# The Sheep Fair; Troy Touches His Wife’s Hand explained — Far from the Madding Crowd > Chapter companion for Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. ## What happens Troy, having returned to England but delayed going home, joins a travelling circus and performs as Turpin at Greenhill Fair. Bathsheba attends the fair with Joseph Poorgrass and is approached by Boldwood. Pennyways recognizes Troy and writes a note to Bathsheba revealing his presence. Troy, spying from behind the tent, snatches the note from her hand to prevent exposure. He then performs in the play, disguising himself, but is later recognized by Pennyways. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/far_from_the_madding_crowd_se/chapters/l-the-sheep-fair-troy-touches-his-wife-s-hand - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/far_from_the_madding_crowd_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/far_from_the_madding_crowd_se/chapters