A few nights later Gabriel is encapsulated by ‘an unexpected performance’ in which he witnesses secretly in his hut. It is evident that the instant he catches Bathsheba ‘riding hard, in the manner hardly expected of a woman,’ whilst avoiding the low hanging branches and in the very revealing position she rides in, that his self control shatters to the point that he falls for the book’s heroine. Soon after, when Gabriel naively admits to having witnessed this incident, Bathsheba shows to be exceedingly irritated and fractious, but presumably above all embarrassed.
Just to think that Gabriel would be awoken a few nights to come by the succulent lips of Bathsheba, not in the way that he so longingly yearned for, but in the course of saving him from the jaws of death. For that era it would have been a great act to have carried out, as their accustomed ways then where that men tended for everything and women played no major role. Even in this day it would be seen as a grand undertaking, for we seldom hear about female saviours, normally they are all heroes (MEN).
Gabriel achieves to wind up Bathsheba once again as a result of his juvenile behaviour. Just as they finally manage to accept a slight level of intimacy with each other, Gabriel, being his usual untactful self, succeeds into stepping straight into the next puddle of misfortune. Instead of holding her hand when she permits him to, ‘he held it but an instant’ before returning to her. This shows how shy any timid Gabriel is in the presence of Bathsheba. On the other hand reveals how playful and cheeky Bathsheba likes to be. I think that although the whole time Gabriel has been fighting and waiting for the time that he can share intimate moments with her, now it is actually here and his chance lies in front of him, he doesn’t know how to act and suddenly turns shy and becomes slightly reserved. In the Victorian days, such behaviour would not be expectable, for a woman (especially not of her social class) to be cheeky and play games with a man. As then women were to respect men and do as they were told. Whereas nowadays we are much more open about things like this and would not be atypical behaviour at all but just ordinary flirtatiousness between two people. Upon explaining that he is nervous, he behaves rather aberrant about kissing her hand in a gentleman-like fashion. This annoys Bathsheba as he inadvertently makes her look like a fool. Therefore as if to punish him and regain control she leaves him hovering in suspense. “Now, find out my name.” Bathsheba leaves him with one last challenge. This challenge takes the standard games Bathsheba plays a step further, as it indicates a sign of interest on her behalf and shows she wants Gabriel to work for her affection. I think although she comes across quite harsh and demanding, she knows how Gabriel will respond to this ‘test’ – very thoroughly and reach the goal in the end, as she knows from past experience that he was even willing to put money on the line to satisfy her.
Gabriel finds himself entranced by this girl; ‘He liked saying ‘Bathsheba’ as a private enjoyment,’ and took any opportunity to walk by her house in the hopes of seeing her, he even converted his taste from brunettes to black heads. He finally persuades himself to take the lead and propose instead of waiting for Bathsheba to make a move. Gabriel after perfecting every little detail in his appearance and even being so naïve as to bring along a new born lamb as if to trade it for Bathsheba’s hand in marriage, he head of to the cottage of Bathsheba’s ante’s. I think this brings out quite a feminine and gentle side to him; he even goes on to put it into a ‘respectable Sunday basket’. Why he even possessed one is something to consider. Gabriel’s adolescents truly catches up with him this time though, when he utterly misconceives the indirectness of classic feminine mentality. It is in fact Bathsheba’s auntie who now decides that he should work harder for her nieces compassion and therefore tricks him into thinking that ‘ever so many young men’ were all after the girls hand. Gabriel, being his typical honest and straight forward self overlooks this hint and ruins his opportunity as he decides that ‘his only chance was in being the first comer’. There is such a contrast in characters here, were there is Gabriel- thinks of himself virtually inadequate for Bathsheba and considers himself nothing outstanding, where as Bathsheba (although lower in social class) regards herself highly respectable and practically thinks of Gabriel unworthy for her!
As Gabriel finds this ‘girl racing after him, waving a white handkerchief’, the only thought which may rush through one’s mind, especially the one of Gabriel’s, is that she had finally let down that barrier that for so long had been separating herself and Gabriel! Hardy creates a clear picture in the readers mind as to what is happening at this present moment by his clever use of imagery. We can just see it...Bathsheba running after Gabriel in the field, ‘her face red and moist from her exertions’ the way she waves her white handkerchief portrays a sign of peace and harmony as if to suggest that she wants to start over and all the games and tricks is of the past. Also how she not strolls or leisurely walks after him, but races, shows urgency and the necessity to reach him. After successfully building up to this climax in the story Hardy drops yet another obstacle in the way, for otherwise there would be no story. When it turns out that he had been misled and the actual reason for her running after him in that forward fashion was in fact to ‘correct a piece of false news’ that had been brought to Oak’s ears, he falls from the very peak of his joy to utter dismay. It turns out she values her independence too much and him too little. ‘I hate to be thought of men’s property’ she explains to Gabriel, but just make matters worse. This certifies that her most prized possession is in truth her independence. How she uses ‘hate’ shows that she feels very strongly and passionately about it as it is a very harsh and powerful word (rather like Bathsheba’s character). Also ‘property’ resembles something not living – an object, a thing that does not have a mind or opinions of there own. Stated in the dictionary- property- something owned; a possession eg. a house, land. The very thought of being the possession of somebody’s puts her off marriage instantly. Bathsheba goes on to admit that she warms to the idea of having all the accessories of marriage, but desired ‘one without having a husband’! How one can even dream of a marriage…but without a husband is baffling, for any time period it is set in, especially for that time, as men were most relied on in the marriage and provided for the whole family including the wife. For the Victorian age it was normal for women to accept the first offer of marriage presented to them and there main ambition (especially the poor) was to get married off. So for Bathsheba to turn around and not only decline his offer but to through it back into his face was a very ironic and eccentric thing to do. Nowadays customs are much different, women don’t marry till much later, there is now not as much emphasise put on marriage and partners tend to know each other better, whereas back then what used to happen was they would marry and then get to know each other properly after.
