Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Gabriel Oak

As we mentioned in the "Protagonist" section, Gabriel Oak can seem like a pretty good candidate for protagonist of this novel. But the truth is that for most of the book, his role is to give advice to the struggling Bathsheba Everdene. Gabriel is too solid and too good to be a compelling main character.

Instead, he becomes Bathsheba's rock, always telling her the truth even when she doesn't want to hear it. On a couple of occasions, she even threatens to fire him for his honesty. But Gabriel never stops being true to Bathsheba, and in the end she rewards him with marriage.