by Raphy Mendoza

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

"Far From the Madding Crowd' portrays Bathsheba's caprice and wilfulness gradually crushed by bitter self-knowledge and rejection." How far do you agree with this statement?

At the beginning of the novel, Thomas Hardy portrays Bathsheba as a vain and superficial character. Her actions reveal her to be powerful and independent, which was not a typical characteristic of a woman of her time. These characteristics have given her a lot of confidence in her own abilities and she also seemed to expect all of the other characters (who were men) around her to oblige to her requests and demands unconditionally. This strong confidence and wilfulness allowed her to act on her impulses and achieve what she wanted with ease. However, she later realises that her beauty and physical appearance is not always what she needs to attain what she wants, such as a dutiful husband, and after a number of rejections from both Gabriel and Troy, she develops into a more mature and perhaps humbler character.

In the early part of the novel, Bathsheba is portrayed as capricious and in some occasions, reckless. Bathsheba intended to send a valentine to a little boy but in a split second of fancy and more than anything, chance, she decides to send the letter to Boldwood instead: "Let's toss, as men do" said Bathsheba idly.' Bathsheba was "idle" as she did this and obviously did not think this decision through. She's relying entirely on tossing a coin, in fate, an act of reckless caprice. ("Now then, head, Boldwood; tail Teddy.") Bathsheba's motives in sending the valentine also reveal another part of her character. Boldwood did not pay her any attention in the church which the other men there did, and Bathsheba, being established as vain, was a little piqued and annoyed by Boldwood's lack of interest in her. She then questions his behaviour to herself and to Liddy, her servant: "'What did he do?' Bathsheba said perforce. Didn't turn his head to look at you once all the service.' Why should he? ... I didn't ask him to.' Bathsheba dropped into silence intended to express that she had opinions on the matter." The fact that he did not look at her and this was bothering her emphasises several points made earlier in the novel about her vanity; she wanted his attention just like every other man gives her theirs (Liddy says "But everybody else were watching you."). And so she sends him the valentine. This again emphasises Bathsheba's wilfulness to get what she wants as well as her caprice and to an

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