writes of, some of which I have seen and done years ago. I am now on my own land, running beef cattle which is still a male dominated industry, though changing. So it is interesting to read how Bathsheba deals with this. I think she does a good job, though she is not doing the physical toil everyday along the men/staff. Obviously, they could afford to employ a full staff in those days. POSSIBLE SPOILER OF LAST FEW CHAPTERS AHEAD!
I not sure about Gabriel and Bathsheba's relationship. I think she will continue to treat him as her farm overseer. Bathsheba is still young and has much to learn about relationships in general.
I finished last night and really liked it. So pleased I have reread this after thirty years. 5 stars.
Rita *wants a quick quotes quill* Skeeter wrote: "Troy reminds me of Wickham from Pride and Prejudice. I think he is one of those people who at first are kind of flashy and grab your attention, but in the end you realise the value of dependability, reliability, strength of character...."Maybe I have not got that far in the story. I am still peeved over what he did to Fanny.
Lesley wrote: "I grew up on the land with sheep, goats and cattle, so enjoy the details of the animal husbandry Hardy writes of, some of which I have seen and done years ago. I am now on my own land, running bee..."I agree about Bathsheba. She may claim to love all these men, but doesn't have realistic views. Some men she idolizes and some she treats more as a servant or a helper and I'm not sure she could truly treat them as a partner.
@Henry - if only Boldwood hadn't made the very big mistake of not telling her how beautiful she was!
How are those still reading going with it? I'm really liking it, but haven't made as much progress as I would have liked due to a busy couple of weeks at work. I like it a great deal more than Tess.And those who have finished. Final thoughts? Things you liked? Things you hated?
I haven't gotten very far at all either. It has been busy at work and by the time I get home - no reading for me. Too tired.
I liked it, but didn't love it. There were very interesting parts (view spoiler), but other parts that just dragged on. I like Bathsheba for the most part, but she makes the dumbest decisions sometimes!Near the end when (view spoiler)
I have been steadily but slowing working my way through it. I have got used to the over description and just tune out. (view spoiler)Oh regarding that over description. For those who read the Goldfinch, Tartt got off on some long descriptions, and to me they were things of beauty. She gave me an appreciation for fine furniture or a desire to walk through the apartment and the workshop. But Hardy's are just pedantical ramblings of a blowhard obviously being paid by the word. I don't find beauty or lyricism in his descriptions. They come off more like specifications from a military contracting office.
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But I was coming away, when he suddenly said he had that day seen a woman more beautiful than I, and that his constancy could not be ..."
I thought this was the stupidest reason for marrying that I ever heard. I don't really like Bathsheba.
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Oh regarding that over description. For those who read t..."
I loved the description of the storm in Chapter 37.
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LOL!
I had to give up on this book I really did not like Bathsheba from the very beginning so it made it impossible to finish this book with all of her really stupid decisions!!
Well I finished it, and glad to be done. It started getting pretty tedious toward the end. I wasn't fond of the performance on my Audible version. In the book's description it said "with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships."
Hmmmm. Perhaps I have been imbued in a swamp 21st century literary eroticism, but I can't say that I was the least bit tempted to flinch at any honesty sexual or otherwise. It seemed to me that this cast of characters all needed to pull their heads out of their butts and get a breath of fresh air.
Exactly Henry! You voiced my thoughts perfectly.
Arlene wrote: "I had to give up on this book I really did not like Bathsheba from the very beginning so it made it impossible to finish this book with all of her really stupid decisions!!"Fair call Arlene; no point in reading a book that isn't enjoyable. Maybe July's read will be a better one for you :)
Henry wrote: "Well I finished it, and glad to be done. It started getting pretty tedious toward the end. I wasn't fond of the performance on my Audible version. In the book's description it said "with unfli..."
Maybe the book's description should have said "with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships for a nineteenth century novel" .
Because I kind of agree with the description a bit, because Hardy does reference sexual relationships (consensual here, rape in Tess) and refers to babies born out of wedlock in both books as well.
I was going to comment that that is quite unusual for that era, but on reflection I'm not so sure. For example, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, written a century before Madding Crowd was very open about sex. Even Pride and Prejudice alludes to a sexual relationship between Lydia and Wickham.
☯Emily wrote: "Henry wrote: "Chapter 37 Bathsheba tells Gabriel about her marriage to Troy But I was coming away, when he suddenly said he had that day seen a woman more beautiful than I, and that his constancy..."
She's idiotic at times. Truly she is. But I still like her for some reason. Can't even articulate why, I just do!
Classics for Beginners
Books mentioned in this topic
Vanity Fair (other topics)Pride and Prejudice (other topics)
The Goldfinch (other topics)
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (other topics)
Far From the Madding Crowd (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
William Makepeace Thackeray (other topics)Thomas Hardy (other topics)
Poor sheep that suffered while he was busy making a point."
I know! I still can't decide how I feel about him. I like that he is honest with Bathsheba, but sometimes he really is on his high horse.