“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Far from the Madding Crowd: quotations (2)
Choose a quotation from the fourth instalment (chapters XV-XX). Remind us what chapter it comes from, then
explain briefly why you chose it. Feel free to comment on other
quotations! Due by Monday, January 11th.
In Chapter XVIII, before Boldwood is thinking about the letter and decides to go and see Bathsheba and eventually to propose. We have a short view on Boldwood's character. "I an emotion possessed him at all, it ruled him: a feeling not mastering him was entirely latent. Stagnant or rapid it was never slow. He was always hot mortally, or he was missed." I think this quotation is very powerful and develops Boldwood's character. We have some foreshadowing about how much something can destroy him, and how extreme his emotions can be. It doesn't announce anything good for the future of his feelings when we know how troubled he is about Bathsheba's letter.
This is the quotation I wanted to choose at first! I really agree with you: we learn a lot about Boldwood and his deeply emotional nature. The use of "or" in the last two sentences shows the contrasting emotions he faces on the daily and how it's never nuanced. Good job for your explanation :)
At the beginning of chapter XX, Bathsheba is thinking about Boldwood's proposal and her feelings are mixed. The narrator has thus the opportunity to reveal his ideas on marriage and says "It appears that ordinary men take wives because possession is not possible without marriage, and that ordinary women accept husbands because marriage is not possible without possession". These conceptions about men being superior reflect marriage at Hardy's time and develop this omnipresent theme. Moreover, it develops Boldwood's character. He was not interested in women before but now we suppose that he is in love with Bathsheba and we realize that all he wants is possession, as other men may desire. However, Bathsheba is described throughout the book as an uncommon woman; we can expect that she will never accept his proposal because she is too independant. Thus, this passage also influences the reader and his expectations while developing themes and characters and that's why I chose this quotation.
In the beginning of Chapter XX, when Bathsheba is considering Boldwood's marriage proposal and right before she goes to Gabriel for advice, the narrator expresses his opinion on Bathsheba, saying that "Bathsheba's was an impulsive nature under a deliberative aspect. An Elizabeth in brain and a Mary Stuart in spirit, she often performed actions of the greatest temerity with a manner of extreme discretion." In my opinion, this quotation summarises Bathsheba's character perfectly, showing how people see her and how she really makes most her decisions. We can see this being true when Bathsheba sends the valentine to Boldwood for example. This quotation also allows the reader to be aware of what the narrator thinks of her as well.
In chapter XX, Boldwood has just made his marriage proposal to Bathsheba and she goes to Gabriel for advice because "the single opinion in the parish on herself and her doings that she value[s] as sounder than her own [is] Gabriel Oak's". I think this quotation is important because it shows how the relationship between the two characters evolves. Even though Bathsheba refused Gabriel's proposal, she has still some respect towards him. It foreshadows the fact that Gabriel will become the only thing stable and trustworthy around Bathsheba while everything else will go astray.
The quotation I have chosen is spoken in chapter XIX, during Boldwood's marriage proposal to Bathsheba. They meet some way off from the farm workers, who are sheep-washing, and the second thing that Boldwood says after good morning is this: '"I feel - almost - too much - to think"'. The narrator remarks that this is something said with a 'solemn simplicity', and I couldn't agree more; Hardy's ideas always seem to shine most when he expresses them with this simplicity, and when they come from such stark contrast. The fact that all Boldwood can use to speak of his complex, overwhelming and almost dangerous feelings for Bathsheba is at first such a small sentence, and the absence of any other explanation for the moment, is extremely telling of Boldwood's inexperience in dealing with emotions; furthermore 'feel[ing]', an area of life which he does not yet seem to understand, appears to be entirely cutting short his ability to 'think' - a domain which, when we first knew him, was his natural forte. This, again, shows his extreme personality. Of course the expression would not have worked half so well if Hardy not chosen exactly the right places to use his dashes. The ragged, tortured intonation implied by the punctuation and its acute affect on the reader is what makes this quotation my favourite from this instalment.
I chose a quote thqt can be read at the very beginning of Chapter XVII, when Boldwood lands his eyes on Bathsheba : "Adam had awakened from his deep sleep, and behold! there was Eve." This quote firstly shows that Boldwood has had an awakening since he has received the Valentine, since he was noteven interested by women before that; it also shows that Bathsheba and him are linked (at least in the way he sees it, there is a part of "male gazing" here), hence the comparison with Adam and Eve. Boldwood thinks Bathsheba was made to marry him.
"But a resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible."
I chose this quotation on page 124 (chapter XVIII) because it foreshadows the unavoidable evil which is coming up at Bathsheba : Boldwood's marriage proposal. This will eventually break Batsheba taking everyone with her. Besides, I think this quotation is also true in real life because sometimes the evil is so close that you can only wait for it to come and deal with it's consequences.
In chapter XVI, the narrator describes Troy as being "The young sergeant" who "stood still with the abnormal rigidity of the old pillars around, [...] his face [...] upright as a column." This quotation shows the importance of the setting since Troy becomes part of it through his description. Moreover, the themes of abnormality ("abnormal") which we've already seen with Boldwood, and the theme of antiquity which we've seen through setting.
