Far From the Madding Crowd discussion

Good night from Spain!
While I was reading the book, I got angry with the main character: Bathsheba. This woman has only one merit: handle her farm by herself, without a man´s help. That is very unusual in the time that this book was written. But this merit is nothing compared to her other attributes...
So many characters in the book describe Bathsheba as an honest person. I wouldn´t say that. First of all, she wrote that stupid card to Mr. Boldwood saying "marry me". But she didn´t love him! She only played with him and caused him feelings that she couldn´t answer.
Secondly, she chose the worst man to marry with: Troy.
Then, when Troy is supposed to be dead, she promised to marry Mr. Boldwood, but she didn´t love him!
That isn´t honesty!
Finally, she got married with Oak (and I´m glad because Oak is a beautiful person and he was in love with Bathsheba). But Bathsheba did everything wrong before that. She could have married Oak and then It had been easier... But she rejected because of the money.
I really hate Bathsheba, such an ugly character.

I think those actions were meant to show how young and naive Bathsheba is. She's only like 18 or 19 at the start of the book, which is impressive that she chooses to, and does succeed at, running the farm by herself.

Mr. Boldwood was crazy! She was crying the whole time he was proposing at the end. I think she didn't mean to lead him on, she just didn't know how to handle the situation.

Bathsheba rejected Oak at first because she wanted to be independent. Her decision wasn't solely based on money. Again, she was really young and didn't know how to respond.

Mr. Boldwood was a selfish too. If he loved Bathsheba, he would have done better leaving her alone.
I think Bathsheba was too young at the start of the book. Later, I believe we can´t say "She is too young" to forgive her mistakes. Age isn´t only a matter of numbers. It is a matter of life experiences. She could have rejected Mr. Boldwood after she got disappointed with Troy... She learned a life lesson whith the whole Troy thing. She saw that people can cause damage. So I don´t understand how she could promise Mr. Bolwood to marry him. Bathsheba should have learned with Troy.

How could anyone hate Julie Christie? Man those haystacks and get back to work.

Martin wrote: "How could anyone hate Julie Christie? Man those haystacks and get back to work."

I´m not talking about Julie Christie, I´m talking about Bathsheba Everdene, the character, and I don´t like her.

artemisa27 wrote: "Martin wrote: "How could anyone hate Julie Christie? Man those haystacks and get back to work."

I´m not talking about Julie Christie, I´m talking about Bathsheba Everdene, the character, and I don..."

Julie Christie IS Bathsheba Everdene.

...

At the beginning of the book she was young and vain. She wrote to Mr. Boldwood to marry her and then didn't want him and rejected Oak and married Troy, all this because she didn't know what she wanted. She was clueless and inexperienced in life. But as the story progresses, she learn and grow. Eventually, she makes the right choice. I think that all this makes the story realistic and relatable. We weren't born with wisdom, and we all make mistakes and learn from them.

At the beggining of the book maybe we can say she is too young and without experience, but just what you said, later she grows. But then again she made a mistake promising Mr. Bolwood that she was going to marry him if Troy was dead. I can't find excuse for that.

artemisa27 wrote: "Good night from Spain!
While I was reading the book, I got angry with the main character: Bathsheba. This woman has only one merit: handle her farm by herself, without a man´s help. That is very un..."

"While I was reading the book, I got angry with the main character: Bathsheba."

I total agree with you! She is a capricious girl and every page makes me hate the book. I was really hoping for it to be like the other Hardy books where the hero dies or gets really heartbroken. Sorry, I know I'm harsh but Oak deserves more. I wish another girl came in and swept his feet off.

She was frustrating and annoying because of her bad decisions and her way to handle situations, yes... And then i changed my mind because i pity her, truly. Although i kind of think 'well, she kinda deserved this' in the end i was really frustrated with Mr. Boldwood.

I think Gabriel Oak deserves more than her, he is too good for this world and Bathsheba Everdene. He was just awesome from the start and i wish he met someone else in the book, a perfect girl with beauty and kindness and wealth who chose him as her first choice. He deserves that. But of course that didn't happen. SIGH.