History in Vogue discussion
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Far From the Madding Crowd
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Far From the Madding Crowd: The Conclusion
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I felt cheated for Oak over this (the passages you posted above).I was sick of his undeserved mooning over BS, then I felt he was cheated out of a declaration from her in the end.
In the hands of a woman author, I think Oak and BS finally getting together would have been more satisfying. I wanted romantic declaration as a reward for Oak. But she was still vain.
I only gave this a 4-star rating bec Oak was cheated, and me as well. I wanted a payoff for putting up with a great man like Oak mooning over that egotistical, vain girl through the whole book.
I stopped wishing for Oak to win Bathsheba's love early on and hoped he'd find someone more deserving. Bathsheba doesn't show she's learned anything about love or constancy. She still feels like she deserves his adoration. It would have been better if there was someone for her to be jealous of to realize she had feelings for Oak or some kind of resolution that shows she has grown up.
QNPB, I wasn't wishing for Oak and THAT girl to get together, but since it HAD to happen, I wanted her to FINALLY show some gratitude and affection.You're right, though that she didn't learn, at least not what I wanted her to learn.
Oak was too good for her.
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I do have to say, having watched the movie a second time, it does annoy me a little. The first time I was focusing a lot on the scenes, and costumes, etc. but it really does feel like they tempered Gabriel's character a great deal. They made the story more centered around Bathsheba, victim of Troy, victim of Boldwood being slightly obsessed. There's little of her discussions with Boldwood that show her responsible for starting the situation. It's subtle, if you hadn't read the book you'd probably never realize it. But there are parts of Gabriel standing up to her that are removed completely. The part where he talks to her about Troy, and tells her its the second time she's pretended to fire him... Is reduced to him saying he'd like to stay there and support her if she'll allow him. It's still a great movie, but that disappointed me.
Meanwhile, my mother doesn't care for classic literature, but likes the films, so she had no idea of the storyline when I watched it with her the second time. By the end it was - I knew he would end up being stupid and staying there with her. Why did you make me watch this movie...
I haven't seen the movie yet but from what I've told my mom about the book, she thinks the movie was pretty faithful to the book. She said the movie was worth watching if only for the scenery! I need to watch it when my dad isn't home to a)complain, b)ask a million questions and c)snore through it.
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Like he didn't unnecessarily moon over her and let her by with enough already...
I just ordered the DVD from Amzn for 2-day delivery so I can possibly watch this weekend at little sis house as she has TV & DVD player.I think my sister will enjoy it as she loves British period drama too. However she doesn't know anything about this book or move. Both are totally off of her radar.
I have to agree with the general consensus of the ending. I knew they were going to end up together, but I did expect more of an outward transformation from Bathsheba. I agree that it's questionable if she really loved Oak at all, or just wanted him around like he always had been, knowing that he was "pining" for her, stroking that ego... That's how she appeared, anyway.I haven't seen the movie yet, I was waiting to finish the book first, but I've had so many people tell me it's great. Of course most, if not all of them, haven't read the book, so we'll see.
Nikki wrote: "I have to agree with the general consensus of the ending. I knew they were going to end up together, but I did expect more of an outward transformation from Bathsheba. I agree that it's questionabl..."Nikki, as much as I generally enjoyed the book, (view spoiler) I was very disappointed. I think in a woman writer's hands, we would have got what we wanted!
Andrea, I completely agree!
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Yes... Just, yes... Poor Gabriel, he really did deserve more.
The movie is really good. I took issue with some of the way they cut things, but it is a fair representation. And it's GORGEOUS! Definitely watch it.
Boldwood is tried for Troy's murder the following March and sentenced to death, but a community petition of insanity grants him a stay of execution and life in prison.
That summer Bathsheba goes to visit Troy's grave where she had him buried next to Fanny. While inspecting the tombstone, Gabriel arrive at the churchyard. He tells her he is planning to give up Boldwood's farm and go to California the next year.
He avoids her until Christmas, when he notifies her by letter he will not renew his contract with her.
She was aggrieved and wounded that the possession of hopeless love from Gabriel, which she had grown to regard as her inalienable right for life, should have been withdrawn just at his own pleasure in this way.
She goes to his home that evening, and he tells her he is no longer planning to leave,but plans to stay and purchase Little Weatherbury. He offers to help her, if people weren't assuming he intended to marry her as well.
Yes; of course, it is too absurd. I don't desire any such thing; I should think that was plain enough by this time. Surely, surely you be the last person in the world I think of marrying. It is too absurd, as you say.
Too soon' was what I said. But it doesn't matter a bit—not at all—but I only meant, 'too soon.' Indeed, I didn't, Mr. Oak, and you must believe me!
“Bathsheba," he said, tenderly and in surprise, and coming closer: "if I only knew one thing—whether you would allow me to love you and win you, and marry you after all—if I only knew that!"
"But you never will know," she murmured.
Why?
Because you never ask.
Gabriel and Bathsheba are quietly married a few weeks later.
Where, however, happy circumstance permits its development, the compounded feeling proves itself to be the only love which is strong as death—that love which many waters cannot quench, nor the floods drown, beside which the passion usually called by the name is evanescent as steam