Despite the similarity seen in Troy and Boldwood both shirking their responsibilities, they are for extremely different causes. Boldwood’s lack of responsibility had completely to do with the fact that he was distracted by his feelings for Bathsheba. Troy however, was just plain lazy.
Also, the author has shown a contrast in the attitudes of Frank Troy and Gabriel Oak. The author has created these contrasts for us but in the process, has manipulated his language in different ways to give us the different impressions. For example, when Gabriel sent the messenger to inform Troy about the impending rain that could destroy the hayricks, Troy merely replied that “it wouldn’t rain” and that “he couldn’t stop to talk to him about such fidgets.” The tone portrayed here is way too nonchalant for someone who is in charge of a farm. Furthermore, the fact that Troy sent the messenger back to Gabriel instead of coming to Gabriel himself to at least ask about it, highlights his irresponsibility. He considers it beneath himself to talk about such “fidgets” as he puts them. In contrast, when Gabriel asked Boldwood whether he had covered his hayricks the night before, Boldwood answers like this: “ ‘o yes.’ Boldwood added, after an interval of silence: ‘what did you ask Oak?’ ’”. The “interval of silence” speaks volumes. Clearly, Boldwood was so distracted by something or someone, namely Bathsheba, that he had to take that much time to process what Gabriel was saying. By showing this contrast, the author has once again underlined the fact that country folk should be trusted over city ones any time.
Troy doesn’t show any interest in the farm whatsoever even though the farm was essentially his after the marriage. Gabriel however, is hardworking and manages the farm extremely well. Furthermore, he has an exceptionally good working relationship with Bathsheba’s workers. He’s firm with them without being overly harsh. Gabriel is shown by the author as the epitome of goodness and in Gabriel he has instilled all the values which he thinks that all people should hold true. Even Gabriel’s name, shows that Thomas Hardy regards Gabriel with high esteem. Gabriel’s name was from God’s most trusted angel, Gabriel. This is how we are meant to look at Gabriel, someone who was to be trusted. The word Oak makes associates him with the strong and study oak tree, never shaken by any set-backs; and that he could be depended upon for consistency.
In comparison, Troy clearly did the workers harm with the drinking incident. Gabriel’s ability to run a farm efficiently is seen as more important than the flashy charms of Troy. In this way, Hardy uses Troy to once again play up the virtues and play down the faults of the country folk.
Another point that can be picked up here is that the central characters’ working relationships with the workers show their worth or lack of worth. Bathsheba for example, had always been generous to the workers. An example of this would be when she gave the workers bonuses in their wages when she first came. Another example is when she invited the workers in for refreshments after the incident with the fire. This was not seen as common in the 19th century because of the strict class hierarchy. The workers would not have been welcome in their masters or mistresses houses and the workers acknowledge this as they told her that they could “knock down in a bit and a drop a good deal freer” if they were sent to the malthouse instead.
As seen earlier, Thomas Hardy frequently compares city life with country life. This is most clearly seen in the way that Troy is portrayed in comparison to Gabriel or Boldwood. There are however, more examples.
He described the malt house as a place where there was great hospitality and cosiness. “The room inside was lighted only by the ruddy glow from the kiln mouth”. Gabriel also brought some lambs there in the lambing season as he didn’t have enough space for all of them. This shows us the hospitality of the old malter. “If twasn’t for your place here old malter, I don’t know what I should do” is what Gabriel says. The author shows us that although life in the country is simple, it has aspects that certainly make it more comfortable compared to the cold city life that Thomas Hardy tries to portray. Thomas Hardy wrote the book in 1874 when the whole of western Europe began to industrialise but England at an accelerated rate. Thomas Hardy resented the fact that his beloved countryside was being destroyed and this is portrayed in the book through setting the malt house as a place where all the workers met up for a jolly drink or two. It represented the traditional values and the ways unchanged by the industrial revolution which England was caught up in at that time. Bathsheba’s workers are first properly introduced to the reader in a chapter 8 where they are all seated there having a chat after the fire. Through this conversation between the workers, Thomas Hardy manages to convey the camaraderie between them. For example, there was a lot of light hearted banter about Joseph Poorgrass’s shyness. This further shows the extent of their understanding of each other. This wouldn’t have existed in the city life he was portraying. In place of the camaraderie would have been people rushing around having no time to stop and care for the people surrounding them.
The other country folks also show respect to the malter by agreeing with him when he thinks that he is a hundred and seventeen years old even though his son rightly said: “You’re turnip hoeing were in the summer and you malting in the winter of the same years and ye don’t ought to count both halves, father” We approve of the compassion that these characters show to the old malter by agreeing with him instead of starting a huge debate on his age. However, Hardy still manages to make us smile because of the hasty way in which the characters give in to his indignant cry that he was indeed that old.
One example in which he shows the worth of the country folk is when Boldwood first visited Bathsheba’s farm, she refused to see him because she was in a dishevelled state and didn’t want him to see her that way. Thus, she told Mrs Coggan to tell Boldwood that to “say that I can’t see him- that will do.” Instead, Ms Coggan says that and then adds a little more information to justify the reason. She tells Mr Boldwood that “Miss is dusting bottles, sir, and is quite a object- that’s why ’tis.” This makes us smile, and at the same time admire the frankness of country folk .
