Gabriel learned that another fair was to be held in Shottford, the other side of Casterbridge, the following day. Debating either to lodge in Casterbrige and proceed in the morning or carry on, on foot, Gabriel spotted an abandoned wagon and intelligently decided to rest there until the morning, therefore not having to pay for lodging. Still in the wagon Gabriel woke and distinguished a conversation. The wagon was moving and curious if he was near Shotford, Gabriel observed the sky and using his worldly knowledge; he and noticed that, ‘Charles Wain was getting towards a right angle with the pole star, and Gabriel concluded that it must be about nine o’clock’. Watches were available in the Nineteenth Century but his clever intuition allowed him to discover the time, how long he had slept and how much nearer he was to Shottford. Having these resourceful abilities enabled Gabriel to know of his whereabouts allowing himself the opportunity to search all over Wessex looking for work, giving him more inspiration.
He, ‘slips’ out of the wagon and suddenly spots a fire. Gabriel sprung into action, understanding that a ‘rick-yard was the source of the fire’. He feared that the fire could spread to the main produce of the farm. Gabriel could have walked on and dismissed the fire but thankfully to the owner of the estate, Gabriel assisted. ‘Oak suddenly ceased from being a mere spectator’. As a fair reaction, most would become terrified and reduce to a ’headless-chicken”, panic but Gabriel almost sets aside his emotions and focuses on the job in hand- fighting the fire. ‘Stop the draught under the wheat-Rick’, ‘Get a tarpaulin, quick’, ‘A ladder’. With quick thinking, Gabriel dominated this potentially, destructive situation, efficiently, calmly and in an authoritative manner. The fact that he had the ability and knowledge to retain the fire, displays his capability to lead, instruct and resolve through times of crisis. He was hired on Bathsheba’s farm as a shepherd and slowly excelled and established his occupation again. Whether he decided to help control the fire because he didn’t want someone else to experience the same kind of adversity he had experienced, is irrelevant because I believe that even if Gabriel was having the most prosperous day of his life, he would still have, ‘Leaped over the fence’, to be of some assistance. This is because Gabriel Oak is a caring understanding and thoughtful man and however complicated and terrible his situations are he is always willing to over exert himself for others.
Another natural catastrophe occurs when Bathsheba’s sheep fall extremely ill after eating clover. Prior to this accident, Bathsheba had gone to Gabriel to ask about the farm workers, rumouring on a marriage between her and Mr Boldwood as a reaction to a childish action. As he had been heartbroken by her before, he had empathy for Boldwood and criticised her for her tactless ways. He condemned her for playing with Mr Boldwood’s emotions. ‘You are greatly to blame for playing pranks upon a man like Mr Boldwood, merely as a pastime. Leading on a man you don’t care for is not a praiseworthy action.’
Being a woman who likes to control she did not appreciate his honesty and sacks him from the farm. Gabriel did not put up another argument in a plea for keeping his job. He simply held his head up high, kept his pride and immediately left the farm with the closing words: ‘Very well miss Everdene-so it shall be.’ Gabriel had solid dignity throughout the argument and restrained himself from letting it evolve any further. A few weeks later, Bathsheba’s sheep become critically ill. Telling her workers to get some help, they said that Gabriel was the only farmer known of to have the information and skills to save the sheep. Bathsheba forbids them to go and get him as she was still defiant about the argument. She just yelled ‘Get me somebody to cure the sheep instantly’, not directly telling them who or where. Then in a cry of desperation, she screeched, ‘Where is Oak staying?’
When telling one of her workers to get Gabriel’s help, she rudely ordered, ’Ride across and say he must return instantly-as I say so.’ The messenger returned with Gabriel’s reply. ‘He says beggars mustn’t be choosers.’ Gabriel was not going to be summoned to her aid in such a rude way of asking. ‘He says he shall come onless you request en to come civilly and in a proper manner, as becomes any ’ooman begging a favour.’ After Bathsheba’s pleading for Gabriel- still in an immature and stubborn way, he came to help the sheep. He got to the farm and walked straight past Bathsheba without a word and tended to the needy flock, ‘Took from his pocket, the instrument of salvation’. Although just a farmer, Gabriel seemed to have enough wisdom and knowledge to write a book of knowledge. ‘Passing his hands over the sheep’s left flank, and selecting the proper point, and punctured the skin and rumen with the lance.’ Gabriel “deflated” most of the sheep, therefore, saving Bathshebas’ main income. ‘Forty nine operations were successfully performed’. Altogether he saved fifty-seven sheep. Although angry with Batsheba for her insolence, Gabriel loved her eternally and would be willing to do anything for her, irrespective of her actions, ‘Gabriel will you stay on with me?’ ‘I will’.
After marrying Sergeant Troy, a selfish deceiving and inconsiderate man, a celebration is held for his discharge from the army. Gabriel, too hurt to involve himself in the celebration, stays outside, in the farm. As a conclusion to an influenced night of drunkenness, the whole party falls asleep. Contemplating the weather and nature around him, Gabriel is anxious that a storm might be brewing. ‘The night had a sinister aspect’, ‘in the sky dashes of buoyant cloud were sailing in course at right angles to that of another stratum, neither of them in the direction of the breeze below.’ ‘The sheep had trailed homeward, head to tail’, ‘The horse had moved with timidity and caution’ Oak became disturbed, ‘eight naked and unprotected ricks, massive and heavy with the rich produce of on half the farm for that year’ He went back to the barn and sent a message to Troy for help but he dismissed his warning and resumed with the celebration. Gabriel decided he would have to save the farm alone. He then had a feeling of Why? Why should he help Bathsheba after everything? With Troy’s intolerance, he should just let his worry blow over his head, but again, he loved Bathsheba and knew it would destroy her if the farm was invaded by the weather. Gabriel’s assumptions of the storm were clarified to him when he saw a garden slug had retreated into his home for ‘reasons of its own’.
He had to start saving the farm. He also decided to save the farm because of his love, ‘I will help to my last effort the woman I have loved so dearly.’ With his uttermost strength, he struggled to cover the hay-Ricks. Fighting against the wind and the cold he managed to do so. Bathsheba came out to find Gabriel trying to save the farm and she suddenly realised how contrasting he was as a man compared to Troy and that she had married the wrong man. ‘Oh Gabriel, what to you do I owe my heart to?’ After a challenging and restless night for Bathsheba and Gabriel, Morning was as calm as the morning sunrise and the farm was saved, once again, because of Gabriel’s commitment.
Concluding this essay, throughout the novel, Gabriel Oak has pulled through disastrous occasions. He is an admirable character and in an inspiration to a reader of adversity and destitution. At the end of the novel Gabriel is of a higher social class than he was before as he has taken over Boldwood’s farm after his terrible fate ended in prison. Gabriel succeeds through life’s testing obstacles when most would let certain situations take grasp of their sanity and hope, yet Gabriel somehow copes through everything. He is almost invincible but not when it comes to his heart. His love and generosity for Bathsheba grew and these testing times definitely brought them closer, although not immediately, so in the end, he got the girl and he unquestionably deserved her.