I chose this quote from chapter XVII (p119) : « Boldwood’s blindness to the difference between approving of what circumstances suggest, and originating what they do not suggest, was well matched by Bathsheba’s insensibility to the possibly great issues of little beginnings. » In this scene of the market-place, the narrator tiptoes between different focalisations, either diving into the twists and turns of Boldwood mind, or, as it is the case in the quote, taking some distance and delivering a careful analysis of the characters’ interactions. In one sentence, a rather complex combination of circumstances has been depicted : while Boldwood has a tendency to romanticise the facts, Bathsheba tends to underestimate the scope of her recklessness. Though these penchants seem opposed, they both deviate the character’s expectations from reality, and are indeed « well matched ». I like the idea that Bathsheba and Boldwood both have a share of responsibility in their torment, because after all there is something fundamentally similar in their strength of character.
I chose the quotation: “Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tropic intensity. Had she known Boldwood’s moods her blame would have been fearful, and the stain upon her heart ineradicable. Moreover, had she known her present power for good or evil over this man, she would have trembled at her responsibility.” It is on page 119 in chapter XVII. These lines foreshadow the obsession that will overtake Boldwood as he falls for Bathsheba and the dramatic irony of her obliviousness to the kind of lover her “prank” has awakened. The contrast between the aloof, dignified presence that Boldwood projects in Weatherbury and the “tropic intensity” of his true nature is striking.
The quotation that drew my attention in the fourth installement was from chapter XVI (p.115) : "They were about to disperse, when a smart footstep, entering the porch and coming up the central passage, arrested their attention. The step echoed with a ring unusual in a church; it was the clink of spurs." These startling sounds at the end of a peaceful mass at All Saints church announce the arrival of Sergeant Troy in this chapter. What is quite intersting about this quote is the description merely through sounds : we hear the confidence of the newcommer and his job - a soldier. Plus the external focalisation that only notices facts leaves to us, the readers, the ability to link the spurs and the church to Sergeant Troy. Finally the word "unusual" linked with "spurs" makes his presence in the church rather odd and intriguing. A successful introduction to the chapter's events!
I chose a quote that appears at the beginning of chapter XX (p.130), when Bathsheba is considering Boldwood's proposal and says that it is very disinterested of him to "offer [her] all that [she] can desire". The narrator then intervenes by declaring that "the rarest offerings of the purest loves are but a self-indulgence, and no generosity at all." This statement made me think, as it is completely realistic and true, in my opinion, especially in Boldwood's case; he is so obsessed by Bathsheba that he wants her for himself, and he could give her anything as long as he accomplishes the only thing that could make him happy, which is to marry her. This is really shown through his proposal in the previous page. Boldwood doesn't seem to see Bathsheba's struggle and embarrassment, and by not giving her any other choice than to tell him that she needs time to think, he ends up by saying : "I am happier now." Therefore I thought the narrator's intervention at this moment was very well chosen, as the reader understands that Boldwood is only searching for his own interest and happiness. Moreover, the generality that the narrator makes of it conveys a sort of pessimistic view of love, and maybe generosity too; if we think about it, if making an other feel happy makes us ease our conscience, couldn't it be seen as more selfish that generous ? But then, does generosity exists ? Ok, I might be going a bit too far now.. However, I thought this quote was quite interesting !
The quote I chose appears in chapter XVIII during the mental description of Boldwood's character : « Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tropic intensity ». This quote reflects many elements of Boldwood's personality and the most striking one seems to be his threatening and dangerous aspect established by the adjectives « dark and silent » and emphasized by its description as a « shape » which adds to his obscure and mysterious temperament and shows that Bathsheba barely knows him. His extreme personality is also expressed by a nature imagery of the seed : Bathsheba's letter is a seed thrown on Boldwood's fertile soil that triggers a tremendous change in himself, unleashing his darker side. This imagery is particularly evocative as it may be related to Boldwood's name itself : this « bold wood » is a « hotbed of tropic intensity » which would explain why this name was chosen by the author. He is in fact both aspects of the wood : sometimes characterized by an incredible stillness and then by an extreme sensibility to any emotional stimulus like a « tropical » forest . This is really suggestive knowing a tropical forest is far more dangerous and unknown than a continental forest... In this extract, Bathsheba seems to be the focalizer and we learn that she is unaware of all of this. This extreme reaction to such an insignificant letter is the beginning of a butterfly effect in Boldwood's character that may foreshadow some tragic plotlines.
I chose the quotation in chapter XVIII, when the narrator is describing Boldwood's emotions, it says : "He was always hit mortally, or he was missed." I think it really represents Boldwood's character, who had previously completly ignored Bathsheba at the market, but now that he starts to have feelings, he becomes quite obsessed by her, as we can see later in the book. In itself, using "mortally" to describe the way someone feels, is really powerful and strong, and brings some sort of element of foreshadowing. There is also the fact that it's quite harsh, giving to Boldwood's emotions a dark meaning, something that should be beautiful and has been twisted until it became a deathly weapon (here slowly killing Boldwood). To Boldwood, there is no in-between. He is a total opposite to Gabriel Oak, who =, even if he had sworn to love Bathsheba until he died, settled for a sort of "in-between", choosing to be her friend instead of trying to pursue her. I found this quotation really important because it allows to see the character of Boldwood in a new light.
