First Impactful Novel that I ever Read

School students usually don't get exposure to classical novels. However, we were fortunate in that the CBSC syllabus in the early seventies (We were 1975 pass out) had an option to take third group in class IX with the electives of economics, history and English literature. Those days under CBSE, schooling was only up to Class XI after which students could directly join for graduation in college. 

In the syllabus, as literature students, we had for study the celebrated novel of Thomas Hardy "Far from the Madding Crowd". It was a pleasure to go deep into the village life (far from the madding urban life) in England, understanding the motivations and compulsions of well etched out characters in the novel under the guidance of our teacher R.K. Mishra. The principal characters in the novel are Bathsheba Everdene, Sergeant Francis 'Frank' Troy, William Boldwood, Gabriel Oak and Fanny Robin. 

The novel is set in Thomas Hardy's Wessex in rural south west Victorian England. Bathsheba is the village beauty with many admirers and later she also inherits her uncle's farm. Gabriel Oak is a hard working, down to earth shepherd who became friendly with Bathsheba but she turns down his proposal for marriage. He continues to be devoted to her and helps in crises affecting her farm. 

Boldwood in his forties is the most eligible bachelor in the village with good financial background. During a valentine's day, Bathsheba in jest sends him a valentine beautifully embossed with the words "Will you marry me?" The man takes it seriously, becomes obsessed with her and proposes marriage which is turned down. An upright and highly respected person suddenly goes to pieces over his ardent quest to attain the object of his desire. 

In the meanwhile, a swashbuckling, handsome sergeant Troy enters the scene and Batsheba is drawn to him after an initial dislike. This leads to conflict between Boldwood and Troy. However, Bathsheba  marriesTroy who takes to gambling and is not serious about running the farm. It turns out that Troy was having an affair with a simple village girl Fanny whom he did not marry due to a misunderstanding. Fanny becomes impoverished and pregnant with Roy's child. When Troy comes to know about it, he gives her some money. But Fanny and the child die during child birth. A remorseful Troy kisses the lips of the dead body which pains Bathsheba. If that wasn't enough, he says "This woman is more to me. dead as she is, than ever you were, or are, or can be", crushing Bathsheba.  

Troy later goes away and his clothes are found near a river and he is presumed to be drowned. Boldwood, once again proposes to Bathsheba. This time she said she would consider the proposal after expiry of 7  years ( period after which her husband Troy would legally be held as dead). But, an year later, Troy having gone through a tough life returns and goes to Boldwood's house where a party was going on. He commands Bathsheba to go with him. Bathsheba shrieks; Boldwood shoots him dead and is imprisoned for life. At this juncture Oak who was by her side helping her all the while, decides to quit. It is then that Bathsheba realizes that Oak "was her oldest and only real friend" and dissuades him from leaving. He proposes marriage, she accepts and the two are quietly married.

Although, unlike most of Thomas Hardy's novels, this has a happy ending, there are varying emotions and dramatic moments in the novel gripping and engaging the reader. As students, we were exposed to the details during discussions. In one of my blogs, I have mentioned about my acting at school  participating with enthusiasm on stage during the annual day celebrations. ( Link  )

 I looked at each of the characters in the novel and asked myself  "If we played this on stage which student would be suitable for which role?".  " What role would I like to play- the guy who gets the girl in the end? the daredevil Troy or the upright Boldwood who went crazy and lost all balance on account of love?" 

I visualized the pretty girl in our  class for the role of Bathsheba. My Troy was visible in another classmate; as also Oak in another one, known for his stocky, steady persona. However, as an actor, I was drawn to the challenging personality of Boldwood who was living a happy life minding his own business. His situation is akin to waking up a person who is sleeping to tell him there is no food for supper. I saw a lot of possibilities with the fluctuating emotions in this character in his forties and wished to play it, if I had the opportunity. 

Overall, "Far from the Madding Crowd" written in 1874, is a fascinating novel deeply engaging to the reader even if read today. It is arguably the best novel of Thomas Hardy and the first quality novel that I ever read!