Gabriel Oak Essay

Thomas Hardy wrote the characters of Bathsheba Everdene and female genital organ robin with specific attributes and details. both(prenominal) women involve similarities and differences that either directly influence each another(prenominal) or other characters. The dainty track system in the 1870s (which is where farthermost from the Madding crowd is based) had four distinct classes. Two of those were the upper working class and the commence working class. Bathsheba would have probably become upper working or middle, when she inherited the call down.We can see that Bathsheba regards herself as world higher up in the social order, from the first time we see her in the withstand, by the management she treats Gabriel Oak. (QUOTE (Gabriel Oak giving her m whizy for the gate). ) This expresses her individuality and the way she see those in a lower class to her, or those she wishes to impress her social stature on. The nobility in the 1870s didnt mix with those lower than the m, although they did have responsibility for their workers. For instance, when asshole Robin goes missing, Bathsheba is worried and concerned a pear-shaped her whereabouts. (QUOTE. Bathsheba containing everyone to keep an eye out for Fanny).Bathsheba has dark hair and audacious clothes which represents her personality. As she highlights herself as bold and dark throughout the book (QUOTE). This is in stark melodic phrase to Fanny Robin, who has yellow hair and (QUOTE to severalize her appearance). This attire is that of a poor char and essays that she, aswell as non cosmos able to afford rich clothing, does not have as frequently esteem as Bathsheba. I depend Hardy makes this line of reasoning to show the difference in class and the fact that women are not each(prenominal) the same. (As some(prenominal) men assumed in the 1870s) A ironlike contrast between Bathsheba and Fanny is highlighted at the beginning of the book.As there is a social hierarchy between the mistr ess (Bathsheba) and the maid (Fanny) in every households. Bathsheba and Fanny both worked hard for a living. They were both pushed into situations where they were fighting in the wrong class and the wrong sex. For instance Bathsheba inherited a farm and money and had to purport herself as a man at the farmers market. (QUOTE of Bathsheba universe at the market) Fanny Robin saw herself becoming the wife of an ships officer therefore moving herself up in the hierarchy. The Victorian Farming exertion was mascu assembly line dominated and therefore Bathsheba was entering a traditionally male world.This allowed her to develop her character from an unpractised girl of Norcombe to a supervising and still woman. This was noted by Gabriel Oak, who throughout the book acts as some other pair of eyes, through which we can see Bathsheba. He speaks of her truthfully and helps the earreach understand her and what she is doing. Bathsheba wee-wees on the farming duties because she doesnt wa nt yo fail and is always trying to impress herself. Whereas Fanny seems to be desperate just to survive. She was plectron up a living of seampstering. By saying picking up I feel that Hardy is trying to express her need to exactly encounter by.Also in the time that this book was written, seampstering was known to be a tough trade, which was very poorly paid, and not a line of work to take up unless it was the last resort. Fannys actions contrast Bathshebas will, not to survive, but to impress. I dont think Bathsheba would have allowed herself to be in such a position to have to take up seampstering, as she had too practically pride and many more resources socially. Fanny Robin fits into the 1870s conventions a great oversee better than Bathsheba does. I think that this can be related to their puerility and parentage.Convention in the 1870s was very much about women world seen and not heard. It was frowned upon for a woman to converse with strange men. Bathsheba broke this pri nciple as soon as she met sergeant Troy, as she spoke to him and interacted quite of quickly leaving after she was untangled. (QUOTE. Bathsheba meeting Troy and flirting). A woman should always have used a soft voice. Fanny Robin was portrayed as a very quiet woman, and many of the local anesthetic townsfolk described her as (QUOTE. Her quietness). Bathsheba, however, was very vocal and was able to take charge. For instance, when she took over duties as the bailiff.A woman was never expected to ask anything of a man in the 1870s. Neither Fanny nor Bathsheba fitted this rule totally. In some respects Fanny did, she was very grateful to Gabriel for his help, and wrote a garner of thanks to him (QUOTE. Fannys letter). In other situations Fanny was not as respectable, for instance, she pushed Troy until he finally set a consider for their wedding, instead of waiting for him to make his choice. Bathsheba also defies convention when she doesnt thank Gabriel for paying her toll. This sh ows that she expects Gabriel to do it anyway, and considers herself higher than him.A woman was not to get onto a carriage or a horse. (QUOTE. Of Bathsheba riding horse wholly). When Bathsheba rides alone and is, unbeknown to her, seen by Gabriel, she defies all convention. Even if she was alone, a normal Victorian woman would never take the same actions as Bathsheba. Fanny fits intimately all convention, and is submissive to men. She would have been a model Victorian woman. This is in contrast to Bathsheba who simply had too much character to be a Victorian woman. For instance she travelled all the way to Bath, on her own, to come across Troy. Which in the 1870s would have been unheard of.Bathshebas parents were not exemplary of the Victorian era. The father himself was (QUOTE. To describe Bathshebas father. ) He had to pretend that he was single so that he didnt have commit adultery to his wife. From this open and modern family, Bathsheba couldnt have been expected to be nat ural and average. From her parentage she is bold and probably taught not to fit in. Fanny Robin, however, was looked after financially by Boldwood. She was very much closed as a child. The simple fact that she didnt have a strong upbringing implies that she may not have a strong life, or character.The two womens views on marriage are possibly one of the strongest differences between their characters. Bathsheba is quoted to have said I shun to be thought mens property in that way when Gabriel asks her to marry him. This reflects her individuality and a slight insecurity about being tied down with another man. Perhaps because she doesnt know what is round the next corner, and doesnt want to have to be with her husband forever. Fanny Robin was very keen to marry Troy and when she finally had her eon set she wrote a letter to Gabriel Oak saying I am happy to say I am going to be get married This simple sentence shows the little girl inside Fanny. (That is shown many multiplication du ring the book). This also shows another contrast between Bathsheba and Fanny. Bathsheba appears to be very much more mature than Fanny. For instance she doesnt like to cry (QUOTE. Bathsheba belongings back tears). The rustic characters in Far from the Madding crowd act as narrators throughout the book. They are the comic relief for the audience, and contrast the other characters by having a common view on people like Bathsheba and her family. The other characters such as Liddy, Bathshebas maid, see her as almighty womanly.