The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.
André Maurois
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Far from the Madding Crowd - 4th instalment
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 23rd.
I chose a quotation from the 17th chapter "Boldwood looked at her-not slily, critically or understandingly, but blankly at gaze, in the way a reaper looks up at a passing train-": - fist of all, I liked the metaphor that was made with the passing train, I think it represents the idea that Bathsheba showed up very quickly in Boldwood's life, just like a train -Moreover, I liked the idea that Boldwood was staring at her for a while and that she took all of his thoughts out, as if she enchanted or bewitched her, I think Hardy is really trying to say by this sentence that Bathsheba is special. - and I also like this quotation because it is about the departure point of Bolwood and Bathsheba's relationship, the moment when he truly falls in love with her
I know I'm taking the word "reaper" way out of context, but the first place my mind went when I saw that word was 'Hey, Boldwood kills someone because he loves Bathsheba... So in a way, he's like the Reaper?" (Grim Reaper, Angel of Death, le type avec la faucille etc etc). Anyway, nice quotation, I like it too!
Chapter XVIII : "Bastheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was hotbed of tropic intensity." - Use of "far from" : a hint to the title - Lots of metaphors which add a subliminal effect to this quote that foreshadows future events - Shows that Bathsheba didn't think about the consequences and that these consequences will be tragic ("tropic intensity" and "dark and silent shape" that shows the negativity) - Jade Chevallet
"The worst features of this arrangement were that, if he thought she ridiculed him an apology would increase the offence by being disbelieved, and if he thought she wanted him to woo her, it would read like additional evidence of her forwardness." -Chapter XVII This quotation shows that Bathsheba's actions have very important consequences that are only now starting to show and that cannot be avoided : one way or another, Bathsheba cannot "repair" her mistake, there is no going back on what she has done. I find that this quotation shows the importance of this one action for the rest of the plot.
The quotation I chose is extracted from the 18th chapter: “Boldwood in meditation : regret” “If 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 hit mortally, or he was missed.” -The entire quotation is very negative: ‘hit mortally’, and the employment of negatives ‘not’, ‘never’. It foreshadows Boldwood’s uncertain nature and the danger he represents -In my opinion, the narrator plays a major role in the effectiveness of the quotation. In my opinion, he is almost trying to analyze an animal, by using a neutral attitude. He just reports facts and explains to the reader how Boldwood functions, thinks and acts. - Overall, it shows he is unable to control his own mind and feelings: ‘possessed’, ‘ruled’, ‘mastering’, belonging to the semantic field of domination. His powerlessness hints at what will happen (foreshadowing)
I chose a quotation from chapter XVII "On saturday Boldwood was in Casterbridge market-house as usual, when the disturber of hiss dreams became visible to him. Adam had awakened from his deep sleep, and behold! there was Eve."
- I liked the metaphor "the disturber of his dreams". The reader knows instantly who this metaphor refers to, Thomas Hardy is of course talking of Batsheba. It is the first time Boldwood and Batsheba really take time to see each other : "the disturber of his dreams entered and became visible to him".
- There is a reference to to biblical characters Adam and Eve. The writer uses their names to talk of Boldwood and Batsheba. In the Bible Eve is tempted by the evil, and then encouraged Adam to follow her. In Far From the Madding Crowd Batsheba implicitly encourages Boldwood to pay attention to her. She does not want his happiness but just her personal satisfaction.
End of chapter XX, Gabriel says he gave up the idea of marrying Bathshaba : " "Or wishing it, I suppose," she said, and it was apparent that she expected an unhesitating denial of this supposition. Whatever Gabriel felt, he coolly echoed her words, "Or whishing it, either." "
Bathsheba considers Gabriel's love as normal. She rejected him, doesn't intend to marry him but wants him to like her. When he repeats her words and therefore says that he doesn't like her anymore, she feels wounded in her pride. Maybe she considered his love as a trophee ? Proud that someone like Gabriel was in love with her ?
