Far from the Madding Crowd Group

Question:

chanelle
chanelle
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Explain the theme of love in "Far from the Madding Crowd".

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Posted by chanelle on Sunday November 30, 2008 at 11:06 AM and tagged with far from the madding crowd, love, theme.

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  1. morrol
    morrol Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The theme of love in Thomas Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd" can best be described as unrequited. The characters in the novel deny love to themselves and to others throughout. The poor farmers Oak and Boldwood both have feelings for the beautiful and mysterious Bathsheba. Bathsheba, although she does not have feelings for Boldwood, marries him and denies her hand to Oak who she does have feelings for. Love and duty are confused throughout the novel. Love is also altered by Hardy's views on fate. He believed that events were destined and that humans can not alter their paths. This sense of unrequited mirrors the frustration caused by Hardy's fatalist worldview.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/far-from/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/far-from/historical-context
    http://www.enotes.com/far-from/themes

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    Posted by morrol on Monday December 1, 2008 at 10:34 AM