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[Diana]

I read it because it is the topic of my graduate paper. In fact, I don't like this novel, and even all the works of Thomas Hardy. <br> I think the cause of the marriage between Bathsheba and Gabriel is not only love, but also ecnomical profit:Bathsheba's farm business need the help of Gabriel.<br> I want to know whether you have the same opinion or not. If you are intersted in this point please contact me and my E-mail is [email protected].<br> I'm a student in China, so my English, esp. my English wirtting is not very good. I am very sorry for it.

[Helen Tait]

I think that you are right about the marriage between Bathsheba and Gabriel being not only for love but also for practical and economical reasons, but this is no reason why it should not be successful. In fact it would probabaly stand more chance of becoming a deeper and lasting relationship because of this, because they have become good friends over the years.

I am sorry that you do not enjoy the works of Thomas Hardy. Perhaps if you saw the film which was made in 1965 (I think), perhaps it would change your mind. The scenery and the characters depicting life in the English countryside at the end of the 19th century is charming. I would recommend that you try to get a copy, perhaps on the internet.

[scruffy_danny]

I do think the film would do well in making anyones understanding of the novel better, but for me it ruined the detailed characters I had created . I much prefered the book but I guess if you don't like the book you have no option. Oh well.

I don't want to sound like a disagreeable grump but I think the marriage between Gabrial Oak and Bathsheba wasn't based on economical factors but on the fact that Bathsheba needed Oak completely and so married. Ofcourse Bathsheba always did need Oak for econimical reasons also (when he treated all the ill sheep) but I think it's something far deeper than that.

You never know how much you love someone until they're gone and, upon realizing that Oak was leaving, Bathsheba couln't bear it and realized how much she loved him and so married him.

And its also worth mentioning that Bathsheba's love for Oak isn't as desperate as her love for Troy but it is deeper and much more true, as if it was always there. And I think this more peaceful, undesperate, deeper kind of love was the reason for their marriage.

[brooklyn]

You never know how much you love someone until they're gone and, upon realizing that Oak was leaving, Bathsheba couln't bear it and realized how much she loved him and so married him.
See! Like in chapter 20, when Bathsheba fired Gabriel for such a ridiculous reason. She couldn't conceal her emotion to Gabriel's words regarding to her being together with Boldwood. Just a day after, she called Gable back with a letter "Do not desert me!". So, she simply could not manage without Gabriel. Then, I think the reason why she chose to marry Gabriel at the very last chapter of the novel not only because she loved him but also considering her farm.

Nay, I've just reach Chapter 22, and I found it good (so far...)

[alfredkumar]

Hi Sophi

In the first instance though it appears that Bethsabha married Oak for financial security, as he will be taking care of the farm and all the business dealings of besthaba,

But when u analyse the other alternatives it becomes that the reason behind that marriage is not so, when u find that bold wood is also a rich person, who had many servants, and even Oak was working for boldwood, by marrying Boldwood Behtsheba would have been in a better position even financial, and more over he loved her very much.
But still she rejected boldwood when he mabe a marrage proposal, the reason for this could be the bitter expirence she has encountred earlier by marrying Troy in a very hasty and unthoughtful manner, she married Troy even though she is not well aware of his character and his nature, and as a result of this she had suffred a great deal,

So she was not ready to marry again someone, whome she had not understood well, and with whome there was a little scope of understanding him as the conversation with him was always too short, and even in such short conversation he only spoke how much he loved her, but she had a doubt always in her mind that what a true nature of the person may be, he had little friends in his village, and seldom interacted with the other people, he was filled with pride,

On the other hand, Oak who had known Bethseheba since long time, he though deep in his heart loved her more that anything in the world, but was very shy to spent out his fellings to her, but still he loved her, even though she was married to Troy, and his chances of marrying her has completely diminished, he did not resort to hate, but he still stayed with bethsheba in all the times, he was a shoulder on which Bthsebha would rest her head and cry out her grief during the time of sorrow, and even he resolved to forsake her and go to America, when he sences that he staying here would bring bad name to Bethseba, his love for bethsheba was unconditional, even bethseba understood him too well, love should spring out not in a haste on impluse ( has happened in the case of boldwood on seeing the valiantine card from Bethaseba) but is is a slow process which grows with understanding and complete trust, this is how love sprout between Oak and Bethsabha, and surely her marring Oak she had made a most wisest decision out of true love and understanding