Chapter XIX, Bathsheba: "No - I beg you! Don't be happier if happiness only comes from my agreeing: Be neutral Mr Boldwood! I must think." I think this quote tells us about Bathsheba as well as Mr Boldwood. We see how desperate Bathsheba is from the fact that she cannot control what she started. It can either make the reader feel empathy or at the contrary have a reason to despise her. As for Boldwood, we see how his feelings are influenced by Bathsheba's decision: his character is so emotional that he already relies on her for his own happiness.
I chose "The great aids to idealization in love were present here : occasional observation of her from distance, and the absence of social intercourse- visual familiarity, oral strangeness." p 125 chapter XIX According to me, this shows the 'fictional' aspect of Boldwood's love for Bathseba : he seems to love the idea of her and not the person that she is. Indeed, he hasn't ever talked to her yet at this point which means he doesn't know her at all. Moreover, as Bathseba is considered a beautiful woman, it is thus easy for Boldwood to idealise her personality based on her looks. The opposition between the terms 'familiarity' and 'strangeness' creates a paradoxical aspect to this relationship as it seems that there is familiarity from Boldwood's side that is based on unknown. Furthermore the adjective 'visual' conveys something more shallow and the adjective 'oral' something more intimate. However as 'visual' is combined with 'familiarity' and 'oral' with 'strangeness', in my opinion it shows that the two of them don't know each other in a way where it is possible for the characters to develop real love, a love based on a spiritual connection.
The quote I chose is in chapter XVII, it is about Boldwood's reaction when he sees Bathsheba. Indeed, it is said that "When Bathsheba's figure shone upon the farmer's eyes it lighted him up as the moon lights up a great tower". Firstly, though the action is perceived through Boldwood's eyes, it is Bathsheba who leads the action by being the subject of it; her power over Boldwood is also shown through the way he is named. Thus, rather than mentioning his name, he is adressed to as "the farmer" which reduces him to a rural, simple man compared to Bathsheba. Besides, her superiority is also expressed through the use of a simile. Hence, the "moon", mysterious and universal lights up a "great tower", important when we look at it separately but secondary when compared to the moon. Furthermore, we can draw a parallel between the way Bathsheba is looked at and the way the moon lights up the tower. The words "the farmer" and "a great tower" have the same purpose; "the farmer" shows that we are talking about a specific farmer, and the fact that is shown through his job hints at his important role in society. "great tower" is a way to give Boldwood importance in order to highlight Bathsheba's power, because she can dominate someone of great importance. Also, the visual imageries and the appeal to the sense of sight indicates us that Boldwood is interested by Bathsheba's appearance rather than herself. Finally, the fact that she "lights (him) up", connotes that she have a good influence on him. After reading the end, I reinterpreted the fact that she "lights (him) up" not as Boldwood being a better person in her presence, but as the awakening of his passionate side (as if the light was one of fire).
In chapter XVIII, as Boldwood's character is revealed further, the narrator adds that “Being a man who read all the dramas of life seriously, if he failed to please when they were comedies, there was no frivolous treatment to reproach him for when they chanced to end tragically”. What brought this particular quotation to my attention is the link that is explicitly made between drama and the character of Boldwood. In fact, I have noticed many links made with theatre in this novel, whether it’s implicit or explicit, to provoke a more vivid image of the characters’ moral and physical portraits. In this particular case, the metaphor of theatre helps to bring out Boldwood’s stoic nature, he who knows how to appreciate serious drama but who simply cannot understand lightness, humor, all these “frivolous” aspects of life that seem so ludicrous to him. The metaphor also shows how resigned Boldwood is when it comes to his character, knowing his faults, that seem implicitly comparable to tragic heroes’ fatal flaws : he fails to see life’s trivialities, but at least he is perfectly adaptable to any tragic context, and that is an indisputable fact.
I think that this instalment, more than the previous ones, was exceptionally rich in important quotations, but I managed to choose one in particular, at the very end of chapter XVIII:
"[Bathsheba] resolved never again by look or by sign to interrupt the steady flow of this man [Boldwood]'s life. But a resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible."
I thought these sentences conclude the chapter in an effective way, simultaneously showing Bathsheba’s guilt and also the hopeless situation she’s in. The syntax and repetition used in the first sentence emphasizes everything Bathsheba is ready to do to repair what she’s done to Boldwood, but the inversion of the word order (“never again by look or by sign to interrupt”) might symbolize the impossibility of success. The word “evil”, a relatively strong noun, may foreshadow the events of the end of the novel.
I chose a quote from chapter XX p 131: "Peace and war kiss each other at their hours of preparation, sickles, scythes, shears and pruning-hooks mingling with swords, bayonets and lances in their common necessity for point and edge" I loved the comparaison with peace and war that can be related with Bathsheba and Boldwood for the previous events Bathsheba and Oak for the following. The detailed vocabulary and the list make it even more important and can foreshadow the quarrel between Bathsheba and Gabriel and maybe even the rest of the book. The "common necessity for point and edge" can show the necessity of a quarrel to bring closer the two main characters. Indeed, peace can only exist with war.
I chose the quotation “Silence has sometimes a remarkable power of showing itself as the disembodied soul of feeling wandering without its carcase, and it is then more impressive than speech.” (chapter XIX, page 127, line 4). I thought this quotation represented exactly the tone of the whole book and, especially in the “Sheep washing”, the way feelings are induced. Indeed, Bathsheba is not a very talkative woman but is full of emotions and it is the same with pretty much every main characters. Lots of feeling are thus induced by silences, laconic answers and sometimes stares and by this sentence, Hardy wants to tell us that in love speech is not primordial. In the “Sheep washing” when Boldwood apostrophes Bathsheba and she answers laconically, we thus understand that love between them won’t be successful and at least not wanted by Bathsheba.
