Far from the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd:

Far From the Madding crowd by Thomas Hardy, reflects many issues of the Victorian Era that are affecting Hardy directly, such as the industrialization and construction of cities, certain Victorian paradigms, that of which includes the placement of women in society and the Christian views being challenged due to Darwin’s evolutionary discoveries, and Hardy’s own concept of Fatalism.

One of the major issues explored in the novel, is the industrialization of the Victorian world. Hardy explores this through Gabriel Oak, emphasizing his connection with the land, which, inevitably, pronounces the loss of connection in the industrialized cities.

An example of Oak’s appreciation and connection with the land is shown through the episode within the text, expressing his recognition of the stars, and his acknowledgement of nature “…And the twinkling of the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed by a common pulse.” The personification and imagery used in this moment tells the reader that, to Oak, nature is alive, like a living organism, united as one body.

“…The roll of the world eastward is almost a palpable movement. The sensation may be caused by the panoramic glide of the stars past earthly objects” the imagery used in this moment is powerful, and appropriately describes Oaks deep connection with the cosmos. “He stood still after looking at the sky as a useful instrument, and regarded it in an appreciative spirit, as a work of art…” through this personification of the sky we see his respect for the natural world, and just how rural and Far From the Madding Crowd Oaks life is.

In the Victorian era, many people who live in the cities would not have experienced the sensation of the movement of the earth, or seeing the stars as clearly as Oak, simply because there was a high amount of pollution emitting from the new machines of the era. Hardy explores his concern of industrialization to a great extent, using Oak to emphasize the loss of connection to readers, through highlighting his own to the rural landscape.

The patriarchal discourse is explored to a great extent throughout the entire novel. In many episodes, Hardy explores the disempowerment of women through the character of Bathsheba Everdene.

One episode in Hardy’s text illuminates this bias towards men and what women were restricted to when Bathsheba is working in the corn exchange “The other man would then shake his head “Yes, ‘tis a pity she is so headstrong…”” Through this moment in the text, it is revealed to the reader that, even though she’s good at the economic side of trade, the men of the time found it a pity that she’s strong-willed, the men are not aware of the gender bias and put Bathsheba down for doing what was expected to be a mans job. “Tis a handsome maid however, and she’ll soon be picked up.”