Gabriel Oak- Character Sketch

Gabriel Oak

A character from “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy

Introduction

Gabriel Oak, the hero of the novel, is truly an admirable character from the onset of the novel. From the very first page, we are introduced to him and his sterling qualities. His characteristics make him unique and set him apart, and often above the rest of the characters. He is one of Bathsheba Everdene’s three lovers but his love is almost dormant and he does not openly express his relationship with Bathsheba. Unlike Boldwood, he does not use turn his affection for Bathsheba as his sole purpose in life nor does he flatter her like Troy so purposely did. Rather he expresses his devotion to her through ways that are neither frank nor obvious. In many ways, Gabriel Oak is an opposite to both Mr. Boldwood and Sergeant Francis Troy.

Appearance

When Hardy first introduces Oak, Oak is the owner of a small farm. Though he is a free man with high ambitions, he still wears modest clothing. His large coat, low crown felt hat and oversized boots adhere to this fact. Even when he gets promoted from a shepherd to a bailiff, the only noticeable change is that “He now wears shining boots with hardly a hob in 'em, two or three times a-week, and a tall hat a- Sundays,” In short, he is not too mindful of his clothes.

His Love for Bathsheba

Oak’s most distinctive quality is his love for Bathsheba. Hardy describes this love in the early part of the novel, “Gabriel had reached a pitch of existence he never could have anticipated a short time before. He liked saying "Bathsheba" as a private enjoyment instead of whistling; turned over his taste to black hair, though he had sworn by brown ever since he was a boy, isolated himself till the space he filled in the public eye was contemptibly small.

Throughout his time on Bathsheba’s farm, he does not mention once to anyone that he loves Bathsheba. Only those who know him closely have deciphered his affection for his mistress. Upon learning about Bathsheba’s marriage to Troy, he is angry at Troy but does not express his anger is out of jealousy.

After Troy’s disappearance, Bathsheba asks Oak for advice on how to deal with the hopeful and at times insane, Boldwood. Oak gives her reasonable advice but Bathsheba is still somewhat struck by his attitude. Though she knows how much Gabriel loves her, he, “Oak had not once wished her free that he might marry her himself -- had not once said, "I could wait for you as well as he."’

Even after Boldwood and Troy’s death and the gossip about Oak marrying Bathsheba, he does not once show his inclination to marry her. He says “Surely, surely you be the last person in the world I think of marrying. It is too absurd, as you say.” But when she mentions that she does not want to decline the proposal, he almost leaps up in joy. His unaltered and eternal love for Bathsheba seems to pay off when she accepts finally accepts his proposal to marriage and the two get married.

His trustworthiness and sense of Duty

One may say that Gabriel’s trustworthiness and sense of duty was due to his tremendous love for Bathsheba but there are many instances in the novel when he shows unnerving bravery and trustworthiness not because of Bathsheba. When Oak, then a weak and poverty-stricken man, arrives in Weatherbury he sees a fire. Instantly he rushes to the spot and tries to stop the fire. Because of his timeliness and skill, he succeeds in stopping it. Hardy also remarks that Boldwood later hires him as bailiff of his farm because of “the impossibility of discovering a more trustworthy man.”

Another instance of Gabriel’s trustworthiness is when he takes Fanny Robin’s dead body to Bathsheba. Bathsheba had entrusted the task to Joseph Poorgrass but he got carried away drinking until it became too late to hold the funeral that day. Gabriel scolds Joseph and takes the dead body himself.

With Bathsheba, his character was above exemplary. Without any instructions, he would make rounds each night on her property, making sure that everything was secure and safe. After her husband Troy’s disappearance, Bathsheba had virtually given up on farming and would often stay at home. Though Oak’s duties comprised of only those of a shepherd, he nonetheless took it upon himself to manage the farm. Upon Oak’s promotion as bailiff much later, Hardy remarks, “he having virtually exercised that function for a long time already, the change, beyond the substantial increase of wages it brought, was little more than a nominal one addressed to the outside world.”

