"There was also a cat in a willow basket, from the partly-opened lid of which she gazed with half-closed eyes, and affectionately surveyed the small birds around." (p.4)


Here “the cat in willow basket” represents lust or libido, that has not displayed its real power or found the courage to show its strength yet. If we define it in terms of the psychic forces it may symbolize id. Though it seems to be inert, (with its half-closed eyes), it is searching for the appropriate time and target. In order to avoid superego, or other self-controling mechanizms, it will manifest itself not directly but in a tricky, deceptive way. Maybe it will make use of emotions like love and affection, that will be dominating at the conscious level. It masks itself, so that it won't be perceived as a destructive force, up untill it reaches its goal and satisfies its desire.

"The girl on the summit of the load sat motionless, surrounded by tables and chairs with their legs upwards, backed by an oak settle,

Perhaps there would be dazzling changes in the lifes of many. The girl would play the central role in the events, taking place. She would be the focus of attention. These changes would be partially without her control and will.

We can say these changes would be a burden, a source of grief. “Sitting motionless” denotes that; she would be in desperate straits because of her thoughtless acts and irresistible drives. See, after all those motions, she would sit motionless. She would be captured by her wrong doings…

With the future events, the psychologic and psychic dynamics of her inner world would take a new form and character. Like those chairs and tables upside down, her established thoughts, emotions and attitutes will change. Her former way of thinking will be of no use and not dependable any more. Probably a new consciousness will arise in the end.

During these turmoil and fluctuations, she would be backed by a reliable, strong force. The "oak settle" here implies Gabriel Oak’s supporting. She will be settled by his backing and will have a relief.

,and ornamented in front by pots of geraniums, myrtles and cactuses, together with a caged canary- all probably from the windows of the house just vacated." (p.4)

The plants here may signify emotions like admiration, love, affection, joy of life, felt at the level of consciousness. The plants with their natural charms evoke such feelings in us, we are not very much aware of due to the rutin chores of everyday life. These flowers are not kept at the window of the old house any more. They will get the attention of many people and evoke similiar thoughts and feelings in them.

The caged canary here may imply innocent, ingenuous feelings of the heart. It may sembolize the most delicate and sensitive perceptions or vulnerable aspects hidden in us. Let me give you a little footnote. The early coal miners carried a caged canary into the mines, as “an early warning device”. They are more sensitive to the deadly fumes. If there was a gas leak, the canary would die, alerting them to the danger of explosion. Like wise sometimes the most intuitive and sensitive sides of us could be life saving in life!

Page 3

"But there is a way some men have, rural and urban alike, for which the mind is more responsible than flesh and sinew: it is a way of curtailing their dimensions by their manner of showing them….Oak walked unassumingly, and with a faintly perceptible bend, yet distinct from a bowing of the shoulders." (p.3)

His posture gives some clues about his inner world, the way he perceives himself. He walks humbly, and unpretentiously. He doesn't count on his appearance or take advantage of his strong, vigorous figure to impress others. Ofcourse it doesn't mean that he is not interested in impressing the other sex by his appearance. Perhaps he hasn't lived such an experience yet. By bending his posture,he is expressing his modesty and unassertiveness towards the external world. Maybe we can say he is using his posture as a cover to conceal his true self or inner strength. He is contended with himself and conscious of his self value.

"He was at the brightest period of masculine growth, for his intellect and his emotions were clearly separated: he had passed the time during which the influence of youth indiscriminately mingles them in the character of impulse, and he had not yet arrived at the stage, wherein they become united again, in the character of prejudice, by the influence of a wife and family." (p.3)

The traditional definition of masculinity involves traits such as; independence, pride, resiliency, self control and physical strength. Gabriel not having a family and a wife yet, leads an independent life, not only physically but pschologically/mentally as well. At this age (28) his intellectual mechanisms are free from the weight of his emotions and from the influence of his surrounding. His mental functioning is sufficient for achieving self control. He is a man of sound judgement and stable mood.

Chapter I

Description of Farmer Oak- An Incident

"When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of his ears, his eyes were reduced to chinks and diverging wrinkles appeared round them, extending upon his countenance like the rays in a rudimentary sketch of the rising sun." (p.1)

Farmer Oak, the main, male character of the novel, as his surname recalls, is a man of nature. His farming endeavour not only shapes his character but his soul is nurtured by nature. The first paragraph sheds light on his mental portrait, his impressive smile, the impression of his eyes as a testimony of his reliable, strong character.

Here let me give some extra information about the oak tree. It is seen as a sign of masculine energy, mighty, strong, enduring and steadfast. In Ogham alphabet, the oak is named by the word Duir (i.e., door) which represents a doorway to inner strength and inner spirituality. It is believed that sitting beneath the mighty Oak brings one spiritual renewal, new understanding and vision. It restores faith in oneself and encourges to take action for future prospects. Source: The Oak Tree King of The Greenwood By By Glennie Kindred.

If we look at the sentences the author uses in the first paragraph, we can interpret this way: When Gabriel Oak smiles, his smile is not false or artificial, but deep from the heart. It changes the whole shape of his face. His eyes which reflects the light of his soul, resembles the rising sun. Darkness, pessimism and fears don’t take root in his inner life. He brings light, hope, warmth and positive energy to his surroundings. You can benefit from his friendship and count on him and feel the joy of life.

I heard a wise man noting once; "the essence of beauty is embedded not in the features of the face but in the expression of the eyes and the smile". Perhaps we can evaluate his impressiveness from this perspective. Any way it is just a connotation.

Hi! Welcome to my blog. You can take your time reading my comments on quoted passages from classical novels. Now that I am working on "Far From the Madding Crowd"/Thomas Hardy (Bantam Classic). I am not a teacher nor a student, only a reader of a sort. I just want to share my delight, perception and thinking in reading classical novels, word by word, sentence by sentence. Though it takes time I love the process itself. Let me give you a secret. This is the first time that I am doing such a literary work. I will be delightful to receive your comments.