On the other hand, we know that Gabriel still loves Bathsheba but he is not going to let her play with his feelings, and so let her know of it. His intention is to support her from the shadows but not to feed her ego.
This passage could be foreshadowing the end : Bathsheba will need Gabriel's love.
This quotation is taken from chapter XVIII, and makes up the last paragraph of the chapter. Boldwood has been walking through the fields around his farm when he saw Bathsheba, Oak and Cainy ball further away and decided to inquire after Bathsheba. Bathsheba realizes her responsibility for this uncomfortable situation and in this quotation we can see her reflection on the matter. « She resolved never again by look or by sign to interrupt the steady flow of this man’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 chose this quotation because it includes both Bathsheba’s thoughts and the narrator’s opinion.
Her decision of letting Boldwood live his own life from now on seems the most reasonable one to make, but the narrator’s thought is also rather interesting. Bathsheba now feels the impossibility of going back on her actions, and regret starts to be seen in her. Hence she decides to behave properly in the future, but it is too late, as Boldwood has already been too shaken by her interruption in his calm life. Boldwood’s passion is described by the narrator as “an evil” which foreshadows the dark future that is set for him in the rest of the novel.
"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", Chapter XVIII
This quotation is by far one of my favorite in this instalment. Firstly, an effective description and contrast of Boldwood is made, through the use of geometrical imagery "dark and silent shape" and terms related to nature "hotbed of tropic intensity". Thanks to this vivid description, readers are given a quick summary of how Boldwood's character has been unfolded over the course of the 4th instalment, going from a dignified gentleman who never took interest in anyone hence the "dark and silent shape" that emphasises his mysterious and unnatural side to a very erratic persona through the use of specfic words such as "hotbed" signifing an appearance of something that could potentially lead to negative consequences.
On the other hand, readers are also introduced to the narrator's thoughts and opinions with the description of Bathsheba's actions. The use of the adverb "carelessly" indeed shows that the narrator feels a strong discontentment towards Bathsheba's doing and that the Valentine's card, represented as the "seed" in this line is what led to the chaos that Boldwood's character is at the moment.
I chose a quotation from the end of chapter XX, Gabriel said (while speaking of his love for Bathsheba) : "I have long given up thinking of that matter." [ Bathsheba replied ] "Or wishing it, I suppose" [ and Oak echoed her words ] "Or wishing it, either"
I think that this quotation is very interesting because it conveys different ideas about the characters.
Bathsheba does not seem to accept the fact that Gabriel is not in love with her anymore. It raises the question : Does she need Gabriel's love ? Which might be true since he is a constant presence in the book and that they are in the end together, this quote could consequently be seen as foreshadowing. It reflects Bathsheba’s need for attention, showing that even though she appears strong and independent she has a real issue with attention and the image she wants to convey.
This quote also confirms that Gabriel is still in love with Bathsheba. He does not deny it but simply echoes her word. It shows the power of his personality ; he does not need to hide his love. Gabriel keeps his pride throughout the novel but unlike Bathsheba he does not need to lie to himself or the world about his person or feelings. This shows the difference between Gabriel and Bathsheba’s other suitors, who have a quick temper and are mainly unreliable.
""I feel —almost— too much— to think," he said with a solemn simplicity."I have come to speak to you without preface. My life is not my own since I have beheld you clearly. Miss Everdeen—I come to make you an offer of marriage.""
This quote is from Chapter XIX The sheep-washing: the offer. I chose it because it is Bolwood’s first of many marriage proposals to Bathsheba. It is surprisingly straightforward and rather unromantic: I think it is a great example of Boldwood’s clumsiness. It also develops the theme of marriage which is one of the main themes of the novel.
"George was walking on behind me with a temper as mild as milk." This quotation is from Chapter IV, Gabriel's Resolve: The Visit: The Mistake I chose it because it shows how simple his life was before the sheep catastrophe
I chose the quotation in chapter All Saints All Souls in which Troys says : "To-morrow!" and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. "I don't go through that experience again for some time, I warrant you!".
