"Far from the Madding Crowd" By Thomas Hardy
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Ch – 1 - DESCRIPTION
OF FARMER OAK — AN INCIDENT
In the first chapter we are introduced to the hero of the novel Gabriel
Oak. He is a young 28 years old man. He has a good character and he reached the
position where everyone has started calling him “Farmer Oak”.
“His
Christian name was Gabriel, and on working days he was a young man of sound
judgement, easy motions, proper dress, and general good character”
One morning he was on his ride to a Norcombe hill and there he met a
woman who was in a yellow Waggon. She was Bathsheba Everdene, the heroine of
the novel. Gabriel has seen her first time and he found her attractive.
Bathsheba has seen herself in the mirror,
“She blushed
at herself, and seeing her reflection blush, blushed the more.”
She saw herself as the most beautiful product of the nature. As there is
a description that,
“She simply
observed herself as a fair product of Nature in the feminine kind,”
Oak helped her by giving two pence extra to the gate keeper. When
Gabriel helped her, she didn’t even care to thank him properly, when she left
the place Gabriel said that she is a good woman with one fault and that is
“Vanity”.
Ch – 2- NIGHT
— THE FLOCK — AN INTERIOR — ANOTHER INTERIOR
Oak was near to his hut and he saw a star in the horizon. When he went
closer to the light he realized that what he had taken for a star low down at
the horizon was actually an artificial light. He walked towards the light and found
that there were two women are living at that place. He recognized one among
them and came back to his hut.
Ch 3 - A GIRL
ON HORSEBACK — CONVERSATION
Next day he saw Bathsheba near to his place. She was there with some
work. Oak waited outside and when she came out, she said to Oak that she has
heard his name and she left the place.
After some days, Oak felt illness and got faint in his hut. When he returned
to the consciousness, he heard his dog barking. He felt pain during opening his
eyes. He found his head in the same young woman’s lap. He asked about his
health to the young lady and she replied that he was feeling suffocation in his
hut and that is why he has fainted, if his dog didn’t barked, he would have
died. George has done desperate efforts to draw her attention to the hut. Oak
expressed his gratitude towards Bathsheba and thanked her for saving his life.
When he asked her name she teasingly said,
“Now, find
out my name.”
Ch – 4 - GABRIEL’S
RESOLVE — THE VISIT — THE MISTAKE
Oak fell in love with
Bathsheba and started thinking about her with deep feelings. As he said,
‘I’ll make
her my wife, or upon my soul I shall be good for nothing!’
He has started inquiry and
he came to know that the name of that young woman is ‘Bathsheba Everdene’ he
also came to know that she is living with her aunt Mrs. Hurst. He went to Mrs.
Hurst with a marriage proposal for Bathsheba and said if there is not any other
man is courting her then he wants to marry Bathsheba. Mrs. Hurst said that she
doesn’t has any ‘one’ but more than dozen men are courting her because she is
very hard working and an excellent scholar, Oak felt that there is no chance
for him and then he left.
Oak had hardly gone away two hundred yards and he heard the voice of
Bathsheba. Bathsheba informed that her aunt gave him wrong information she did
not have any young man courting her but she still can’t marry him because she
doesn’t love him and she wants a husband with good status and who can pamper
her and further she said that Oak would never able to do that.
‘Because I
don’t love you.’
‘I am better
educated than you — and I don’t love you a bit: that’s my side of the case. Now
yours: you are a farmer just beginning; and you ought in common prudence, if
you marry at all (which you should certainly not think of doing at present), to
marry a woman with money, who would stock a larger farm for you than you have
now.’
Ch – 5 - DEPARTURE
OF BATHSHEBA — A PASTORAL TRAGEDY
One day Oak come to know
that Bathsheba has gone to the place named Weatherbury, more than twenty miles
away from the town. Oak was still having the same feeling for Bathsheba.
One day Oak met the tragedy which shattered him. Oak had two dogs,
George and the son of George. George was experienced dog but little George has
learnt a little of his duty in looking after the sheep. One day because of
young George around two hundred sheep fell down from the cliff. When Oak saw
that many of the sheep have died, though he was a man with deep emotions and
humbleness, he got angry and shot the young George.
After realizing his financial condition, he said in thankfulness that,
‘Thank God I
am not married: what would she have done in the poverty now coming upon me!’
