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Far From the Madding Crowd
2015
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Far From the Madding Crowd : Chapters 42 - 55
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A couple of things about this section of the book:1) I wondered if Troy could have risen to the occasion and exerted himself to be a good husband to poor Fanny? I felt so sorry for her. I felt that possibly Troy refused to marry her bec she was of the servant class and he wanted to marry a woman with money since he is poor.
2) where was BS's resolution with this affair with Boldwood when he was pressuring her in this way at this time while here husband has not been "dead" for very long? She had the presence of mind to operate a business and enter the world of me to "the corn exchange" to sell her corn, but she could not resolve to tell Boldwood to back off?
3) way her yearning for Oak to say he wished he could marry her when she's, if she were free more of her shallow vanity (she's very vain) or is this a change in her feelings for Oak? When I read this, I was unable to determine any change in her feelings for Oak as a man. I know her feeling changed in terms of seeing what a good man he was when he came out to cover her ricks before it rained the night Troy himself and all of the farm hands drunk.
Bathsheba and Troy begin to change places here. She becomes more compassionate and he is a piece of work. I do not think he could have been a good husband to fanny. He's lazy and selfish and would have wandered off and left her alone with her child. He loves her now she's dead and can't make demands on him and I suppose he was fond of her in his own way, but I don't think he can truly love. Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote:
2) where was BS's resolution with this affair with Boldwood when he was pressuring her in this way at this time while here husband has not been "dead" for very long?"
She was afraid for his mental health. She didn't know what would happen if she said no. She felt bad for him that she had made him crazy obsessed with her. Indeed he turns all Phantom of the Opera crazy! He truly lost his mind and I think if she had said no flat out, he would have done something drastic. He wasn't being manipulative, he was truly certifiably a "lunatic."
The man becoming a lunatic for the love of a woman is a nice change from the typical unrequited love Bathsheba had for Troy. I think Hardy is also saying "Look Bathsheba behaved badly in sending that Valentine to Troy. Here's what happens when women don't behave properly. They die like Fanny and they make men crazy." It's interesting to note that women weren't allowed to attend funerals because they (supposedly) couldn't control their emotions, yet women were expected to uphold the morals of the home and community and be good, gentle and kind to men. "Everyone" knows men can't control their passions!
The scrawl was this simple one, "Fanny Robin and child." Gabriel took his handkerchief and carefully rubbed out the two latter words, leaving visible the inscription "Fanny Robin" only. He then left the room, and went out quietly by the front door.
After hearing rumors that Fanny was pregnant, Bathsheba pried open the lid to her coffin to learn the truth. Troy comes home and finds her distraught, believing a servant must have died in his absence.
What Troy did was to sink upon his knees with an indefinable union of remorse and reverence upon his face, and, bending over Fanny Robin, gently kissed her, as one would kiss an infant asleep to avoid awakening it.
This woman is more to me, dead as she is, than ever you were, or are, or can be. If Satan had not tempted me with that face of yours, and those cursed coquetries, I should have married her. I never had another thought till you came in my way. Would to God that I had; but it is all too late!" He turned to Fanny then. "But never mind, darling," he said; "in the sight of Heaven you are my very, very wife
Troy buys an elaborate tombstone and plants flowers around her grave only to have them destroyed by rain, then he leaves. He stops at the coast and is nearly drowned by a strong current, but is rescued by a naval ship.
For those few heavenly, golden moments she had been in his arms. What did it matter about her not knowing it? She had been close to his breast; he had been close to hers
Weeks later, Bathsheba travels to market day and is informed that Troy has drowned. Boldwood comes to her aid and offers to help her home. At first she refuses to believe Troy dead, then wonders if he may have committed suicide in his grief over Fanny.
Time passes, Bathsheba continues to turn the farm around and forward its profit. Gabriel is made bailiff and hired by Boldwood to oversee Little Weatherbury. Boldwood hopes again to marry her at the end of her mourning, but Bathsheba doesn't intend to consider for the full seven year period.
At the GreenHill sheep fair, Troy - who finds himself a performer in a small traveling troupe - sees Bathsheba again. He finds himself conflicted over seeing her again - though ensuring she doesn't find out about his present circumstances - and remaining dead.
Yet in the centremost parts of her complicated heart there existed at this minute a little pang of disappointment, for a reason she would not allow herself to recognize. Oak had not once wished her free that he might marry her himself—had not once said, Icould wait for you as well as he
While at his Christmas party, Boldwood formally proposes to Bathsheba and presses for her promise that she will marry him at the end of the six years. Troy comes in as Bathsheba prepares to leave and tried to force her to come back with him. Boldwood shoots him, then tries to turn the gun on himself. But after being stopped, he goes to turn himself in.
Gabriel is sent for a doctor, but it's too late. Bathsheba takes Troy home and dresses him for funeral, then after Gabriel and the doctor arrive, she faints from the strain.