It is an excellent exemple of how reputation can win over love. Troy is focused on his reputation and how people will judge him instead of taking care of Fanny. The soldier can't bear to be ashamed in front of a crowd and doesn't want to hear her lover's explanation even if they are understandable. Troy is infuriated by this humiliation and it gives us a hint to his nature.
This quote enable the reader to directly see Troy personnality. Indeed it is the second time we see Frank but we already have two scenes in which a negative image of him is conveyed. It is also a kind of foreshadowing as Frank will always be the "bad boy" in the novel (until his death).
«though it was possible to form guesses concerning his wild capacities from old flood-marks faintly visible, he hand never been seen at the high tides which had caused them» — Chapter XVIII, page 122
I chose this quotation because I think it uses some very effective imagery, and I like the metaphor very much. I think a river is perfect to comoare Boldwood with, because like a river he can seem very calm and peaceful one moment, but agitated with strong currents beneath the surface, and then in a raging flash-flood the moment after. I also like how it lets the reader speculate on what could have happened in Boldwood's life to leave him with those 'flood-marks', and whether he really did "[meet] with some bitter disappointment when he was a young man", as Liddy thinks in the second instalment.
I've chosen two quotations that convey the same idea. The first one is from chapter XVIII "Boldwood in meditation: regret", "When Bathsheba's figure shone upon the farmer's eyes, it lighted him up as the moon lights up a great tower" . The second is from chapter XVII "The market place" "When the disturber of his dreams entered and became visible to him. Adam had awakened "
I've chosen these two quotations because in my opinion, both of them emphasise pure love from the narrator intern point of view. They also show the struggle that Boldwood has of showing his feelings.
I chose a quotation from the 19th chapter "The sheep washing", it takes place just after the mariage proposal of Boldwood to Bathsheba, and describes her reaction to his offer.
"Bathsheba tried to preserve an absolutely neutral countenance, and all the motion she made was that of closing lips which had previously been a little parted"
I chose it because it was one of the few times in the first four instalment that we can see some doubt and worry on Bathsheba face. She always tries to seem confident and strong, but here we can see her in front of a situation she didn't really want to happen. She does not know how to react at first and just tries to keep a placid and neutral face to hide her feeling of discomfort.
I chose a quotation from the chapter 16 "All Saints' and All Souls'", it takes place the day when Frank and Fanny were supposed to get married when Fanny finally arrives at the church. "(Frank) "Ah, when? God knows!" he said, with a light irony, and turning from her walked rapidly away." I chose it because the real nature of Frank is revealed. He isn't at all a good man and he was misleading Fanny from the beginning. Also, this moment has lots of consequences since if he had got married to Fanny, a lot of events that come after never would have happened.
I chose a quote from chapter 19: the sheep-washing. It happens during the conversation between Boldwood and Bathsheba. At one moment Boldwood says: "and hope to obtain you". This quotation carries a lot of dramatic irony. Indeed, we know that this is absolute wrong thing to do to charm Bathsheba. This is seen in the 4th chapter, Bathsheba distinctly says that she doesn't want to be any man's property. I find this quote very funny as I, being a reader, know that Boldwood completely missed his chance (not that he had much in the first place) to charm a little Bathsheba who had "awakened" him.
Your quotation choice is good, your analysis of it a bit less. Indeed, your idiosyncratic use of some words and sentence constructions remains as headache-inducing as ever, but it's still ok. Thank you for justifying you existence as a reader, the laughs are appreciated.
Let's aim for constructive criticism Mia! We don't want Camille to be afraid to post his ideas, do we? Thank you for reading the other posts and commenting on them, that's what this blog is for. 🙂
I chose a quote from chapter XX "at this period the single opinion in the parish on herself and her doings that she valued as sounder than her own was Gabriel Oak's". It is interesting as we can see that even though she thinks that way, she still gets angry at him and fire him. It gives also a foreshadowing because after she will fall in love with Oak as she can rely on him.