Ch – 6 - THE
FAIR — THE JOURNEY — THE FIRE
After two months there was an occasion and it was a yearly occasion. It
was a fair in the Casterbridge and it was for labourers who are unemployed. In
this crowd Oak was also there. He wanted bailiff’s job. Unfortunately he was
unemployed at the end of the day. He then remembered that he has a flute in his
pocket and he began to play it. a crowd gathered around him and he successfully
collected some money then he come to know that there is another fair at the
place called Shottsford. He also came to know that Shottsford is only ten miles
far from the Weatherbury. He reminded that it is the place where Bathsheba has
gone and he finally decided to go there.
He started walking and he walked for three to four miles and suddenly
saw a wagon on the side of road. He decided to spend a night in the wagon. When
he woke up he found that wagon was moving and two men Joseph Poorgrass and
Billy Smallbury were driving it. From their talk Oak come to know that both men
are like him and came to Casterbridge to get job. They were talking about a
woman. They have seen a fire into the nearby village. Oak has slowly come out of the wagon and he
also has seen an unusual light on his left hand side. He realized that it was a
fire in the field and he started running towards the fire. He helped the
farmers to get out of that fire and saved the field too. A young woman Marry
Ann was a worker there and she asked him to come and meet the owner of the
farm. Oak also asked whether the owner wants a farmer or not.
Ch 7 - RECOGNITION
— A TIMID GIRL
Oak come to know that
the owner is Bathsheba and Bathsheba also come to know that the brave man who
saved the fields was Oak. She told one of her men to tell him to meet bailiff.
Bailiff has directed Oak to Warren’s Malthouse. On the way to Warren Malthouse
he saw a figure standing behind the tree. She was a thin girl and she told Oak
to not to tell anyone about her presence in the town. Oak agreed and offered
her a shilling. She has accepted that shilling and said she will return it
soon. That girl was Fanny Robin – Bathsheba’s youngest servant.
Ch – 8 - THE
MALTHOUSE — THE CHAT — NEWS
Oak reached Malthouse. In Malthouse he met an aged man. He asked Oak if
he was a grandson of Gabriel Oak of Norcombe, Gabriel said, “Yes, his
grandson”.
Then they all indulged into some
talk and were telling funny stories of Joseph Poorgrass, Gabriel then asked
about Weatherburry and Bathsheba, Jacob said that he knows Bathsheba’s parents
a little. Her parents had been dead before four years. Bathsheba’s mother was a
lovely woman and that her father was very fond of her as long as he was not
married to her. Jan Coggan said that after marriage her father did not prove to
be a constant husband.
When they were discussing these matters, Laban Tall came with news that
Fanny Robin, the young servant of Bathsheba is missing. Bathsheba ordered to
inquire about her. Marry Ann has given information that Fanny had a lover who
is a soldier and living in Casterbridge. William Smallbury said he might go to
Casterbridge to find fanny’s lover.
Ch- 9 - THE
HOMESTEAD — A VISITOR — HALF-CONFIDENCES
One morning Bathsheba and her servant Liddy Smallbury were sitting in a
room and they heard a knocking sound. When Liddy opened a door she saw Mr.
Boldwood. He asked her to meet Bathsheba because he wanted to inquire about Fanny
but Bathsheba did not want to meet Boldwood and Liddy has answered him that
Bathsheba is not at home and he left.
Bathsheba asked Mr. Coggan about Mr. Boldwood. Mr. Coggan said that he
is Mr. Boldwood, a farmer at Weatherbury. He is forty years old, handsome, rich
and unmarried man. He came there to inquire about Fanny. He was like the
guardian of Fanny and he had appointed Fanny under the late Mr. Everdene.
‘Who is Mr
Boldwood?’ said Bathsheba.
‘A
gentleman-farmer at Little Weatherbury.’
‘Married?’
‘No, miss.’
‘How old is
he?’
‘Forty, I
should say — very handsome — rather stern-looking — and rich.’
Ch 10 - MISTRESS
AND MEN
Bathsheba followed by Liddy, entered a hall to pay workmen’s wages.
Henry has informed her that Oak needs assistant and she appointed Cainey Ball
for that. William Smallburry came from Casterbridge, he said that he inquired
about Fanny and the soldier and he came to know that Fanny has run away with
the soldier. Bathsheba said one man to go to Boldwood and convey this
information about Fanny. She said to another man that she has fired the bailiff
on the accusation of stealing and then she said,
“If you serve
me well, so shall I serve you”
Ch- 11 OUTSIDE
THE BARRACKS — SNOW — A MEETING
Many miles on the north side of Weatherbury, there was a military
station. Fanny met Sergeant Troy and discussed about their life and future
plans and Troy has promised her that he will marry her as soon as possible.