I chose the quotation "I have come to speak to you without preface. My life is not my own since I have beheld you clearly. Miss Everdene—I come to make you an offer of marriage." (chapter 19). I felt this quotation was a real surprise because we had an image of Boldwood not wanting to marry any of the women in his life and I think most readers did not want Bathsheba to get married with him and choose Oak. Also I thought this quote was showing a way more confident side of Boldwood than we had in this instalment, revealing a way more indecise side of his personality, contrasting with this marriage proposal. Once again I find Hardy plays with our views and expectations of characters perfectly by switching Boldwood's personality.
I chose the following quotation from the very beginning of chapter XIV, "Since the receipt of the missive in the morning, Boldwood had felt the symmetry of his existence to be slowly getting directed in the direction of an ideal passion." What I really like in this quote is, first of all, it's ability to convey a true, powerful and effective image. We clearly see, as readers, the concrete representation of love that is given through this quote. This is quite symbolic of Hardy's effectiveness in writing. Then, we feel a clear sense of dramatic irony as, we know from the previous chapter that this Valentine was only generated by a fortune telling game, and that its consequences are quite ominous for Boldwood. This also allows the reader to feel pity perhaps for this character (Boldwood) as what causes such an effect on him is only a pure joke of manipulation.
The quote I chose is written in chapter XXVIII, at page 123. The narrator explains that for Boldwood, "No mother existed to absorb his devotion, no sister for hs tenderness, no idles ties for sense. He became surcharged with the compound, which was genuine lover's love." Thomas Hardy makes yet another generalization about love, which, according to him follows special and general rules which cannot be avoided. Here, he states that love is something that one needs to express. The risk otherwise is to stock it and have too much of it, until the point where it has to go out. Boldwood is in this position, and has too much love to give to Bathsheba. This theory about why Boldwood loves her so much is contradicting other theories on the subject, by which Thomas Hardy describes Boldwood has an extreme character who does everything in exes, not only love. Therefore, I chose this quote because the quantification of love is fun, and the quote comes out, not following the rest of Boldwood's description.
"Boldwood as a means to marriage was unexceptionable; she esteemed and liked him: yet she did not want him "
It is a quote from chapter XX (p.130), I choose it because it is representative of the complexity of Bathsheba's character but also because it brings gender issues. First we can see that even if Boldwood is the best suitor she could get, she doesn't want him she wants something more. About gender issues, Bathsheba appears here has a free woman that make the choice she wants and not who stay quiet and do what the rule of the society wants her too. This quote proves at the same time her ability to make choice and her strong personality.
"A man's body is as the shell or the tablet of his soul as he is reserved or ingenuous, overflowing or self contained"
I chose this quotation from chapter XVIII (page 123) because it reminded me of this other quotation from St Paul: "Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are." I do realize, of course, that the only link between the two is having a metaphysical entity inhabiting our bodies (for Hardy it is the human soul, for St Paul it is God's Spirit), but I thought that they kind of opposed each other by their ideas: Hardy is saying that a man's body reflects his soul whilst St Paul is saying that a man's body is the host of God's soul or spirit. I first thought it was ludicrous that the "shells" of our bodies would reflect our soul, but upon reflection it is very true, and is called body language. I am also still wondering why God didn't destroy Boldwood after the latter destroyed the temple of God that was widely known as Frank Troy.
Chapter XX "She often performed actions of the greatest temerity with a manner of extreme discretion. Many of her thoughts were perfect syllogisms; unluckily they always remained thoughts: only a few were irrational assumptions; but unfortunately they were the ones which most frequently grew into deeds." This quote really emphasizes Bathsheba's temerity and strong personality which in some cases leads her into trouble. This quote does resume the 4th instalment perfectly in my opinion especially with the title of the chapter that it comes from. We notice in these few chapters that Bathsheba is slowly losing control ( struggling being a bailiff and looking after her farm) but also acting impulsively ( sending random valentine's to strangers) which gives, along with Fanny, a bad image of the woman in society with the narrator often giving comments at awkward timing. This quote perfectly illustrates the ways that characters evolves in the book going from the top to giving the upper hand to other characters.
"Indeed, he seemed to approach the grave as a hyperbolic curve approaches a straight line - less directly as he got nearer till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it all."
I really like this quote from the beginning of chapter XV describing the malster. He is said to be on the verge of dying but by some miracle is still alive. I find the way Hardy describes the malster being on the border between life and death rather interesting : using a mathematical reference he still produces a comical statement that fits in perfectly with the rest of the ironic introduction of the malster. I believe these small (scientific) references are what makes Hardy's text subtle and permits a little bit of fresh irony at some points.
In Chapter XVIII, before Boldwood is thinking about the letter and decides to go and see Bathsheba and eventually to propose.
ReplyDeleteWe have a short view on Boldwood's character.
"I an emotion possessed him at all, it ruled him: a feeling not mastering him was entirely latent. Stagnant or rapid it was never slow. He was always hot mortally, or he was missed."