I chose a quotation from Chapter 18, "Boldwood in meditation : regret". "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."
I chose this quote because I think it both develops Bathsheba as well as Boldwood. The word "carelessly" reminds the reader how immature she has been when she sent him the letter on Valentine's day. She is in her own world and doesn't think about the consequences of her act. There is an agricultural metaphor that emphases Boldwood excitation and questioning about Bathsheba.
This sentence highlights the opposition between Boldwood who thinks only of her, and Bathsheba who doesn't realize yet what is happening in Boldwood's life because of her.
"If you can love me, say so, Miss Everdene. If not - don't say no." -Boldwood in chapter XIX I chose this quotation because I think it sums up Boldwood's attitude toward Bathsheba perfectly. After having proposed to her (for the first time) he will not take no for an answer. This shows his immaturity and egoism. What he is interested in and wants to "obtain" is an image of Bathsheba that exists only in his head. -Sarah Leski
From chapter 18: Boldwood in meditation, i chose the quotation '' If an emotion possessed him at all, it ruled him ". This quotation explains Boldwood's behaviour in the book, as we notice very quickly that he doesn't control his emotions. He falls in love very quickly with Bathsheba and once he falls in love she is the only thing he can think about and he tries extremely hard to convince her to marry him. In my opinion this quotation sums up Boldwood's character.
Chapter 17 "Adam had awakened from his deep sleep and behold! there was Eve." I chose this quote because it illustrates Boldwood's unnatural feelings towards Bathsheba and also shows his idealisation of her which will persist throughout the novel. Lucy
Chapter 23, "Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tragic intensity." I chose this quote because it foreshadows Boldwood's future mental illnesses, we suppose he will fall deeply in love with her and that it will cause tragedy. This metaphor of nature illustrates Bathsheba's carelessness as well as her immaturity since she doesn't think about the consequences of her actions. Ines
Chapter XIX "The sheep-washing" When Boldwood proposes to Bathsheba for the 1st time: "My life is a burden without you," he exclaimed in a low voice. "-I want you-I want you to let me say I love you again and again!" I thought that this quote summed up everything going in Boldwood's head: his egoism, his persistence and determination. The fact that he says "I want you" shows that he considers her as an object that he can possess.
I choose the quotation ''Boldwood looked at her- not slily critically or understandingly , but blankly at gaze in the way a reaper looks up at a passing train- as something foreign to his element "from chapter XVII in the market place.
I choose this quote because i think it reflects very well the nature of Boldwood's feelings for Bathsheba , he is absorded by her and cannot look away, still it is new and foreign for him since he never was interested by a woman before. I also like this quote because i see it as the very beginning of their relationship and foreshadows how unhealthy it is going to be.
I choose the quotation "I cannot allow any man to- to critizice my private conduct" from chapter XX "perplexity".
I chose this quote because I think it develops Bathsheba's character by showing that even if she is completely lost and needs advices, she will not allow anyone to say that what she did wasn't the perfect way to behave.
I chose a quotation from Chapter XVII, "Batsheba's insensibility to the possibly great issues of little beginnings." I really like this quotation because it feels like the narrator is giving us a subtle hint of what is going to happen, while still creating suspense. I also think that it is a good quotation because the word "insensibility" is often a characteristic that we associate with Bathsheba when it comes to her actions towards men.
I chose a quotation from Chapter XIX : The sheep-washing : the offer "I will wait" he said. I think this quotation is quite interesting as Boldwood's words are the same as Oak's at the beginning of the novel when he proposes to Bathsheba. Although the words are the same, they are showing a clear opposition between the two characters whose intentions are completely different. Oak said he would wait for Bathsheba forever whereas Boldwood is actually pushing Bathsheba to accept the proposal.
I chose a quotation from the 17th chapter "Boldwood looked at her-not slily, critically or understandingly, but blankly at gaze, in the way a reaper looks up at a passing train-":
ReplyDelete- fist of all, I liked the metaphor that was made with the passing train, I think it represents the idea that Bathsheba showed up very quickly in Boldwood's life, just like a train
-Moreover, I liked the idea that Boldwood was staring at her for a while and that she took all of his thoughts out, as if she enchanted or bewitched her, I think Hardy is really trying to say by this sentence that Bathsheba is special.