Ch 12 - FARMERS
— A RULE — IN EXCEPTION
Bathsheba announced that she will make her appearance in the corn market
at Casterbridge on the following market day.
Bathsheba went to the market and almost all men were paying their
attention to her except one. Because of that man, Bathsheba’s womanly ‘vanity’
was wounded. She asked Liddy about that man and Liddy informed that the man is
Boldwood. Bathsheba asked her that why he is so lost in his work and Liddy
explained that there is a rumour about him that he was deceived by a woman he
loved.
“He met with
some bitter disappointment when he was a young man and merry. A woman jilted
him, they say.”
Ch - 13 - SORTES
SANCTORUM — THE VALENTINE
On the Sunday afternoon 13th of February, on Liddy’s
suggestion Bathsheba sent a letter in which there was written,
“The rose is
red,
The violet
blue,
Carnation’s
sweet,
And so are
you.”
Liddy again suggested to write
this letter to Boldwood and Bathsheba accepted the idea. She sealed the letter
with the words ‘marry me’.
“Liddy looked
at the words of the seal, and read —
‘MARRY ME.’
On the same evening the letter was sent.
Ch 14 - EFFECT
OF THE LETTER — SUNRISE
When Boldwood received the letter on Valentine’s evening, he started
falling in love with the woman who has written the letter. Next morning,
Boldwood was expecting new letter from the anonymous woman and at the same time
a mail cart came near the house. The
driver of the mail cart held out the letter to him and said the letter was for
the new shepherd and there was an address written on the letter as follows,
“To the New
Shepherd,
Weatherbury
Farm,
Near
Casterbridge.”
He wanted to find out the woman who has written the valentine letter to
him and at that time he saw Oak going on the way to Malthouse.
Ch – 15 - A
MORNING MEETING — THE LETTER AGAIN
Boldwood entered Malthouse and delivered the letter to Oak, he also
apologized for having opened it by mistake. Oak found that it was from Fanny
Robin. She informed Oak that she is going to marry Sergeant Troy and she would
also return him his one shilling someday. She ended her letter with the words,
“Thanking you
again for your kindness,
I am, your
sincere well-wisher,”
- FANNY ROBIN
When Oak read the letter he thought Fanny must be very happy. Oak gave
the letter to Boldwood as he knew that Boldwood wanted to know about Fanny.
When Boldwood came to know about Sergeant Troy he said that Troy is the most
undependable sort of a person. He had worked as a clerk at a lawyer’s office
and afterwards he joined an army. Troy is an ill-legitimate son of French
governance and late Lord Severn. Troy is not a good person for any girl to
marry.
When Oak walked out from the
Malthouse, Boldwood followed him and showed the address on the letter to
Gabriel. He asked him about the handwritings on the letter and Gabriel
recognized it and replied instantly, “Ms. Everdene”
Ch 16 -ALL
SAINTS’ AND ALL SOULS
On one morning
everybody was gathered at the church named “All Saint’s” and Sergeant Troy was
waiting for Fanny Robbin to come as they were going to marry that day but Fanny
didn’t arrived. Troy has waited for long time and then he went to another
church which was exact opposite to the “All Saint’s”. When he went there he saw
Fanny and she told him with grief that she has made a mistake, instead of going
to “All Saint’s” she went to “All Soul’s”. She apologised and asked if he will
marry her on the following day but Troy laugh mockingly and said he could not
go through that experience again and said only God knows when it would happen.
17 – IN THE
MARKET-PLACE
On Sunday Boldwood was in Casterbridge market and saw Bathsheba coming
it was for the first time that Boldwood really looked at her. He felt her to be
perfect in every respect.
Bathsheba has almost made up her mind to apologize to Boldwood.
18 - BOLDWOOD
IN MEDITATION — REGRET
“The phases
of Boldwood’s life were ordinary enough, but his was not an ordinary nature. If
an emotion possessed him at all, it ruled him.”
If Bathsheba was aware of this, she would have never sent him any
letter. In one early morning, Boldwood saw three figures in the distance meadow;
they were Bathsheba, Oak and Canni Ball. When Bathsheba saw him, she knew why
he was watching them. Gabriel has noticed Bathsheba’s changed expressions. Oak
suspected that Bathsheba might have played some trick upon him. Bathsheba was
regretting because she has never sent a valentines letter with any intension to
marry Boldwood.
