Natural Catastrophes in Far From the Madding Crowd

Several natural catastrophes happen over the course of the novel; the

dogs driving the sheep off the cliff, the fire, the sheep feeding upon

clover, the storm. What role do these events play with respect to the

character of Gabriel?

Set in Wessex, a fictional location in rural England, Far From the

Madding Crowd is a nineteenth century novel, based around the

character of Bathsheba Everdene, a young, bright woman who arrives in

the village of Weatherbury, to work the dilapidated farm that is her

inheritance from her uncle. She is a 'beautiful heroine', a youthful

and vain woman who is attracted to Sergeant Troy and becomes

infatuated with him; being of youth, good looks and possessing a sense

of danger and excitement. Like many women in the human existence, she

is utterly oblivious to the fact that is apparent: a hardworking,

honest and trustworthy, local farmer, Gabriel Oak. He loves her

dearly, but as in most, 'love/tragedy', scenarios she doesn't love him

at all. In a particular situation, Bathsheba's "Thoughtless" actions

consequence in a loan farmer, Mr Boldwood passionately falling for

Bathsheba who, again loves her more than Troy but, a result to a

tragic end, leaves her with one man.

Gabriel Oak is almost a faultless character in Far from the Madding

Crowd. His personality which is calm, kind and strong-among other rare

qualities, corresponds to the name Gabriel Oak. 'When Oak smiled, the

corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant

distance of his ears his countenance like the rays in a rudimentary

sketch of the rising sun'. This description of Gabriel's facial

features delivers a warm, approachable and soft image and perception

of his character. He is a leader and a problem solver who, when in

times of crisis and adversity, copes, when most would retreat, give up

or become suicidal. Gabriel has good presence of mind. He is generous,

attentive and helpful. He has enduring love for Bathsheba and remains

trustworthy to her throughout the novel, when confronted with

extremely, soul-testing situations.

In chapter five, Gabriel is challenged with a pastoral tragedy. As a

result, he descends in the farming trade and becomes impoverished.

'With the clothes he stood up in and nothing more'. Struggling and

striving to overcome this dilemma, he leaves for the annual hiring

fair held in Casterbridge, knowing it is imperative that he finds

work. Gabriel exerts himself as a Bailiff but is not successful in

gaining employment. He has mounds of emotional strength but is

disheartened and drawn by this. 'Gabriel was paler now. His eyes were

more meditative and his expression was more sad'. However, sinking

from his, 'Modest elevation as pastoral king into the very slime pits