Passion and Sobriety in Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd

In my thesis I examine the elements of passion in Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd that drive the plot from crisis to crisis and the fact that passion is confronted with a much more sober view of life. The whole novel is built up around the contradiction between passion and sobriety. I would like to take a closer look at the characters' nature and conduct, especially that of Bathsheba Everdene, which play a relevant role in the course of the book. I intend to prove that in spite of the happy ending the novel does not end on a note of optimism. In the introductory part I examine the novel as a whole and Hardy's view of life which is perfectly reflected in the action of the characters. In the second and third chapters I analyse Bathsheba Everdene's conduct and motives, and how she develops all through the series of actions. In the fourth chapter I examine Troy's character and in the fifth the character of Boldwood. In the sixth and seventh chapters I introduce the only really positive character, Gabriel Oak, and the way he is confronted by the other characters of the novel.