- and I also like this quotation because it is about the departure point of Bolwood and Bathsheba's relationship, the moment when he truly falls in love with her
I know I'm taking the word "reaper" way out of context, but the first place my mind went when I saw that word was 'Hey, Boldwood kills someone because he loves Bathsheba... So in a way, he's like the Reaper?" (Grim Reaper, Angel of Death, le type avec la faucille etc etc). Anyway, nice quotation, I like it too!
DeleteChapter XVIII : "Bastheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was hotbed of tropic intensity."
ReplyDelete- Use of "far from" : a hint to the title
- Lots of metaphors which add a subliminal effect to this quote that foreshadows future events
- Shows that Bathsheba didn't think about the consequences and that these consequences will be tragic ("tropic intensity" and "dark and silent shape" that shows the negativity)
- Jade Chevallet
"The worst features of this arrangement were that, if he thought she ridiculed him an apology would increase the offence by being disbelieved, and if he thought she wanted him to woo her, it would read like additional evidence of her forwardness."
ReplyDelete-Chapter XVII
This quotation shows that Bathsheba's actions have very important consequences that are only now starting to show and that cannot be avoided : one way or another, Bathsheba cannot "repair" her mistake, there is no going back on what she has done. I find that this quotation shows the importance of this one action for the rest of the plot.
The quotation I chose is extracted from the 18th chapter: “Boldwood in meditation : regret”
ReplyDelete“If 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 hit mortally, or he was missed.”
-The entire quotation is very negative: ‘hit mortally’, and the employment of negatives ‘not’, ‘never’. It foreshadows Boldwood’s uncertain nature and the danger he represents
-In my opinion, the narrator plays a major role in the effectiveness of the quotation. In my opinion, he is almost trying to analyze an animal, by using a neutral attitude. He just reports facts and explains to the reader how Boldwood functions, thinks and acts.
- Overall, it shows he is unable to control his own mind and feelings: ‘possessed’, ‘ruled’, ‘mastering’, belonging to the semantic field of domination. His powerlessness hints at what will happen (foreshadowing)
I chose a quotation from chapter XVII "On saturday Boldwood was in Casterbridge market-house as usual, when the disturber of hiss dreams became visible to him. Adam had awakened from his deep sleep, and behold! there was Eve."
ReplyDelete- I liked the metaphor "the disturber of his dreams". The reader knows instantly who this metaphor refers to, Thomas Hardy is of course talking of Batsheba. It is the first time Boldwood and Batsheba really take time to see each other : "the disturber of his dreams entered and became visible to him".
- There is a reference to to biblical characters Adam and Eve. The writer uses their names to talk of Boldwood and Batsheba. In the Bible Eve is tempted by the evil, and then encouraged Adam to follow her. In Far From the Madding Crowd Batsheba implicitly encourages Boldwood to pay attention to her. She does not want his happiness but just her personal satisfaction.
Bertille Vacheresse
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEnd of chapter XX, Gabriel says he gave up the idea of marrying Bathshaba : " "Or wishing it, I suppose," she said, and it was apparent that she expected an unhesitating denial of this supposition.
ReplyDeleteWhatever Gabriel felt, he coolly echoed her words,
"Or whishing it, either." "
Bathsheba considers Gabriel's love as normal. She rejected him, doesn't intend to marry him but wants him to like her. When he repeats her words and therefore says that he doesn't like her anymore, she feels wounded in her pride. Maybe she considered his love as a trophee ? Proud that someone like Gabriel was in love with her ?
On the other hand, we know that Gabriel still loves Bathsheba but he is not going to let her play with his feelings, and so let her know of it. His intention is to support her from the shadows but not to feed her ego.
This passage could be foreshadowing the end : Bathsheba will need Gabriel's love.
