Far From the Madding Crowd- a moral message?

Since watching the new release starring Carey Mulligan, I believe Hardy's tale has a well known truth woven within his narrative. Although this book was released in 1874, approximately 150 years ago, we can still apply the moral message it showcases to our society today. It is timeless.

The three candidates for Miss Bathsheba Everdene, the lead role in this tale, sum up stereotypes we come across each day. They may already inhabit a place in your life at this current moment.

Firstly we encounter Mr Oak, with the forename Gabriel he is automatically depicted as the 'angel' or hero of the story. Gabriel is fiercely loyal to Miss Bathsheba Everdene and falls in love with her almost immediately on her arrival at her aunts farm. He proposes to her shortly afterwards but she declines as they were little acquainted.  He is six years her senior and a quiet man who lives a frugal and simple life. However he is kind, and caring and most importantly a gentleman. Played by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts in the film, he is quietly handsome and rather rugged as a shepherd which has its own charm. In the modern day, Gabriel represents the friend or the guy that is always there for whenever you need him most.

Secondly we have William Boldwood, an older and wiser man with plenty of money who inhabits a nearby successful farm. Boldwood becomes obsessed with Miss Everdene after she sends him a valentine card, but she does not accept his proposal as she does not love him, although she thinks over the offer as he is the most eligible bachelor in the district. Michael Sheen portrays the character very well in the recent film. Today Mr Boldwood I'm sure is equalled by people similar to his situation, a wealthy man is always attractive although as the saying goes, money cannot buy you happiness.


Thirdly we meet Sergeant Troy, an obviously attractive man and a deadly charmer. Tempted by his alluring character and his dangerous profession, Bathsheba finds her infatuated with Troy and marries him through jealously as he explains of the woman he once loved. After all, women love a man in a uniform. His formidable character however becomes too much and Bathsheba simply falls out of what was a hasty attachment with him. He is eventually killed off by Mr Boldwood who shoots Troy when he grabs Miss Everdene in a rather violent manner. The classic tall, dark an handsome stereotype played perfectly by Tom Sturridge remains supreme in this tale. These traits are still pursued by women in society today; not much has changed. Although we may deny it, its true, women love the bad boys, that element of unexpected and the daring behaviour still impresses women. The lesson we learn however is looks are not everything and being risky or unstable is certainly not the best either. Despite Troy's charm he finds himself in binary opposition to our hero Gabriel; he is most definitely not a gentleman. 

So what is the message Far From the Madding Crowd leaves us to reflect on? Ultimately the good guy wins over the girl after her dismissal of him originally. The moral of the story is, don't be fooled by the flashy guy. The guy who gets all the attention, and possibly loves himself more than he loves you. Bathsheba was right not to agree to the marriage with Mr Boldwood who she knew would not make her happy, even with his copious amounts of money. Finally we turn to our hero Gabriel. His loyalty, gentlemanly manner and his kind and humble approach to life is after all what we all desire. Once he decides to leave, it dawns on Bathsheba that she cannot be without him and is ardently in love with him. Whilst this story is a didactic tale, it also embodies the perfect and realistic fairytale but rather than the 'prince' being a man of wealth, he is our simple farmer, a 'prince' I'm sure we all have or will have in our lives.