Ch- 19 – THE
SHEEP-WASHING — THE OFFER
Boldwood ultimately visits Bathsheba’s house but unfortunately she was
not there. She was at the sheep washing place. Boldwood went there. Boldwood
told her that he came there to talk with her. Bathsheba understood the matter
and said that she respects him but can’t marry him. She accepted that she has
sent a letter very thoughtlessly and she is not in love with him. Though
Boldwood continued his arguments and Bathsheba has demanded some time to think
over the matter.
Ch – 20 - PERPLEXITY
— GRINDING THE SHEARS — A QUARREL
Bathsheba started thinking about the proposal of Boldwood and in that
process she was getting positive answer for Boldwood. She thought that any
woman of her status would have gladly accepted the offer, yet she did not want
him as her husband because Bathsheba has never loved Boldwood.
Next day she found Oak in the garden with his assistant Canny Ball. She
sent Ball away because she wanted to talk with Oak privately. Bathsheba has
noticed that people were talking about her when she was busy in conversation
with other workers. She asked Oak about that matter and Oak replied that people
were talking about her and Boldwood’s marriage. Bathsheba accepted that she has
made a mistake by sending the letter and she has not any intension to marry
Boldwood. She also requested Oak to inform this to other people. Bathsheba
asked Oak to share his opinion on this matter and Oak replied that her conduct
was unworthy of any decent woman. When she heard this she got angry and said
she can’t tolerate her criticism on her private matter from anybody. She gave
him notice to leave his service at the end of the week. Gabriel said that he
would like to leave immediately.
21 - TROUBLES
IN THE FOLD — A MESSAGE
24 hours after the dismissal of Gabriel, a terrible thing happened.
Bathsheba’s worker informed her that about sixty to seventy sheep had got
poisoned because they got into a field of Clover (a plant which is not eatable)
and would died soon if nothing will be done about it. Bathsheba reached there
and saw that most of sheep were frequently swollen and majority of the sheep
were laying motionless. Laban Tall has suggested that all the sheep needs an
operation and without Oak nobody can do this.
Bathsheba asked one of her workers to go and bring Oak but Oak denied to
help Bathsheba. She finally sent a requesting note and also added words at the
end,
“Do not
desert me, Gabriel!”
After some time Oak came and successfully performed all the operations.
Ch 22 - THE
GREAT BARN AND THE SHEEP-SHEARERS
‘Three-and-twenty
minutes and a half since you took the first loak from its forehead. It is the
first time that I have ever seen one done in less than half an hour.’
Ch – 23 - EVENTIDE
— A SECOND DECLARATION
Sheep shearing was successfully done and then after Bathsheba has
organized shearing supper at her house. Boldwood also came to her house and
Jane Coggon and Joseph Poorgrass have sung a song. Bathsheba asked Gabriel if he
brought his flute or not and when Oak said yes, she requested him to play the
flute on her song.
‘Have you
brought your flute?’ she whispered. ‘Yes, miss.’ ‘Play to my singing, then.’
She started singing her favourite song,
“For his
bride a soldier sought her,
And a winning
tongue had he:
On the banks of Allan Water
None was gay as she!”
At the end Boldwood has also started singing with Bathsheba. Bathsheba
wished ‘good night’ to everyone and went towards her room. Boldwood also
followed her and again he initiated the discussion of marriage. Bathsheba has
felt sympathy and her heart melted. She replied him that if she would feel that
she loves him then only she will marry him. Boldwood has informed that he is
going out of Weatherbury for five to six weeks and Bathsheba has promised that
she definitely will think over this matter in that period of time.
Ch 24 - THE
SAME NIGHT — THE FIR PLANTATION
Bathsheba has voluntarily accepted duties to check all around in order
to see all was right and safe for the night. One night carrying a dark lantern
she was looking around the farm and she heard the sound of footsteps entering
the track. There was a man coming near to her and the same time something
tugged to her skirt. She was about to lose her balance but was successfully
saved by Soldier Sergeant Troy. Troy complimented her beauty, she tried to stop
him but Troy went on praising her beauty and she ran away at home. Bathsheba
asked Liddy about him and she realized that Booldwood has never even once told
her that she is beautiful.
Ch 25 - THE
NEW ACQUAINTANCE DESCRIBED
Sergeant Troy is a different kind of person and he has never thought
about the past in his life. He always has concentrated upon his present only.
He has never expected anything from future and therefore he never gets
disappointed. Troy was a highly skilled in flattering women. He was also highly
educated and was good in using flowery words.
Ch – 26 -
SCENE
ON THE VERGE OF THE HAY-MEAD
Once again in the hay field, Troy met Bathsheba. Troy said that he had
never thought that he will talk with Ms. Everdene,
“The Queen of
Corn market”
He told her his name and again started praising her beauty. Bathsheba
has said that she is not getting any pleasure in listening her admiration but
actually she was enjoying his compliments.
