Later on in the chapter, Bathsheba Everdene is shown as a total antithesis of that of Oak’s demeanor. When Oak first sees Bathsheba Everdene, he is standing on Norcombe hill, ‘His first feeling now was one of pity for the untimely fate of these gentle ewes and their unborn lambs’. This quote shows Oak’s unity and love with his sheep and furthermore nature. Hardy uses the term ‘gentle’ to show that nature is tranquil and positive, which is in contrast to the unnatural way of life. This also shows that Oak cares more about the problems with his sheep than his own. Oak is depicted to be a very selfless person; this is shown in the quote ‘Thank God I am not married what would she have done in the poverty now coming upon me.’
Later on in the novel, chapter ten, we begin to see the changes that are occurring in Bathsheba Everdene begin to show when she shows that she is completely capable of running a farm, which is a contrast to the Bathsheba Everdene that we met at the beginning of the story. Hardy now portrays Bathsheba Everdene as a more modest person ‘Bathsheba blushed slightly at the sense of being generous in public.’ This shows how Bathsheba Everdene has changed, because before, the rare gestures of generosity that she made would have been behind closed doors, but now she’s part of a farming community she feels more at ease. Hardy has changed her character into a farm mistress who is perfectly capable of running a farm. Hardy also describes her eyes as ‘bright’ this shows her as a happier person and as more gentle.
There are scenes in the novel which involve the forces of nature, which bring Gabriel and Bathsheba together; developing their relationship and showing them in a positive light. In chapter 21 when Bathsheba’s sheep fall ill after devouring a harvest of young clover, Bathsheba is distraught ‘what can I do, what can I do! Said Bathsheba helplessly’. One of her farm hands, Mathew, is quick to inform her of on man who is able to save her flock. When Bathsheba discovers that this man is Gabriel Oak, we catch a glimpse of the Bathsheba we met at the very beginning of the novel, ‘How dare you name that man in my presence,’ the way she says ‘my presence’ reveals to us that Bathsheba thinks of herself as royalty, a higher class than everyone else. Nearing the end of the chapter Bathsheba finally swallows her pride and composes a letter to Gabriel Oak to request his help and presence. In her letter she writes ‘Don’t desert me, Gabriel!’ the exclamation mark shows that when she wrote this letter she is not only upset but she is desperate for Gabriel’s help and maybe also his presence to comfort her in her hour of need. When Gabriel has finished with her sheep Bathsheba requests that her stays on at her farm as the shepherd once again and Gabriel accepts, the chapter ends with ‘she smiled on him again’ this shows that maybe Miss Everdene is finally starting to show her inner beauty.
Chapter 56 shows the complete personality change that has occurred with the relationship between Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene, ‘beside which the passion usually called by the name is evanescent as steam.’ This suggests that the passions and the emotions that Bathsheba had felt towards Sgt Troy has evaporated like steam, what she has with Gabriel is more solid and feels more real for her, it is a relationship that will last the ages.
Throughout the novel, the characters of Bathsheba Everdene and Gabriel Oak are put into many different situations and it shows that the ones where they are closest to nature make us see them in a more positive light. The final chapter of Hardy’s novel brings together the two protagonists in matrimony, a natural ending which is welcomed by the rural neighbors and the community. Chapter 57 closes the story by creating an image in our minds of the happy couple ‘Oak laughed and Bathsheba smiled.’ We feel that the couple are now content with each others company and are at ease.