-Léa Blandin
This quotation is taken from chapter XVIII, and makes up the last paragraph of the chapter. Boldwood has been walking through the fields around his farm when he saw Bathsheba, Oak and Cainy ball further away and decided to inquire after Bathsheba. Bathsheba realizes her responsibility for this uncomfortable situation and in this quotation we can see her reflection on the matter.
ReplyDelete« She resolved never again by look or by sign to interrupt the steady flow of this man’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 chose this quotation because it includes both Bathsheba’s thoughts and the narrator’s opinion.
Her decision of letting Boldwood live his own life from now on seems the most reasonable one to make, but the narrator’s thought is also rather interesting. Bathsheba now feels the impossibility of going back on her actions, and regret starts to be seen in her. Hence she decides to behave properly in the future, but it is too late, as Boldwood has already been too shaken by her interruption in his calm life.
Boldwood’s passion is described by the narrator as “an evil” which foreshadows the dark future that is set for him in the rest of the novel.
"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", Chapter XVIII
ReplyDeleteThis quotation is by far one of my favorite in this instalment. Firstly, an effective description and contrast of Boldwood is made, through the use of geometrical imagery "dark and silent shape" and terms related to nature "hotbed of tropic intensity". Thanks to this vivid description, readers are given a quick summary of how Boldwood's character has been unfolded over the course of the 4th instalment, going from a dignified gentleman who never took interest in anyone hence the "dark and silent shape" that emphasises his mysterious and unnatural side to a very erratic persona through the use of specfic words such as "hotbed" signifing an appearance of something that could potentially lead to negative consequences.
On the other hand, readers are also introduced to the narrator's thoughts and opinions with the description of Bathsheba's actions. The use of the adverb "carelessly" indeed shows that the narrator feels a strong discontentment towards Bathsheba's doing and that the Valentine's card, represented as the "seed" in this line is what led to the chaos that Boldwood's character is at the moment.
I chose a quotation from the end of chapter XX, Gabriel said (while speaking of his love for Bathsheba) : "I have long given up thinking of that matter." [ Bathsheba replied ] "Or wishing it, I suppose" [ and Oak echoed her words ] "Or wishing it, either"
ReplyDeleteI think that this quotation is very interesting because it conveys different ideas about the characters.
Bathsheba does not seem to accept the fact that Gabriel is not in love with her anymore. It raises the question : Does she need Gabriel's love ? Which might be true since he is a constant presence in the book and that they are in the end together, this quote could consequently be seen as foreshadowing.
It reflects Bathsheba’s need for attention, showing that even though she appears strong and independent she has a real issue with attention and the image she wants to convey.
This quote also confirms that Gabriel is still in love with Bathsheba. He does not deny it but simply echoes her word. It shows the power of his personality ; he does not need to hide his love. Gabriel keeps his pride throughout the novel but unlike Bathsheba he does not need to lie to himself or the world about his person or feelings. This shows the difference between Gabriel and Bathsheba’s other suitors, who have a quick temper and are mainly unreliable.
""I feel —almost— too much— to think," he said with a solemn simplicity."I have come to speak to you without preface. My life is not my own since I have beheld you clearly. Miss Everdeen—I come to make you an offer of marriage.""
ReplyDeleteThis quote is from Chapter XIX The sheep-washing: the offer. I chose it because it is Bolwood’s first of many marriage proposals to Bathsheba. It is surprisingly straightforward and rather unromantic: I think it is a great example of Boldwood’s clumsiness. It also develops the theme of marriage which is one of the main themes of the novel.
-Pia
"George was walking on behind me with a temper as mild as milk."
ReplyDeleteThis quotation is from Chapter IV, Gabriel's Resolve: The Visit: The Mistake
I chose it because it shows how simple his life was before the sheep catastrophe
I chose the quotation in chapter All Saints All Souls in which Troys says : "To-morrow!" and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. "I don't go through that experience again for some time, I warrant you!".