After sometime Bathsheba has asked time to Troy and he was very
surprised that she does not have watch, he immediately gave his watch to
Bathsheba. It was a heavy Gold watch and it was presented to Troy by his
father. It was the only property he had inherited by his father. Inside the
watch there was a motto,
“Love yields
to circumstance.”
Ch – 27 - HIVING
THE BEES
Bathsheba met Troy again and this time Troy invited Bathsheba to watch
sword play. Bathsheba replied she would surely come because she really wants to
see sword play but she would stay there for a while only.
Ch 28 - THE
HOLLOW AMID THE FERNS
Opposite the hill there was hollow amid where Bathsheba promised to meet
Troy at the 8 O’clock in the evening in order to watch the sword play. Troy
demonstrated sword practice and Bathsheba was highly impressed by him. During
the sword play he cut the curl of Bathsheba’s hair and put it in his pocket and
before leaving he kissed her.
Ch – 29 - PARTICULARS
OF TWILIGHT WALK
Troy was the very opposite of Gabriel. Defects of Gabriel were visible
to everyone and his virtues were hidden like “Gold in mine”. Oak had become
aware of Bathsheba’s infatuation for Troy.
Oak got an opportunity to talk with Bathsheba when she was going for a
walk. Oak tried to warn her about Troy that he is not right guy for her and
also reminded her of her commitment to Boldwood about their marriage. She
explained that Troy is educated and quite worthy to marry any woman,
‘Yet I must
say that Sergeant Troy is an educated man and quite worthy of any woman. He is
well born.’
He again tried to warn her but at last she lost her temper and ordered
Oak to leave the farm.
Ch – 30 – HOT
CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES
Troy informed that he is leaving Weatherbury for two days. Bathsheba
wrote a letter to Boldwood that she has decided that she will not marry him.
Bathsheba met Liddy in her room and secretly confessed her love for Troy and
said she is desperately in love with Troy.
‘O, I love
him to very distraction and misery and agony!’
Ch – 31 - BLAME
— FURY
Bathsheba was missing Troy a lot. Bathsheba’s servant Liddy wanted to
visit Yalbury for some work and she asked Bathsheba’s permission for that.
Bathsheba also went on the way of Yalbury’s road where she met Boldwood. He was
very upset as he received her letter in which she denied to marry him. He told
Bathsheba that she is a fool to get attracted by the artificial gifts from
Troy. He also threatened her that he will punish Troy. He was getting the
feeling of shame for loving Bathsheba.
“I loved a
woman once. I am now ashamed. When I am dead they’ll say, Miserable love-sick
man that he was.”
Bathsheba was feeling
guilty but though she was trying to convince him that it was not her fault and
she should not be blamed for that. Bathsheba was riding the horse and she
decided to write a letter to Troy for giving information about Boldwood’s
intentions, but she thought that what would happen if he would not get the
letter, so she decided to meet Troy at Bath.
Ch- 32 - NIGHT
— HORSES TRAMPING
Bathsheba’s plan was to drive to Bath during the night and meet Troy in
morning. She has decided to leave at night and to come back around morning so
nobody could come to know about her journey of Bath. She decided to follow this
plan. But Oak has seen her at the night when she was about to went to Bath and
he also discussed this with Coggan that she would not able to reach at Bath
before morning.
Ch – 33 - IN
THE SUN — A HARBINGER
A week passed and there was no news of Bathsheba. After some days a letter came from Bath which was sent by Bathsheba that she has some work
regarding business in Bath and that is why she will remain in Bath for almost
another week.
Meanwhile Cainy Ball arrived from holiday spent in Bath, and brought
news of Bathsheba, He informed that,
“I saw our
mistress”
Cainy said that he had seen Bathsheba with Troy. He told that they were
going in a park hand in hand like love birds, they were also talking sentimental
things and she cried a lot. Oak was feeling jealousy after hearing this news
and he asked Ball,
“Can you
swear in the most awful form that the woman you saw was Miss Everdene?”
Cain Ball said that she was Ms. Everdene and Sergeant Troy only, Coggan
was watching all this and he came to know about Oak’s secret passion for
Bathsheba. He tried to sympathise Oak and said,
‘Don’t take
on about her, Gabriel. What difference does it make whose sweetheart she is,
since she can’t be yours?’
When Oak hears this he said that,
‘That’s the
very thing I say to myself,’ said Gabriel.
