Far from the Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy), Book Review
RECENZIE SCRISĂ DE RĂZVAN ANTON. A apărut inițial pe Teoriile unui blogger.
In the eternal battle ''book versus movie'', everybody is probably eagerly awaiting to compare Hardy's novel to the cinematic production which has been released at the beginning of May.
While it is yet impossible for me to make this comparison in the absence of the second element (the movie), I would like to tell you, dear potential reader, why ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' has greatly influenced the way in which I perceive literature and why it is one of my favourite books and has been so for more than a decade.
To start with, it is the novel which established Thomas Hardy as a writer and opened the door which would allow him to make a living out of writing, rather than being a carpenter. Even though other novels, such as ''Tess of the D'Urbervilles'' or ''Jude the Obscure'' are probably better known to the wide public, ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' is special in many ways.
First and foremost, it portrays one of the first strong women of Victorian literature. In an age where women were portrayed as dominated by a male figure, Bathsheba Everdene manages to bewitch three men with her ravishing beauty, but, more importantly, with her strong personality. Bathsheba is a prototype of the later self-made woman, who succeeds because she believes in herself and dares to see beyond the stereotypical thinking which saw women as second to men.
Secondly, to a certain extent, Bathsheba defines Hardy as a sympathetic feminist. It is not my intention to bore you with literary criticism matters, but, for the Hardy fan, it is common knowledge that he rather sides with his feminine characters than with the masculine ones. Bathsheba is one of the first characters which allows Hardy to fully do this. She determines one man (Boldwood) to commit murder and then suicide, she faces Sergeant Troy when he unmasks himself for who he really was and finally accepts Gabriel next to her, not as a sign of surrendering to male power, but as a sign of wit and virtue.
The novel abounds in symbols and each character is more than a typology. Sergeant Troy, for instance is often viewed by critics as a figure of the devil. However, let's not forget that the READER is the most important critic, so if you want to give meaning to the other characters yourself, this novel is a must-read.
Another reason why ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' is bound to become one of your favourites is that it will surely change the meaning of ''Valentine's day'' for you, forever after.
So, while you are waiting for the movie, don't skip the book. Chances are you will very much like it! Happy reading!
To start with, it is the novel which established Thomas Hardy as a writer and opened the door which would allow him to make a living out of writing, rather than being a carpenter. Even though other novels, such as ''Tess of the D'Urbervilles'' or ''Jude the Obscure'' are probably better known to the wide public, ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' is special in many ways.
First and foremost, it portrays one of the first strong women of Victorian literature. In an age where women were portrayed as dominated by a male figure, Bathsheba Everdene manages to bewitch three men with her ravishing beauty, but, more importantly, with her strong personality. Bathsheba is a prototype of the later self-made woman, who succeeds because she believes in herself and dares to see beyond the stereotypical thinking which saw women as second to men.
Secondly, to a certain extent, Bathsheba defines Hardy as a sympathetic feminist. It is not my intention to bore you with literary criticism matters, but, for the Hardy fan, it is common knowledge that he rather sides with his feminine characters than with the masculine ones. Bathsheba is one of the first characters which allows Hardy to fully do this. She determines one man (Boldwood) to commit murder and then suicide, she faces Sergeant Troy when he unmasks himself for who he really was and finally accepts Gabriel next to her, not as a sign of surrendering to male power, but as a sign of wit and virtue.
The novel abounds in symbols and each character is more than a typology. Sergeant Troy, for instance is often viewed by critics as a figure of the devil. However, let's not forget that the READER is the most important critic, so if you want to give meaning to the other characters yourself, this novel is a must-read.
Another reason why ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' is bound to become one of your favourites is that it will surely change the meaning of ''Valentine's day'' for you, forever after.
So, while you are waiting for the movie, don't skip the book. Chances are you will very much like it! Happy reading!