FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD - THOMAS HARDY

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD   - THOMAS HARDY

      Far From The Madding Crowd is a novel written by Thomas Hardy. He is one of the famous novelists of England who lived in 19^th century. In all his novels, he reflects the reality of our life.

      Gabriel Oak, the protagonist of this novel lived in the village of Norcombe  in South Wessex. He started his life as a shepherd. At the age of twenty eight he had managed to stock a small farm in Norcombe Valley with sheep bought partly on credit. Thus he became “Farmer Oak”.

     One December morning, while he was standing on Norcombe Hill, he saw a wagon, loaded with furniture and with a girl seated on the top of it all. The girl’s name was Bathsheba. Gabriel was attracted by her beauty. Bathsheba was a visitor at her aunt’s house in the village. She used to come to her aunt’s cowshed which was situated near Gabriel’s farm. One day Bathsheba saved Oak’s life from smoke at his hut or else he would have been suffocated to death. From that moment onwards he started to love Bathsheba. He proposed his love to her but she denied it.

    A few days after Bathsheba’s departure, Gabriel was ruined by his untrained dog. His career as a farmer was suddenly cut short. He was compelled to seek employment under some other farmer. He went to Casterbridge to get a job but he failed. Then he heard that there was another fair next day at Shottsford. It was ten miles to the other side of Weatherbury. Gabriel arrived in Weatherbury that night. He prevented serious damage and saved the corn belonged to Bathsheba. Bathsheba appointed Oak as a shepherd in her farm. Gabriel rendered his service sincerely.

     Farmer Boldwood  a middle age, eligible bachelor in Weatherbury was not ready to recognize the fascination of Bathsheba’s personality. One day he called on Bathsheba. It was in connection with the disappearance of a young servant-girl called Fanny Robin. Later he came to know that Fanny Robin had gone with her lover who was a soldier in a cavalry regiment.

     To tease Boldwood, Bathsheba sent a valentine in an envelope to Boldwood with a seal which bore the inscription “Marry Me”. Boldwood identified the sender and started to love Bathsheba from that moment onwards. When Boldwood proposed his love, Bathsheba requested him to wait for a few weeks.

     In the meantime, Bathsheba met Sergeant Troy. He was good at handling swords. Through the skill he attracted Bathsheba. Though she had heard all sorts of Troy’s wild and irregular life she began to idealize it, because she was in love with Troy.

     In haste, Bathsheba married Troy.  After marriage Troy showed his real colour. He resigned from the army. He drank heavily, gambled with his wife’s money and did his best to disorganize the management of the farm. It created problem between Bathsheba and Troy. One evening while Bathsheba and Troy were returning home Troy met Fanny Robin. She had been seduced and betrayed by Troy. Troy promised to meet her on Grey’s bridge just outside the town of Casterbidge.

      After reaching Casterbridge, Fanny revealed her identity to the people around. She gave birth to a child and died. By hearing the news about the death of Fanny, Troy gave way to an outburst of grief and affection for Fanny and his child. Next morning he disappeared from Weatherbury. It was nearly one year after Troy’s disappearance people believed him drowned in the sea off Budsmouth. In fact, Troy had not been drowned. He was picked up by the boat of a ship bound for New York. In America, he settled down as a gymnastic instructor. Then he was tired of it and returned to England. When he saw Bathsheba in Greenhill Fair, he felt ashamed of himself and kept away from Bathsheba. Gabriel was promoted to be Bathsheba’s bailiff and became the manager of Boldwood’s farm as well.

     Farmer Boldwood once again proposed his love and requested her to consider whether she would marry him at least at the end of seven years when Troy could be legally presumed to be dead. Bathsheba did not wish to give the farmer a conditional promise to marry him.

      Six years after Boldwood arranged a grand Christmas Party. He invited all the people of Weatherbury. He was waiting for the favorable reply from Bathsheba. Unexpectedly Troy came to the party. Boldwood got angry and shot Troy. Troy fell dead. Boldwood tried to shot himself but was saved by his servant. Then he was put in Jail.