I think this quotation is very powerful and develops Boldwood's character. We have some foreshadowing about how much something can destroy him, and how extreme his emotions can be. It doesn't announce anything good for the future of his feelings when we know how troubled he is about Bathsheba's letter.
This is the quotation I wanted to choose at first! I really agree with you: we learn a lot about Boldwood and his deeply emotional nature. The use of "or" in the last two sentences shows the contrasting emotions he faces on the daily and how it's never nuanced. Good job for your explanation :)
DeleteAt the beginning of chapter XX, Bathsheba is thinking about Boldwood's proposal and her feelings are mixed. The narrator has thus the opportunity to reveal his ideas on marriage and says "It appears that ordinary men take wives because possession is not possible without marriage, and that ordinary women accept husbands because marriage is not possible without possession". These conceptions about men being superior reflect marriage at Hardy's time and develop this omnipresent theme. Moreover, it develops Boldwood's character. He was not interested in women before but now we suppose that he is in love with Bathsheba and we realize that all he wants is possession, as other men may desire. However, Bathsheba is described throughout the book as an uncommon woman; we can expect that she will never accept his proposal because she is too independant. Thus, this passage also influences the reader and his expectations while developing themes and characters and that's why I chose this quotation.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Chapter XX, when Bathsheba is considering Boldwood's marriage proposal and right before she goes to Gabriel for advice, the narrator expresses his opinion on Bathsheba, saying that "Bathsheba's was an impulsive nature under a deliberative aspect. An Elizabeth in brain and a Mary Stuart in spirit, she often performed actions of the greatest temerity with a manner of extreme discretion."
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this quotation summarises Bathsheba's character perfectly, showing how people see her and how she really makes most her decisions. We can see this being true when Bathsheba sends the valentine to Boldwood for example. This quotation also allows the reader to be aware of what the narrator thinks of her as well.
In chapter XX, Boldwood has just made his marriage proposal to Bathsheba and she goes to Gabriel for advice because "the single opinion in the parish on herself and her doings that she value[s] as sounder than her own [is] Gabriel Oak's". I think this quotation is important because it shows how the relationship between the two characters evolves. Even though Bathsheba refused Gabriel's proposal, she has still some respect towards him. It foreshadows the fact that Gabriel will become the only thing stable and trustworthy around Bathsheba while everything else will go astray.
ReplyDeleteThe quotation I have chosen is spoken in chapter XIX, during Boldwood's marriage proposal to Bathsheba. They meet some way off from the farm workers, who are sheep-washing, and the second thing that Boldwood says after good morning is this: '"I feel - almost - too much - to think"'. The narrator remarks that this is something said with a 'solemn simplicity', and I couldn't agree more; Hardy's ideas always seem to shine most when he expresses them with this simplicity, and when they come from such stark contrast. The fact that all Boldwood can use to speak of his complex, overwhelming and almost dangerous feelings for Bathsheba is at first such a small sentence, and the absence of any other explanation for the moment, is extremely telling of Boldwood's inexperience in dealing with emotions; furthermore 'feel[ing]', an area of life which he does not yet seem to understand, appears to be entirely cutting short his ability to 'think' - a domain which, when we first knew him, was his natural forte. This, again, shows his extreme personality. Of course the expression would not have worked half so well if Hardy not chosen exactly the right places to use his dashes. The ragged, tortured intonation implied by the punctuation and its acute affect on the reader is what makes this quotation my favourite from this instalment.
ReplyDeleteI chose a quote thqt can be read at the very beginning of Chapter XVII, when Boldwood lands his eyes on Bathsheba : "Adam had awakened from his deep sleep, and behold! there was Eve." This quote firstly shows that Boldwood has had an awakening since he has received the Valentine, since he was noteven interested by women before that; it also shows that Bathsheba and him are linked (at least in the way he sees it, there is a part of "male gazing" here), hence the comparison with Adam and Eve. Boldwood thinks Bathsheba was made to marry him.
ReplyDelete"But a resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quotation on page 124 (chapter XVIII) because it foreshadows the unavoidable evil which is coming up at Bathsheba : Boldwood's marriage proposal. This will eventually break Batsheba taking everyone with her. Besides, I think this quotation is also true in real life because sometimes the evil is so close that you can only wait for it to come and deal with it's consequences.
In chapter XVI, the narrator describes Troy as being "The young sergeant" who "stood still with the abnormal rigidity of the old pillars around, [...] his face [...] upright as a column." This quotation shows the importance of the setting since Troy becomes part of it through his description. Moreover, the themes of abnormality ("abnormal") which we've already seen with Boldwood, and the theme of antiquity which we've seen through setting.
ReplyDeleteThus, the imageries emphasize Troy's unnatural personality and his extreme rigidity which suggests he doesn't show any emotion since he has none.
DeleteThus, the imageries emphasize Troy's unnatural personality and his extreme rigidity which suggests he doesn't show any emotion since he has none.
