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A review by 5aru
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
emotional
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
While perhaps not as emotionally charged as Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Far From the Madding Crowd is yet another delicate, moving account of how much a woman's life in the 1800s was dictated by social and cultural forces outside of her control and even awareness. Thomas Hardy was a real one for knowing how poorly and how cruelly men used (and continue using) women and denouncing it in his novels. He writes a damn good scoundrel. Oh how I hated Troy's ass throughout.
Even if I don't appreciate how often he takes recourse to 'womanliness' to explain Bathsheba's nature, the way Hardy develops her character is still interesting and nuanced; even as she is continually perceived through male lenses (through Troy's, through Boldwood's, especially through Oak's, and of course Hardy's own) her character stays strong, managing to stand on its own before the reader's eye. Because Bathsheba is fickle, yes, and temperamental, and vain - easily swayed by pretty words -, but she is also a very young woman burdened with the hostile perceptions of men and occupying a position that is out of her depth, but that she must keep to survive. And Hardy never allows the reader to forget that: he shows her flaws and expands on her mistakes and their consequences, but still extends due respect and compassion to her not just as a human being, but as a woman, even with all the patriarchal stereotypes which that position implies. Hell, he even lets her talk back and defend herself before men's accusations, in the novel itself, and that much is already a wonder.
Even if I don't appreciate how often he takes recourse to 'womanliness' to explain Bathsheba's nature, the way Hardy develops her character is still interesting and nuanced; even as she is continually perceived through male lenses (through Troy's, through Boldwood's, especially through Oak's, and of course Hardy's own) her character stays strong, managing to stand on its own before the reader's eye. Because Bathsheba is fickle, yes, and temperamental, and vain - easily swayed by pretty words -, but she is also a very young woman burdened with the hostile perceptions of men and occupying a position that is out of her depth, but that she must keep to survive. And Hardy never allows the reader to forget that: he shows her flaws and expands on her mistakes and their consequences, but still extends due respect and compassion to her not just as a human being, but as a woman, even with all the patriarchal stereotypes which that position implies. Hell, he even lets her talk back and defend herself before men's accusations, in the novel itself, and that much is already a wonder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Misogyny