The table of fortune turns on Gabriel and fate yet again proves not to be in favour of him. After Bathsheba departs from the neighbourhood to a place more than 20 miles away called Weatherbury, Gabriel finds himself overwhelmed with love for her now that she has gone. Then one night when he awakes to the sound of wildly clanging sheep bells, much to his devastation he discovers that the younger of his two dog companions had been ‘too good a workman to live’ , and had driven the Sheppard’s herd over the cliff edge, totally destroying him. In the midst of all this disaster Oak proves to be optimistic and ‘thanks God I am not married’. How he can only manage to see the positive at this moment it time, where many would be dwelling in misfortune, is miraculous! If one had ever thought that bad things do not happen to good people, then I am more than confident that their views would change. Oak not being the type to drown in self pity and sorrow, decides what’s done is done and sets out to redeem himself. After paying off all his debts Oak emerges penniless and with nothing else to keep him in the neighborhood he leaves in search for work, taking nothing but the clothes he is wearing.
When he arrives at Casterbridge, he hopes to find someone to take him in as a bailiff, but to his dismay ‘all the farmers seemed to want Sheppards!’ Determined not to give in, Gabriel sets out and purchases the required equipment and converts himself into a sheep-tender. It seemed like someone up there was out to get poor Gabriel, for as soon as that was done, it was bailiffs who seemed upon demand. Oak, still not getting grasp of his tact, finds himself in a dilemma once again. When getting asked where previously worked, he always stated candidly that he was self-employed and had worked on a farm of his own. ‘This reply invariably operated like a rumour of cholera,’ as was fairly explicable. Anyone who proclaims that they used to work for themselves, but now was in search for a job was a clear sign of failure! Indicating to others not to give them work or they may end up in the same position. Therefore being unsuccessful in finding work moves on in the hope of having better luck else were.
He heads off to another fair near where Bathsheba has relocated. On the way he happens to become a spectator to a fire, and miraculously finds himself saving a farm from losing the complete harvest and leading the bystanders into putting the fire out. Oak becomes the hero of the day and when the veiled owner comes to thank him he sees an opportunity and asks without emotion in his voice ‘Do you happen to want a shepherd, ma’am?’ She lifted the woollen veil from her face to reveal her true identity; Bathsheba Everdene. ‘Gabriel and his cold hearted darling, Bathsheba’ find them selves ‘face to face’. This time when they meet their circumstances have changed dramatically, as if there roles had been switched- Bathsheba now a wealthy lady after inherited her uncles farm, and Gabriel- penniless. The emotional pain Oak must have felt at that very moment must have been overwhelming. Just to think that two months before, Gabriel was promising to be a successful farmer and had proposed or more like pleaded for Bathsheba’s hand, only to be rejected. Now before her he stood begging for a job. When she didn’t speak, it is nerve wrecking to see Gabriel repeat himself but this time in a much sadder and shameful manner. ‘Do you happen to want a shepherd, ma’am?’ I, myself as a reader, feel exceedingly embarrassed and humiliated for poor Gabriel. One can only start to imagine how hard it would’ve been for him to have come before his loved one as a beggar. I think although time has passed, nothing has changed with Bathsheba, she still craves power and authority, and her silence without saying a word resemblances as if to say that she was clever in not accepting Oak as look at him now. Though somewhat uncomfortable with the situation, she hires him.
In the old Victorian times, having a woman as a farmer was unheard of. It was absolutely ridiculous to think that a woman could not only survive, but thrive in a man’s world and, it being that they weren’t to talk back to men or disobey them in anyway, it was theoretically impossible as well. But when Bathsheba comes into it there are always exceptions, as we learn ‘In arguing on prices she held to her own firmly, as was natural to a dealer, and reduced theirs persistently, as was inevitable in a woman.’ this shows what great confidence Bathsheba has in herself, despite what other people may think of her. The mere fact that she is ready to speak back to a man and be firm and strong at the same time is more than enough to have any man baffled. When she, then, even decides to “have no bailiff at all, but to manage all with her own head and hands,” the scrutiny of the others is completely obvious. No one could think it possible – a woman thinking that she was able to lead a farm all by herself, without experience and, of course, without the assistance of a man by her side. In the old days it was hard for a woman to fight her way through, yet Bathsheba, despite what many people think, manages quite nicely. Despite any social regulations of the time, Bathsheba manages to run her farm single handily and even make it a success. In this story, the farmers, despite their poor and problems, always had food, drink, warm clothes and a dry place to sleep even though, in reality, it probably wouldn’t have worked out so nicely, as that was a time of hardship and shocking conditions. Bathsheba also makes it look very easy to fight her way through with willpower alone, although, truthfully, without a man by her side it would under normal circumstances have been very hard for her to reach anything.
All in all, it was very hard for people from different social classes to mingle in the old times, and although hardy brings forward the outline for that time he doesn’t display it as bluntly and with full truthfulness behind it.
All good writers keep their readers intact and involved in the story, this is usually achieved by the build up of tension and suspense. Hardy does this successfully by setting lots of barriers that the characters must overcome and defeat. It is nerve wrecking as we are made travel through this rollercoaster of emotions. One thing that becomes clear whilst reading is that one can never be curtain what obstacles and problems may be thrown your way, but you can be curtain that whatever it may be, you shall always have a choice to make.