     When Bathsheba was seriously ill Gabriel took care of the farm and her affairs faithfully. One day Gabriel told her of his intention to resign his post and emigration to America. Bathsheba was alarmed of it. She was not ready to accept his resignation because she had began to love him. One morning the marriage between Gabriel and Bathsheba took place very quietly in the Weatherbury Church. Thus the novel ends with happy note.

TRAVEL BY TRAIN - J.B. PRIESTLEY

TRAVEL BY TRAIN  - J.B. PRIESTLEY

     J.B. Priestly is a versatile writer. He is good at writing novels, essays and plays. He is known for his minute observation and portrayal of incidents in a humorous manner. The essay “Travel by Train” presents various types of train passengers.

      First, the author talks about a middle-aged woman traveller. He describes her as a person with a rough voice and face of brass. She loves to invade smoking compartments that are already filled with a quiet company of smokers. She is always accompanied by her dog. Then he describes the heavy carriers. There are some passengers who carry all their odd chattels and household utensils and parcel them up in brown paper. They also carry baskets of fruits and bunches of flowers to add to their own and other people’s misery.

Priestley talks about the non- stop eaters. Once they settled in their seats, they pass each other tattered sandwiches and mouthful scraps of pastry and talking with their mouths full, and scattering crumbs over the trousers of fastidious old gentlemen. The author talks about children’s behavior in the train. Some children don’t make good travelling companions, throughout a journey they will spend all their time daubing their faces with chocolate or trying to climb out of the window. Then, he describes about the cranks. The cranks will always insist us to open the windows in the trains on the bleakest days but in the hot season they don’t allow a window to be opened.

     Then, the author describes about innocent travelers who always find themselves in the wrong train. They neither bother about the railway time-tables nor ask the railway officials for advice. They get into the train that comes first. In the midst of the journey, they enquire, whether they are on the right train or not. The writer has often wondered whether these people will ever reach their destination. Then, he talks about the mighty sleepers. He envies the mighty sleepers. Once they settled in their seats, they sleep in a moment. Two minutes or so from their destination they wake up, collect their baggage and go out. Priestley calls them as descendants of the Seven of Ephesus. According to the author, Seafaring men are good companions on a railway journey. They are always ready for a pipe and a crack with any man. They talk entertaining matter. Then  it is about confidential strangers, who are rarely seen and compared to a very dull dog. They take pleasure in talking of their own interest. At last, the author talks about the elderly man who always seated in a corner. They talk and his talk will be all of trains. The author advices the readers to be aware of the elderly man, for he is the Ancient Mariner of railway travelers who will hold you with his glittering eye.

THE BISHOP’S CANDLESTICKS - NORMAN MCKENNEL

THE BISHOP’S CANDLESTICKS  - NORMAN MCKENNEL    

     The one – act play “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” by Norman McKennel is an excellent adaptation from a section of Victor Hugo’s world famous novel, ‘Les Miserable’. The play is about a Bishop who redeems a convict with his boundless love and affection.

     There are five characters in the play. They are the Bishop, Persome, the Convict, Marie and a Sergeant.

     The Bishop is a kind man. To him, the purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. Persome, the Bishop’s sister is not generous as like her brother. When the Bishop comes to know that Marie, the servant maid’s mother is not able to pay her house rent so, he sells his silver salt-cellar immediately to pay her rent. Moreover, he gives his muffler to Marie to bear the cold outside. This infuriates Persome. She says that Marie and her mother are tricksters. They pretends to be needy and extract money from the Bishop.

    One night a convict enters the Bishop’s house. He has a long knife. By showing the knife, the convict threatens the Bishop to provide food to him. With the help of his sister, the Bishop serves food to the convict. The Bishop asks the convict to take rest in his home. The convict shares his personal life. For his sick wife Jeanette, the convict stole food. He was caught and put in prison for ten years. He got brutal treatment in the jail, so he became like a wild beast. One day he escaped from the jail and started to steal things for his everyday need.

     After hearing the story of the convict, the Bishop asks him to sleep peacefully. When the Bishop and his sister sleep the convict, steals the two costly silver candlesticks from the table and sneaks away. Persome wakes up and discovers that the convict has stolen the candlesticks. She wants to report the matter to the police. But the Bishop accuses himself for having placed the stick in the eye-sight of the convict. At this time, a sergeant brings in the convict. He complains that he found the thief with the Bishop’s Candlestick. But the Bishop protects him by saying that  he had gifted  the candlesticks  to him. The sergeant leaves the convict. The Bishop helps the convict to go to Paris and to lead a life of law abiding citizen. From this play it is proved that through love, a convict can be reformed into a good citizen.