Another example is when Boldwood was convicted, they all hoped that he wouldn’t be given the death sentence although he had killed Troy. (“A petition was addressed to the home secretary, advancing the circumstanced which appeared to justify a request for a reconsideration of the sentence.”) They still respected him for what he was before the whole affair with Bathsheba happened. Also, they understood Boldwood enough not to go to the trial. Jan Coggan says that “Twill disturb his mind more than anything to see us there staring at him as if he were a show.” We admire the way they understand basic manners and show respect towards this man. In the city, there would probably be a big to-do about it. Thomas Hardy shows us that country folks are more well mannered inside while the city folk only have superficial manners.
One last example: at the fire, everyone co-operated. It seemed like the whole village was there to try to help. Everybody lent a helping hand. “On the ground, the groups of villagers were still occupied in doing all they could to keep down the conflagration” Again, Thomas Hardy emphasises the merits of country life and how everybody cares about the problems of others and how they are willing to help in times of need. On the other hand, with this fire incident, Thomas Hardy creates a scene of chaos and doom before Gabriel’s arrival. Once again, the minor characters aid him. In this case, it is to show Gabriel’s worth.
In the story, Thomas Hardy frequently uses the minor characters to move the plot along.
For example, Fanny Robins is used as an aid for Thomas Hardy to directly show Troy’s cruelness and bad qualities and indirectly, show the demerits of city life and it’s people. He devotes an entire chapter to describing Fanny’s courageous struggle to reach Casterbridge. Through reading this chapter, we can’t help but pity her. She fell for a man who took advantage of her and yet, still, she bears no grudge towards Troy. From her simple forgiveness and magnanimity, we admire her and our liking and respect for Troy goes down several more notches.
Another example surfaced when Gabriel was making his way to Weatherbury, he had wanted to sleep in what he assumed to be an abandoned wagon. But, when he was sleeping, the wagon had started moving and he had heard the men who were driving it talking. They were talking about a lady.
“Yes- she’s very vain. ’Tis said that every night at going to bed she looks on the glass to put on her nightcap properly.”
At that moment of time, Gabriel had already suspected that this woman could be Bathsheba If this wagon hadn’t been driven to Weatherbury, Gabriel would have never got off at where he did and thus, he wouldn’t have spotted the fire. “Oak watched it, and the glow increased. Something was on fire.” And therefore, he might not have seen Bathsheba for the rest of her life and his. Here the minor characters, Joseph Poorgrass and Billy Smallbury, have played a big part in bringing Gabriel to the scene of the fire, albeit without their knowledge. The author has in this case arranged the situation as such so that everything fell into place naturally.
An additional example is shown when Fanny Robins dies. Joseph Poorgrass was given the task of getting the coffin from the union back to Weatherbury. But on his way to Weatherbury, her stopped for a drink with Mark Clark who persuaded him to have more drinks till he was almost totally drunk and had forgotten the task set for him. “All’s the matter with me is the affliction called an multiplying eye, and that’s how I look double to you- I mean, you look double to me.” (Even when the country folk are making mistakes, Thomas Hardy kind of protects them by still using language to make their situation humorous. This then allows their crimes to be lessened in the eyes of the reader.) Because of this, Fanny Robin’s coffin had to be kept in Bathsheba’s house for the night. If Fanny Robins had been buried without Bathsheba ever having the chance to find out who was in the coffin with her, she would never have found out that Troy had actually slept with her before. To the contemporary reader, the fact that Troy had slept with someone before his marriage to Bathsheba wouldn’t have caused much of a stir. But Thomas Hardy didn’t write in our times. He wrote in the 19th century when people were not that open about pre martial sex and would therefore, have received this point of the story in an extremely different way. Thomas Hardy would have been without doubt, subjected to criticism.
One of the most important minor characters used to move the plot along was Liddy, Bathsheba’s servant but also confidante and friend. Exemplifying this, Liddy was the first person that Bathsheba told in no uncertain terms about her feelings for Troy. revealed how affected she actually was by her feelings for Troy. Through her rant to Liddy, the author shows very clearly what her dilemma about Troy is all about and reveals how affected she actually was bout her feelings for Troy- “But Liddy, he cannot be bad as it’s said. Do you hear?” Also, through this conversation, we see Liddy through new eyes as Bathsheba calls Liddy her companion. “you are not as a servant- you are a companion to me.” This event with Liddy portrays Bathsheba’s inadequacy at total independence. Her neediness of other is also what Troy plays on and is the centre of where Troy’s power over her lies. Troy uses this aspect to force Bathsheba to marry him as he told her Bathsheba that: “he had that day seen a woman more beautiful than I, and that his constancy could not be counted on unless I at once became his”. Bathsheba’s will and determination to get rid of him was destroyed at this crucial point again because of this flaw in his character that is first introduced by the minor character, Liddy.