ReplyDeleteIt is an excellent exemple of how reputation can win over love. Troy is focused on his reputation and how people will judge him instead of taking care of Fanny. The soldier can't bear to be ashamed in front of a crowd and doesn't want to hear her lover's explanation even if they are understandable. Troy is infuriated by this humiliation and it gives us a hint to his nature.
This quote enable the reader to directly see Troy personnality. Indeed it is the second time we see Frank but we already have two scenes in which a negative image of him is conveyed. It is also a kind of foreshadowing as Frank will always be the "bad boy" in the novel (until his death).
«though it was possible to form guesses concerning his wild capacities from old flood-marks faintly visible, he hand never been seen at the high tides which had caused them»
ReplyDelete— Chapter XVIII, page 122
I chose this quotation because I think it uses some very effective imagery, and I like the metaphor very much. I think a river is perfect to comoare Boldwood with, because like a river he can seem very calm and peaceful one moment, but agitated with strong currents beneath the surface, and then in a raging flash-flood the moment after.
I also like how it lets the reader speculate on what could have happened in Boldwood's life to leave him with those 'flood-marks', and whether he really did "[meet] with some bitter disappointment when he was a young man", as Liddy thinks in the second instalment.
I've chosen two quotations that convey the same idea. The first one is from chapter XVIII "Boldwood in meditation: regret", "When Bathsheba's figure shone upon the farmer's eyes, it lighted him up as the moon lights up a great tower" . The second is from chapter XVII "The market place" "When the disturber of his dreams entered and became visible to him. Adam had awakened "
ReplyDeleteI've chosen these two quotations because in my opinion, both of them emphasise pure love from the narrator intern point of view. They also show the struggle that Boldwood has of showing his feelings.
Zuhair
I chose a quotation from the 19th chapter "The sheep washing", it takes place just after the mariage proposal of Boldwood to Bathsheba, and describes her reaction to his offer.
ReplyDelete"Bathsheba tried to preserve an absolutely neutral countenance, and all the motion she made was that of closing lips which had previously been a little parted"
I chose it because it was one of the few times in the first four instalment that we can see some doubt and worry on Bathsheba face. She always tries to seem confident and strong, but here we can see her in front of a situation she didn't really want to happen. She does not know how to react at first and just tries to keep a placid and neutral face to hide her feeling of discomfort.
I chose a quotation from the chapter 16 "All Saints' and All Souls'", it takes place the day when Frank and Fanny were supposed to get married when Fanny finally arrives at the church.
ReplyDelete"(Frank) "Ah, when? God knows!" he said, with a light irony, and turning from her walked rapidly away."
I chose it because the real nature of Frank is revealed. He isn't at all a good man and he was misleading Fanny from the beginning. Also, this moment has lots of consequences since if he had got married to Fanny, a lot of events that come after never would have happened.
I chose a quote from chapter 19: the sheep-washing. It happens during the conversation between Boldwood and Bathsheba. At one moment Boldwood says: "and hope to obtain you".
ReplyDeleteThis quotation carries a lot of dramatic irony. Indeed, we know that this is absolute wrong thing to do to charm Bathsheba. This is seen in the 4th chapter, Bathsheba distinctly says that she doesn't want to be any man's property. I find this quote very funny as I, being a reader, know that Boldwood completely missed his chance (not that he had much in the first place) to charm a little Bathsheba who had "awakened" him.
Your quotation choice is good, your analysis of it a bit less. Indeed, your idiosyncratic use of some words and sentence constructions remains as headache-inducing as ever, but it's still ok.
DeleteThank you for justifying you existence as a reader, the laughs are appreciated.
Let's aim for constructive criticism Mia! We don't want Camille to be afraid to post his ideas, do we? Thank you for reading the other posts and commenting on them, that's what this blog is for. 🙂
DeleteI chose a quote from chapter XX "at this period the single opinion in the parish on herself and her doings that she valued as sounder than her own was Gabriel Oak's".
