The Sheep Fair; Troy Touches His Wife’s Hand explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Honesty

  Troy disguises himself and hides his identity from Bathsheba; Pennyways attempts to expose him; Troy snatches the note to maintain his deception.

• Social Class and Ambition

  Troy is ashamed of his lowly position as a strolling player and fears being discovered by Bathsheba and the Weatherbury people, which would damage his reputation.

• Obsession and Madness

  Boldwood's persistent attention to Bathsheba and his nervous demeanor suggest his growing obsession with her.

Characters to notice

• Frank Troy

  Returns to England but delays going home; joins a circus and performs as Turpin at Greenhill Fair; spies on Bathsheba and snatches Pennyways' note to prevent exposure.

• Bathsheba Everdene

  Attends the fair with Joseph Poorgrass; sells her sheep; is approached by Boldwood; receives Pennyways' note but does not read it; screams when the note is snatched from her hand.

• William Boldwood

  Watches for an opportunity to speak to Bathsheba; offers her tea and bread-and-butter; offers to destroy the note.

• Benjy Pennyways

  Writes a note to Bathsheba revealing Troy's presence; tosses it into her lap; later recognizes Troy during the performance.

• Joseph Poorgrass

  Drives Bathsheba to the fair; enjoys the play and helps carry Black Bess's body.

• Jan Coggan

  Cheers during the play; is mentioned as having a relation who knew Tom King.

Key passages

• “Troy introduced himself to the manager by taming a restive horse of the troupe, hitting a suspended apple with a pistol-bullet fired from the animal’s back when in full gallop, and other feats.”

  Troy impressed the circus manager by calming a difficult horse and shooting an apple while riding at full speed.

  Demonstrates Troy's skill and showmanship, which he uses to join the circus.

• “Then, with the lightning action in which he was such an adept, he noiselessly slipped his hand under the bottom of the tent-cloth, which was far from being pinned tightly down, lifted it a little way, keeping his eye to the hole, snatched the note from her fingers, dropped the canvas, and ran away in the gloom towards the bank and ditch, smiling at the scream of astonishment which burst from her.”

  Troy quickly and silently reached under the tent, grabbed the note from Bathsheba's hand, and fled into the darkness, leaving her screaming in surprise.

  Highlights Troy's agility and desperation to prevent his exposure.

• “For many a year in Weatherbury, Joseph told, with the air of a man who had had experiences in his time, that he touched with his own hand the hoof of Bess as she lay upon the board upon his shoulder.”

  Joseph Poorgrass later boasted in Weatherbury about having personally touched Black Bess's hoof while carrying her body.

  Shows how the event became a local legend, adding to the chapter's folkloric tone.