His straightforwardness and truthfulness

Hardy comments that Gabriel Oak had too many Christian characteristics meaning that he is a simple, honest man who is not involved in or desired the least amount of trickery or deception.¹ His straightforwardness is at the stem of these Christian qualities.

Early in the novel, during his conversations to Bathsheba, this characteristic is clearly shown. When he sees Bathsheba doing strange exercises on a pony which are usually unfit for a woman, he simply tells her. Bathsheba is taken back by his honesty and straightforwardness and becomes thoroughly ashamed. In the next chapter, when he proposes to Bathsheba, she tells him that she is a woman who has no property and he should instead marry one that can increase him in wealth. Oak naively answers, “That's the very thing I had been thinking myself!” Hardy rightfully ascertains that Oak’s lack of diplomacy will at this point get him no where near marrying Bathsheba.

Bathsheba, fully aware of this quality of Gabriel’s, uses it to her advantage. Whenever a problem arises or she is concerned about one matter or another, she decides to talk to her former lover, Gabriel Oak conscious of the fact that he will always tell her sound and truthful if not unpleasant advice. Near the end of the novel, she admits that Gabriel has been a mentor to her.

Gabriel’s dismissal from Bathsheba’s farm is because of this characteristic of his. When Bathsheba tells him to convey a message to her coworkers about Mr. Boldwood, he opts to tell her his opinion about the valentine she sent to Mr. Boldwood, knowing that it is harsh.

“That it is unworthy of any thoughtful, and meek, and comely woman.” “Perhaps you don't like the rudeness of my reprimanding you, for I know it is rudeness; but I thought it would do good.”

This straightforwardness though, has its good aspects as well. Near the end of the novel when Bathsheba asks why he has been avoiding her and has decided to leave his post as bailiff, he again replies with complete honesty. He assures her that his only reason for this supposed desertion of her is because people have started rumors of an affair between the two and he wants to preserve the dignity and respect of both Bathsheba and himself. She is belated and accepts his offer to marry her.

Simplicity and Appreciation of Old Ways

One of the first things that Sergeant Francis Troy does upon his arrival is change the appearance of his (formerly Bathsheba’s) house. Oak protests by saying that the old things are still worthwhile and serve their purpose but Troy insists upon changing the architecture of the house. “Well, no. A philosopher once said in my hearing that the old builders, who worked when art was a living thing, had no respect for the work of builders who went before them, but pulled down and altered as they thought fit; and why shouldn't we? 'Creation and preservation don't do well together,”

Another prominent example of the Oak’s simplicity and appreciation of old styles and themes is his promotion to bailiff at both Bathsheba’s and Boldwood’s farms. Hardy relates that

“…though his condition had thus far improved, he lived in no better style than before, occupying the same cottage, paring his own potatoes, mending his stockings, and sometimes even making his bed with his own hands. But as Oak was ... a man who clung persistently to old habits and usages, simply because they were old,…”

Self-Opinion

“The novel's hero, Gabriel Oak is a farmer, shepherd, and bailiff, marked by his humble and honest ways, his exceptional skill with animals and farming, and an unparalleled loyalty. He is Bathsheba's first suitor, later the bailiff on her farm, and finally her husband at the very end of the novel. Gabriel is characterized by an incredible ability to read the natural world and control it without fighting against it. He occupies the position of quiet observer throughout most of the book, yet he knows just when to step in to save Bathsheba and others from catastrophe.”-²

Notes

¹- A Christian here, as well as in the novel, does not refer to a person’s religion or beliefs but rather his way of life. A Good Christian is known to be a person who is straightforward, honest and truthful to such an extent that he may be even called naïve or one who does not even understand the deception and deceit that people practice.

²-This paragraph has been taken from

Henchman, Anna. SparkNote on Far from the Madding Crowd. 27 Oct. 2008