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting as we can see that even though she thinks that way, she still gets angry at him and fire him. It gives also a foreshadowing because after she will fall in love with Oak as she can rely on him.
I chose a quotation from Chapter 18, "Boldwood in meditation : regret".
ReplyDelete"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."
I chose this quote because I think it both develops Bathsheba as well as Boldwood. The word "carelessly" reminds the reader how immature she has been when she sent him the letter on Valentine's day. She is in her own world and doesn't think about the consequences of her act. There is an agricultural metaphor that emphases Boldwood excitation and questioning about Bathsheba.
This sentence highlights the opposition between Boldwood who thinks only of her, and Bathsheba who doesn't realize yet what is happening in Boldwood's life because of her.
"If you can love me, say so, Miss Everdene. If not - don't say no."
ReplyDelete-Boldwood in chapter XIX
I chose this quotation because I think it sums up Boldwood's attitude toward Bathsheba perfectly. After having proposed to her (for the first time) he will not take no for an answer. This shows his immaturity and egoism. What he is interested in and wants to "obtain" is an image of Bathsheba that exists only in his head.
-Sarah Leski
From chapter 18: Boldwood in meditation, i chose the quotation '' If an emotion possessed him at all, it ruled him ". This quotation explains Boldwood's behaviour in the book, as we notice very quickly that he doesn't control his emotions. He falls in love very quickly with Bathsheba and once he falls in love she is the only thing he can think about and he tries extremely hard to convince her to marry him. In my opinion this quotation sums up Boldwood's character.
ReplyDeleteChapter 17 "Adam had awakened from his deep sleep and behold! there was Eve." I chose this quote because it illustrates Boldwood's unnatural feelings towards Bathsheba and also shows his idealisation of her which will persist throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteLucy
Chapter 23, "Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a seed was a hotbed of tragic intensity."
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because it foreshadows Boldwood's future mental illnesses, we suppose he will fall deeply in love with her and that it will cause tragedy.
This metaphor of nature illustrates Bathsheba's carelessness as well as her immaturity since she doesn't think about the consequences of her actions.
Ines
Chapter XIX "The sheep-washing"
ReplyDeleteWhen Boldwood proposes to Bathsheba for the 1st time: "My life is a burden without you," he exclaimed in a low voice. "-I want you-I want you to let me say I love you again and again!"
I thought that this quote summed up everything going in Boldwood's head: his egoism, his persistence and determination. The fact that he says "I want you" shows that he considers her as an object that he can possess.
I choose the quotation ''Boldwood looked at her- not slily critically or understandingly , but blankly at gaze in the way a reaper looks up at a passing train- as something foreign to his element "from chapter XVII in the market place.
ReplyDeleteI choose this quote because i think it reflects very well the nature of Boldwood's feelings for Bathsheba , he is absorded by her and cannot look away, still it is new and foreign for him since he never was interested by a woman before. I also like this quote because i see it as the very beginning of their relationship and foreshadows how unhealthy it is going to be.
I choose the quotation "I cannot allow any man to- to critizice my private conduct" from chapter XX "perplexity".
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I think it develops Bathsheba's character by showing that even if she is completely lost and needs advices, she will not allow anyone to say that what she did wasn't the perfect way to behave.
I chose a quotation from Chapter XVII, "Batsheba's insensibility to the possibly great issues of little beginnings." I really like this quotation because it feels like the narrator is giving us a subtle hint of what is going to happen, while still creating suspense. I also think that it is a good quotation because the word "insensibility" is often a characteristic that we associate with Bathsheba when it comes to her actions towards men.
ReplyDeleteI chose a quotation from Chapter XIX : The sheep-washing : the offer
ReplyDelete"I will wait" he said. I think this quotation is quite interesting as Boldwood's words are the same as Oak's at the beginning of the novel when he proposes to Bathsheba. Although the words are the same, they are showing a clear opposition between the two characters whose intentions are completely different. Oak said he would wait for Bathsheba forever whereas Boldwood is actually pushing Bathsheba to accept the proposal.