DeleteI chose this quote from chapter XVII (p119) : « Boldwood’s blindness to the difference between approving of what circumstances suggest, and originating what they do not suggest, was well matched by Bathsheba’s insensibility to the possibly great issues of little beginnings. » In this scene of the market-place, the narrator tiptoes between different focalisations, either diving into the twists and turns of Boldwood mind, or, as it is the case in the quote, taking some distance and delivering a careful analysis of the characters’ interactions. In one sentence, a rather complex combination of circumstances has been depicted : while Boldwood has a tendency to romanticise the facts, Bathsheba tends to underestimate the scope of her recklessness. Though these penchants seem opposed, they both deviate the character’s expectations from reality, and are indeed « well matched ». I like the idea that Bathsheba and Boldwood both have a share of responsibility in their torment, because after all there is something fundamentally similar in their strength of character.
ReplyDeleteI chose the quotation: “Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tropic intensity. Had she known Boldwood’s moods her blame would have been fearful, and the stain upon her heart ineradicable. Moreover, had she known her present power for good or evil over this man, she would have trembled at her responsibility.” It is on page 119 in chapter XVII.
ReplyDeleteThese lines foreshadow the obsession that will overtake Boldwood as he falls for Bathsheba and the dramatic irony of her obliviousness to the kind of lover her “prank” has awakened. The contrast between the aloof, dignified presence that Boldwood projects in Weatherbury and the “tropic intensity” of his true nature is striking.
The quotation that drew my attention in the fourth installement was from chapter XVI (p.115) : "They were about to disperse, when a smart footstep, entering the porch and coming up the central passage, arrested their attention. The step echoed with a ring unusual in a church; it was the clink of spurs." These startling sounds at the end of a peaceful mass at All Saints church announce the arrival of Sergeant Troy in this chapter. What is quite intersting about this quote is the description merely through sounds : we hear the confidence of the newcommer and his job - a soldier. Plus the external focalisation that only notices facts leaves to us, the readers, the ability to link the spurs and the church to Sergeant Troy. Finally the word "unusual" linked with "spurs" makes his presence in the church rather odd and intriguing. A successful introduction to the chapter's events!
ReplyDeleteI chose a quote that appears at the beginning of chapter XX (p.130), when Bathsheba is considering Boldwood's proposal and says that it is very disinterested of him to "offer [her] all that [she] can desire". The narrator then intervenes by declaring that "the rarest offerings of the purest loves are but a self-indulgence, and no generosity at all." This statement made me think, as it is completely realistic and true, in my opinion, especially in Boldwood's case; he is so obsessed by Bathsheba that he wants her for himself, and he could give her anything as long as he accomplishes the only thing that could make him happy, which is to marry her. This is really shown through his proposal in the previous page. Boldwood doesn't seem to see Bathsheba's struggle and embarrassment, and by not giving her any other choice than to tell him that she needs time to think, he ends up by saying : "I am happier now." Therefore I thought the narrator's intervention at this moment was very well chosen, as the reader understands that Boldwood is only searching for his own interest and happiness. Moreover, the generality that the narrator makes of it conveys a sort of pessimistic view of love, and maybe generosity too; if we think about it, if making an other feel happy makes us ease our conscience, couldn't it be seen as more selfish that generous ? But then, does generosity exists ? Ok, I might be going a bit too far now.. However, I thought this quote was quite interesting !
ReplyDeleteThe quote I chose appears in chapter XVIII during the mental description of Boldwood's character : « Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tropic intensity ».
ReplyDeleteThis quote reflects many elements of Boldwood's personality and the most striking one seems to be his threatening and dangerous aspect established by the adjectives « dark and silent » and emphasized by its description as a « shape » which adds to his obscure and mysterious temperament and shows that Bathsheba barely knows him. His extreme personality is also expressed by a nature imagery of the seed : Bathsheba's letter is a seed thrown on Boldwood's fertile soil that triggers a tremendous change in himself, unleashing his darker side. This imagery is particularly evocative as it may be related to Boldwood's name itself : this « bold wood » is a « hotbed of tropic intensity » which would explain why this name was chosen by the author. He is in fact both aspects of the wood : sometimes characterized by an incredible stillness and then by an extreme sensibility to any emotional stimulus like a « tropical » forest . This is really suggestive knowing a tropical forest is far more dangerous and unknown than a continental forest... In this extract, Bathsheba seems to be the focalizer and we learn that she is unaware of all of this. This extreme reaction to such an insignificant letter is the beginning of a butterfly effect in Boldwood's character that may foreshadow some tragic plotlines.
I chose the quotation in chapter XVIII, when the narrator is describing Boldwood's emotions, it says : "He was always hit mortally, or he was missed." I think it really represents Boldwood's character, who had previously completly ignored Bathsheba at the market, but now that he starts to have feelings, he becomes quite obsessed by her, as we can see later in the book. In itself, using "mortally" to describe the way someone feels, is really powerful and strong, and brings some sort of element of foreshadowing. There is also the fact that it's quite harsh, giving to Boldwood's emotions a dark meaning, something that should be beautiful and has been twisted until it became a deathly weapon (here slowly killing Boldwood). To Boldwood, there is no in-between. He is a total opposite to Gabriel Oak, who =, even if he had sworn to love Bathsheba until he died, settled for a sort of "in-between", choosing to be her friend instead of trying to pursue her. I found this quotation really important because it allows to see the character of Boldwood in a new light.
ReplyDeleteChapter XIX, Bathsheba: "No - I beg you! Don't be happier if happiness only comes from my agreeing: Be neutral Mr Boldwood! I must think."
