Why did nobody tell me how funny Far from the Madding Crowd is? The villagers of Weatherbury fucking love Gabriel. From the second he arrives they’re like a Greek chorus singing “hire this brave man” “a right sensible man” “ye be a very handsome man, shepherd” “an extraordinary good and clever man”. Local Village Adopts Kind and Handsome Stranger On Sight!
not to think of pride and prejudices directors commentary of the 'im very fond of walking.' 'i know' scene, where joe wright says "he could have said 'you' there, it could have been 'i know you'" whilst watching far from the madding crowd, but! the way she pauses after saying 'i wish i could go, too' and they have a moment of just looking at each other in their own world. and im not the director but god. she could have said 'with you' there, there was an unsaid 'with you' and its absence was felt in the weight of the moment after. 'i wish i could go, too. with you.'
I've read and reread Chapter II of Far From the Madding Crowd countless times now. This passage has a choke hold on me.
"To persons standing alone on a hill during a clear midnight such as this - the roll of the world eastward is almost a palpable movement. The sensation may be caused by the panoramic glide of the stars past earthly objects, which is perceptible in a few minutes of stillness; or by a fancy that the better outlook upon space afforded by a hill emphasizes terrestial revolution; or by the wind; or by the solitude; but whatever be its origin the impression of riding along is vivid and abiding. The poetry of motion is a phrase much in use, and to enjoy the epic form of that gratification it is necessary to stand on a hill at a small hour of the night, and, first enlarging the consciousness with a sense of difference from the mass of civilized mankind, who are horizontal and disregardful of all such proceedings at this time, long and quietly watch your stately progress through the stars. After such a nocturnal reconnoitre among these astral clusters, aloft from the customary haunts of thought and vision, some men may feel raised to a capability for eternity at once."
One day, ONE DAY, I am gonna write the Far From the Madding Crowd AU for Jily that lives rent free in my head. Lily as Bathsheba Everdene. James as Gabriel Oak. ??? as Boldwood. Ugh.