LITTLE GIRLS WISER THAN MEN - LEO TOLSTOY

LITTLE GIRLS WISER THAN MEN

-         LEO TOLSTOY

Count Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian writer. He got Noble Prize for his novel “War and Peace”. In all his works, he emphasized on moral values in life. Mahatma Gandhi was highly influenced by his teachings. In the story “Little Girls Wiser than Men”, he highlighted the importance of forgiving and forgetting in our day to-day life like children.

    It was Easter time. Akulya and Malasha were two little girls who were playing in the street. They had just come from church. Their mothers had dressed them both in new frocks. Malasha wore a blue frock and Akulya wore a yellow print, and both had red kerchiefs on their heads. They removed their shoes and stockings and began to walk through the puddle in the street. When they were playing Malasha splashed water. It spoiled Akulya’s frock. She became angry and ran after Malasha to strike her. At that time Akulya’s mother came there. Akulya made a complaint to her mother about Malasha. Akulya’s mother was angry. She caught Malasha and struck her on the back of her neck. Malasha began to howl. By hearing the crying sound of Malasha her mother came out and started to quarrel with Akulya’s mother. Soon a crowd collected in the street. They went on quarrelling. Akulya’s old grandmother tried to calm them but she failed in it. While the crowd was abusing each other, Akulya and Malasha went back to the puddle. They made the water run into the street. They followed it and delighted. On seeing them, the old mother asked the elders to look at the small children. The elders were ashamed and stopped quarrel. They went back to their homes.

     Tolstoy ends his story with a quote from the Bible,

     “Except ye turn, and becomes as little children, Ye

     Shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heavens”

It means, that unless you change and become like little children, who forget their worries and refrain from holding grudges, you shall not reach the kingdom of heaven

THE FOUR BROTHERS - WALTER DE LA MARE

THE FOUR BROTHERS  - WALTER DE LA MARE

     Walter De La Mare is one of the most famous modern poets and story-teller. ‘The Four Brothers’ is one of the stories in the volume, “Tales Told Again”. These tales are traditional folk and fairy stories retold with De La Mare’s exquisite craftsmanship.

     Once there lived a farmer. He had four sons. All the four were highly disciplined. One day the father asked his sons to go to different places to learn profitable trades. He asked them to return after four years. The first son met a stranger who taught him nimbleness of fingers. The second son became a star gazer and an astronomer. The third son became an archer. The fourth son learnt tailoring. After four years, they returned home. The father was very happy to see them.

      The father wanted to test their skills, so he took them to a tree. There was a nest brooded  by a bird. The father asked the sons to find out the number of eggs in the nest. By using the spy glass the second son answered that, there were five eggs. Then, the father asked his sons to get the eggs without disturbing the bird. The first son with nimble fingers took all the five eggs without disturbing the bird. Now the father asked the sons to shoot all the five eggs with a single arrow. The third son did the job perfectly. Then the father asked the sons to put cracked eggs together. The fourth son sewed all the broken cells together. Then the eggs were placed in the nest once again. The father was happy with the skills of his sons.

     At the time, a dragon snatched away the Princess of the country.  The king proclaimed that the person who save the Princess could marry her. The father asked his four sons to save the Princess from the dragon. With the help of his spy glass, the second son found that the dragon was living on a rock. All the four brothers went to the place in a ship given by the king. The first brother with his nimble fingers carried away the Princess quietly from the dragon. They were returning in their ship. Soon the dragon found out that the Princess was missing. It flew towards the ship. The third brother shoot it dead. But the dragon fell on their ship and the ship was broken into pieces. In no time, the fourth brother saved them by stitching up a raft with his magic needle.

     The king was very happy to see his daughter. He asked the brothers which of the four brothers was to marry his daughter. The four brothers said that the princess must marry a prince only. The king was very much pleased and gave them a lot of valuables. The  father and the brothers lived happily.