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Review of Literature: Far from the Madding Crowd--Part 3
While Auerbach and Morgan are good general sources, finding relevant sources for Far from the Madding Crowd has proven to be the most challenging. One of the more useful sources I have found is “Bathsheba’s Lovers: Male Sexuality in Far from the Madding Crowd” by Susan Beegel. Beegel points out that many critics believed the ending of the novel was tragic because of the “reduced expectations” of Oak or Bathsheba (209). She argues that the ending is actually an optimistic one because while Boldwood wants to posses and stifle Bathsheba, and Troy is a “false front of words and red uniform” with blatant sexuality, Oak ends up as a good friend (210). The first two lovers are death to Bathsheba, but Oak has a “potent, life affirming sexuality” that gives the novel its positive end (216). Beegel has some solid arguments about the men, and she offers some interesting readings of passages, but I disagree with her conclusions about Oak; however, I also disagree that the ending is “tragic” simply because of “reduced expectations.”
Another critic dealing with this text is Linda Shires, who attempts to answer the question, “is Bathsheba powerful?” in “Narrative, Gender, and Power in Far from the Madding Crowd.” Shires believes that “Oak’s story is that of the loss and regaining of power and masculinity,” and that this is completely defined by his relationships with other men (53). Many critics have argued that Oak’s use of “the gaze” puts him a position of power, but Shires says this cannot be since his gaze changes with his circumstances (56). Shires contends that, because of these facts, Bathsheba stays powerful. While I agree with most of Shires’ ideas, I disagree with her conclusion about Bathsheba’s power, and I don’t feel she fully explores Oak’s relationships with other men.
Finally, Penny Boumelha, in “The Patriarchy of Class: Under the Greenwood Tree, Far from the Madding Crowd, and The Woodlanders,” argues that marriage is the only way to improve social class, and that the numerous references to money in Far from the Madding Crowd prove how important social class is (137-138). Her argument has validity, but it ignores the fact that men in the novel marry for money as well so that they can interact with a different class of men.