Another of Bathsheba’s faults is haughtiness. In the first chapter, we read of Bathsheba refusing to pay the man at the tollgate enough money. This haughtiness, derived from some sense of superiority in Bathsheba mars her character for the majority of the book, another lingering trace of her immaturity.
The prominent, most glaringly obvious weakness in Bathsheba’s character is her vanity. Oak studies Bathsheba from afar, watching her unwrap a mirror as she began to ‘survey herself attentively…and smiled’. Evidently Bathsheba places high value on her good looks, thinking them to be exceptional and expects the world to agree. ‘She simply observed herself as a fair product of nature in the feminine kind.’
Yet another weakness that Bathsheba owns which goes hand in hand with her vanity is her strong sense of pride. Her pride over her public image and sense of dignity force Bathsheba to commit acts of great stupidity and she makes a number of mistakes because of it. While Bathsheba’s pride and vanity in her beauty are certainly justified as she is endowed with good looks, her beauty seems to be a mixed blessing when it attracts disagreeable suitors.
Other attributes that draw Bathsheba into precarious positions are her stubbornness and her determination to achieve independence. Upon catching her bailiff stealing, she instantly dismisses him, assuming total managerial control over her farm. This reveals yet another of her weaknesses-impulsiveness. Instantly firing her bailiff, Gabriel Oak (twice!), and agreeing to marry Troy on the spot, are all examples of Bathseba’s impulsive character. Her refusal to seem weak or undignified is brave but she relies too little upon the one man whom she can trust – Gabriel Oak.
Bathsheba’s vanity is by far her greatest shortcoming, placing her in emotionally perilous situations. It was a direct result of her vanity, coupled with her impetuous nature, which convinced Bathsheba to send Boldwood an anonymous valentine’s card. While at the farmer’s market everyman (for all save her were men) stared longingly at her, with the exception of Farmer Boldwood. Feeling piqued by Boldwood’s disinterest, Bathsheba’s vanity is affronted, and upon impulse she sends Boldwood a valentine to divert his attention to her. There was little conscious effort to seduce Boldwood, and even less consideration of the letter’s consequences or possible repercussions, showing us that lack of consideration is another weakness of Bathsheba. Vanity also gets Bathsheba into an unstable matrimony with Troy. After Troy pampers her vanity by continually complimenting her beauty and youthful looks, Bathsheba believes herself to be in love with him, ‘her heart erratically flitting hither and thither from perplexed excitement’. Having agreed to meet with Troy in secret at night to watch his sword tricks, she is kissed by Troy who ‘set her stinging as if lame to the very hollows of her feet.’ Troy awakes Bathsheba’s jealousy by telling her that he is contemplating marrying another woman, and to prevent this possible affront to her vanity, Bathsheba marries Troy. Wed to Troy almost immediately, she finds out soon that her love for Troy is shallow, being based solely on physical attraction. Arguing with Troy continuously and feeling a rift between them widening over Fanny, Troy’s discarded yet ever faithful lover, Bathsheba never reconciles with Troy before he disappears and is killed.
On account of her pride, Bathsheba finds herself in awkward positions and makes mistakes because of it. When proposing to her with his ‘superfluous moiety of honesty’ Gabriel foolishly admits that he always thought that marrying a rich woman would be smarter than marrying Bathsheba, who takes offence, her pride wounded, ending Gabriel’s chance of marrying her at first. Bathsheba’s also moves Bathsheba to sack Oak, feeling that he is criticizing her behaviour towards Boldwood. It is the more so offensive to her because she knows that Gabriel is speaking the truth.
However regardless of her many faults, Bathsheba turns out very different near the end of the book, purging herself of her pride and vanity upon realising her love for Gabriel Oak which makes passion seem as ‘evanescent as steam’. Bathsheba matures at the end leaving behind her image as a flighty young woman. Despite her shortcomings, Bathsheba’s courage, kindliness and final realization of her true feelings make up for any weaknesses.