ReplyDeleteI think this quote tells us about Bathsheba as well as Mr Boldwood. We see how desperate Bathsheba is from the fact that she cannot control what she started. It can either make the reader feel empathy or at the contrary have a reason to despise her. As for Boldwood, we see how his feelings are influenced by Bathsheba's decision: his character is so emotional that he already relies on her for his own happiness.
I chose "The great aids to idealization in love were present here : occasional observation of her from distance, and the absence of social intercourse- visual familiarity, oral strangeness." p 125 chapter XIX
ReplyDeleteAccording to me, this shows the 'fictional' aspect of Boldwood's love for Bathseba : he seems to love the idea of her and not the person that she is. Indeed, he hasn't ever talked to her yet at this point which means he doesn't know her at all. Moreover, as Bathseba is considered a beautiful woman, it is thus easy for Boldwood to idealise her personality based on her looks. The opposition between the terms 'familiarity' and 'strangeness' creates a paradoxical aspect to this relationship as it seems that there is familiarity from Boldwood's side that is based on unknown. Furthermore the adjective 'visual' conveys something more shallow and the adjective 'oral' something more intimate. However as 'visual' is combined with 'familiarity' and 'oral' with 'strangeness', in my opinion it shows that the two of them don't know each other in a way where it is possible for the characters to develop real love, a love based on a spiritual connection.
The quote I chose is in chapter XVII, it is about Boldwood's reaction when he sees Bathsheba. Indeed, it is said that "When Bathsheba's figure shone upon the farmer's eyes it lighted him up as the moon lights up a great tower".
ReplyDeleteFirstly, though the action is perceived through Boldwood's eyes, it is Bathsheba who leads the action by being the subject of it; her power over Boldwood is also shown through the way he is named. Thus, rather than mentioning his name, he is adressed to as "the farmer" which reduces him to a rural, simple man compared to Bathsheba. Besides, her superiority is also expressed through the use of a simile. Hence, the "moon", mysterious and universal lights up a "great tower", important when we look at it separately but secondary when compared to the moon. Furthermore, we can draw a parallel between the way Bathsheba is looked at and the way the moon lights up the tower. The words "the farmer" and "a great tower" have the same purpose; "the farmer" shows that we are talking about a specific farmer, and the fact that is shown through his job hints at his important role in society. "great tower" is a way to give Boldwood importance in order to highlight Bathsheba's power, because she can dominate someone of great importance.
Also, the visual imageries and the appeal to the sense of sight indicates us that Boldwood is interested by Bathsheba's appearance rather than herself. Finally, the fact that she "lights (him) up", connotes that she have a good influence on him. After reading the end, I reinterpreted the fact that she "lights (him) up" not as Boldwood being a better person in her presence, but as the awakening of his passionate side (as if the light was one of fire).
*he is shown
ReplyDelete*indicate
*interested in
*connotates
*she has
Sorry :)
In chapter XVIII, as Boldwood's character is revealed further, the narrator adds that “Being a man who read all the dramas of life seriously, if he failed to please when they were comedies, there was no frivolous treatment to reproach him for when they chanced to end tragically”.
ReplyDeleteWhat brought this particular quotation to my attention is the link that is explicitly made between drama and the character of Boldwood. In fact, I have noticed many links made with theatre in this novel, whether it’s implicit or explicit, to provoke a more vivid image of the characters’ moral and physical portraits. In this particular case, the metaphor of theatre helps to bring out Boldwood’s stoic nature, he who knows how to appreciate serious drama but who simply cannot understand lightness, humor, all these “frivolous” aspects of life that seem so ludicrous to him. The metaphor also shows how resigned Boldwood is when it comes to his character, knowing his faults, that seem implicitly comparable to tragic heroes’ fatal flaws : he fails to see life’s trivialities, but at least he is perfectly adaptable to any tragic context, and that is an indisputable fact.
I think that this instalment, more than the previous ones, was exceptionally rich in important quotations, but I managed to choose one in particular, at the very end of chapter XVIII:
ReplyDelete"[Bathsheba] resolved never again by look or by sign to interrupt the steady flow of this man [Boldwood]'s life. But a resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible."
I thought these sentences conclude the chapter in an effective way, simultaneously showing Bathsheba’s guilt and also the hopeless situation she’s in. The syntax and repetition used in the first sentence emphasizes everything Bathsheba is ready to do to repair what she’s done to Boldwood, but the inversion of the word order (“never again by look or by sign to interrupt”) might symbolize the impossibility of success. The word “evil”, a relatively strong noun, may foreshadow the events of the end of the novel.
I chose a quote from chapter XX p 131: "Peace and war kiss each other at their hours of preparation, sickles, scythes, shears and pruning-hooks mingling with swords, bayonets and lances in their common necessity for point and edge"
ReplyDeleteI loved the comparaison with peace and war that can be related with Bathsheba and Boldwood for the previous events Bathsheba and Oak for the following. The detailed vocabulary and the list make it even more important and can foreshadow the quarrel between Bathsheba and Gabriel and maybe even the rest of the book. The "common necessity for point and edge" can show the necessity of a quarrel to bring closer the two main characters. Indeed, peace can only exist with war.
I chose the quotation “Silence has sometimes a remarkable power of showing itself as the disembodied soul of feeling wandering without its carcase, and it is then more impressive than speech.” (chapter XIX, page 127, line 4).
