Departure of Bathsheba: A Pastoral Tragedy
- Gabriel Oak receives news that Bathsheba Everdene has left the neighborhood.
- Oak knows all about falling in love. He's a pro. But he has a tough time learning how to get out of love.
- He's uber-depressed at this point and probably is listening to breakup music.
- If that weren't enough, a really bad thing happens on top of his rejection. One of his dogs, feeling a little too eager, starts chasing his sheep around a field while Oak is asleep. And wouldn't you know it, the dog chases all the sheep right off a cliff into a nearby chalk pit. Nearly every sheep Oak owns is killed. Financially speaking, the guy is toast. Everything he has worked hard for is gone.
- Oak's eager dog is taken out and shot the next day.
- At the end of it all, Oak has enough belongings to pay off his debts. But that's it. He comes out of the situation without a dollar to his name. Ugh.