Also, Boldwood’s obsession with Bathsheba had been sparked off by Liddy’s suggestion: to send the Valentine’s card previously intended for Teddy Coggan to Boldwood. “What fun it would be to send it to the stupid old Boldwood and how he would wonder!” By saying this, she had directly led to the devastating effect it had on Boldwood. Had that valentine been sent to Teddy, the string of reactions that followed it would not have had a chance to happen. Boldwood would still have been a well-respected and successful farmer, and Bathsheba would not have been riddled with guilt for sending that valentine. Boldwood wouldn’t be caught up in this obsession about Bathsheba that caused him to neglect everything else. Without Liddy providing input into the decision making process, Bathsheba would have gone with her first decision; that is, not to send the valentine to Boldwood. Therefore, it can be said that again, a minor character has played a enormous role in the direction the plot moves in. But also, this incident has shown very clearly Bathsheba’s inability to assume a responsible stance when what she think would be a bit of fun comes into play. Another flaw in Bathsheba’s character is once again brought out through her interaction with Liddy.
Finally, at the end of the story, Bathsheba is in control of her life and she assumes the level of responsibility expected from her. This is yet again brought about through Liddy’s interaction with Bathsheba. Bathsheba dismisses Liddy’s suggestion to come out of mourning for Boldwood’s party. She understands that she must first think about how she’ll appear to other before acting. “No, I will appear as usual, for if I were to wear any light dress people would say thins about me, and I should seem to be rejoicing when I am solemn all the time.”
Through these examples, Liddy shows the progression of how Bathsheba matures as a person.
Another way in which Thomas Hardy uses the minor characters to give the reader more insight into the plot is to allow them to overhear or observe major characters’ actions and then let them give their opinion on it.
At one point of the story, Boldwood’s workers overhear him speaking to himself before the Christmas party at which he would have Bathsheba’s answer on whether she would marry him after seven years or not. Through the workers, the readers realise the full extent of Boldwood’s obsession about Bathsheba. ”I hope to God she’ll come, or this night will be nothing bit misery to me! O my darling, my darling, why do you keep me in suspense like this? ” Also, one of his workers said: “I thought that fancy of his was long over.” This tells us that to the outside world, Boldwood seems fairly normal and he seems to be getting on with his life quite well, while in actual fact, he is still in the clutches of his craze about Bathsheba.
Also, when Bathsheba went off with Boldwood and she was afraid of what the men would think of her. She asked Gabriel “if the men made any observations on my going behind the sedge with Mr Boldwood yesterday.” This shows that what the workers think of her matter quite a lot as she was quite disturbed by the fact that they assumed that she would marry Boldwood and that “Boldwood’s name and her own were to be flung over pulpit together before the end of the year.”
Thomas Hardy made it a point to create our first impression of Gabriel through the opinions of country folks. At the start of the book, Gabriel was being described through the opinion of people in his neighbourhood. “When his friends and critic were in tantrums, he was considered rather a bad man; when they were pleased, he was rather a good man; when they were neither, he was a man whose moral colour was a kind of pepper-and-salt mixture.”. Gabriel’s worth wasn’t portrayed very strongly as seen by the description of him. From here, we can also see that Gabriel had not made a marked impression on the city folk and thus, their opinions of him were liable to change with not what Gabriel did, but with what was happening in their environment.
At the end of the story however, the country folk appeared outside Gabriel’s house, after his wedding. “their ears were greeted with the firing of a cannon, followed what seemed like a tremendous blowing of trumpets.” This showed us that the country folks had placed their stamp of approval on them.
Through the country folk, we see the difference in the way Gabriel is perceived. In this way, we are able to see just how highly Thomas Hardy valued the county folk. By doing it this way, the author has managed to show us that in the countryside, the opinions of the people around you are highly valued.
An extension of this idea of this is the way in which Gabriel strived to be accepted by the people in Weatherbury by trying to conform to what their society was like. Although he wasn’t used to drinking and eating things with layers of ash and grime on them, he pretended that he didn’t really mind so as to make the villagers believe that he didn’t think that it was beneath himself to do such things. “I never fuss about dirt in its pure state, and when I know what sort it is.” This shows that the opinion of people at that time did indeed matter a lot to individuals just as it does in our own society today. If Gabriel hadn’t acted in the way he did, he probably would have never had been accepted into this circle of workers and instead would be isolated from the rest of them. Troy doesn’t try to act like the workers around him at all. Thomas Hardy in this way makes the minor characters important as the main character’s integration and happiness in the society is dependant on the approval of the minor characters.
Thomas Hardy’s use of minor characters in this way isn’t very conventional. Of course, all authors make use of minor characters to help them move the plot along in place, bridges gaps that don’t flow and to provide insight into the doings of other characters. But Thomas Hardy takes this one step further as he actually brings out these characters by putting them in the spotlight more frequently than the norm. Most minor characters in books are not meant to be remembered whereas in Far from the madding crowd, these characters are well loved and have made a distinct impression through Thomas Hardy’s skill at portraying them. By incorporating minor characters in this subtle but important way, perhaps Thomas Hardy is saying that the small characters count; that they make a difference. convention