ReplyDeleteI thought this quotation represented exactly the tone of the whole book and, especially in the “Sheep washing”, the way feelings are induced. Indeed, Bathsheba is not a very talkative woman but is full of emotions and it is the same with pretty much every main characters. Lots of feeling are thus induced by silences, laconic answers and sometimes stares and by this sentence, Hardy wants to tell us that in love speech is not primordial. In the “Sheep washing” when Boldwood apostrophes Bathsheba and she answers laconically, we thus understand that love between them won’t be successful and at least not wanted by Bathsheba.
I chose the quotation "I have come to speak to you without preface. My life is not my own since I have beheld you clearly. Miss Everdene—I come to make you an offer of marriage." (chapter 19).
ReplyDeleteI felt this quotation was a real surprise because we had an image of Boldwood not wanting to marry any of the women in his life and I think most readers did not want Bathsheba to get married with him and choose Oak. Also I thought this quote was showing a way more confident side of Boldwood than we had in this instalment, revealing a way more indecise side of his personality, contrasting with this marriage proposal. Once again I find Hardy plays with our views and expectations of characters perfectly by switching Boldwood's personality.
I chose the following quotation from the very beginning of chapter XIV,
ReplyDelete"Since the receipt of the missive in the morning, Boldwood had felt the symmetry of his existence to be slowly getting directed in the direction of an ideal passion."
What I really like in this quote is, first of all, it's ability to convey a true, powerful and effective image. We clearly see, as readers, the concrete representation of love that is given through this quote. This is quite symbolic of Hardy's effectiveness in writing.
Then, we feel a clear sense of dramatic irony as, we know from the previous chapter that this Valentine was only generated by a fortune telling game, and that its consequences are quite ominous for Boldwood. This also allows the reader to feel pity perhaps for this character (Boldwood) as what causes such an effect on him is only a pure joke of manipulation.
The quote I chose is written in chapter XXVIII, at page 123. The narrator explains that for Boldwood, "No mother existed to absorb his devotion, no sister for hs tenderness, no idles ties for sense. He became surcharged with the compound, which was genuine lover's love." Thomas Hardy makes yet another generalization about love, which, according to him follows special and general rules which cannot be avoided. Here, he states that love is something that one needs to express. The risk otherwise is to stock it and have too much of it, until the point where it has to go out. Boldwood is in this position, and has too much love to give to Bathsheba. This theory about why Boldwood loves her so much is contradicting other theories on the subject, by which Thomas Hardy describes Boldwood has an extreme character who does everything in exes, not only love. Therefore, I chose this quote because the quantification of love is fun, and the quote comes out, not following the rest of Boldwood's description.
ReplyDelete"Boldwood as a means to marriage was unexceptionable; she esteemed and liked him: yet she did not want him "
ReplyDeleteIt is a quote from chapter XX (p.130), I choose it because it is representative of the complexity of Bathsheba's character but also because it brings gender issues. First we can see that even if Boldwood is the best suitor she could get, she doesn't want him she wants something more. About gender issues, Bathsheba appears here has a free woman that make the choice she wants and not who stay quiet and do what the rule of the society wants her too. This quote proves at the same time her ability to make choice and her strong personality.
"A man's body is as the shell or the tablet of his soul as he is reserved or ingenuous, overflowing or self contained"
ReplyDeleteI chose this quotation from chapter XVIII (page 123) because it reminded me of this other quotation from St Paul: "Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are." I do realize, of course, that the only link between the two is having a metaphysical entity inhabiting our bodies (for Hardy it is the human soul, for St Paul it is God's Spirit), but I thought that they kind of opposed each other by their ideas: Hardy is saying that a man's body reflects his soul whilst St Paul is saying that a man's body is the host of God's soul or spirit. I first thought it was ludicrous that the "shells" of our bodies would reflect our soul, but upon reflection it is very true, and is called body language. I am also still wondering why God didn't destroy Boldwood after the latter destroyed the temple of God that was widely known as Frank Troy.
Chapter XX
ReplyDelete"She often performed actions of the greatest temerity with a manner of extreme discretion. Many of her thoughts were perfect syllogisms; unluckily they always remained thoughts: only a few were irrational assumptions; but unfortunately they were the ones which most frequently grew into deeds."
This quote really emphasizes Bathsheba's temerity and strong personality which in some cases leads her into trouble.
This quote does resume the 4th instalment perfectly in my opinion especially with the title of the chapter that it comes from.
We notice in these few chapters that Bathsheba is slowly losing control ( struggling being a bailiff and looking after her farm) but also acting impulsively ( sending random valentine's to strangers) which gives, along with Fanny, a bad image of the woman in society with the narrator often giving comments at awkward timing.
This quote perfectly illustrates the ways that characters evolves in the book going from the top to giving the upper hand to other characters.
"Indeed, he seemed to approach the grave as a hyperbolic curve approaches a straight line - less directly as he got nearer till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it all."
ReplyDeleteI really like this quote from the beginning of chapter XV describing the malster. He is said to be on the verge of dying but by some miracle is still alive. I find the way Hardy describes the malster being on the border between life and death rather interesting : using a mathematical reference he still produces a comical statement that fits in perfectly with the rest of the ironic introduction of the malster. I believe these small (scientific) references are what makes Hardy's text subtle and permits a little bit of fresh irony at some points.