Far from the Madding Crowd · Chapter
XLII: Joseph and His Burden; Buck’s Head explained
Joseph Poorgrass collects Fanny Robin's coffin from the Casterbridge Union-house and transports it through a dense autumn fog to Weatherbury.
What happens
Joseph Poorgrass collects Fanny Robin's coffin from the Casterbridge Union-house and transports it through a dense autumn fog to Weatherbury. After a delay caused by Joseph stopping at the Buck's Head, Gabriel Oak takes over the wagon. He brings the coffin to Bathsheba's farm, where she insists it be brought inside. Gabriel, troubled by the potential revelation of Fanny's child, erases the words 'and child' from the coffin lid to protect Bathsheba from immediate anguish.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Honesty
Gabriel erases 'and child' from the coffin to hide the truth from Bathsheba, a well-intentioned deception to spare her pain.
Obsession and Madness
Joseph Poorgrass's drunken lament and self-pity at the Buck's Head reflect a mild obsession with his own perceived victimhood.
Characters to notice
- Gabriel Oak
Takes charge of the wagon after Joseph's delay, erases 'and child' from Fanny's coffin to protect Bathsheba.
- Bathsheba Everdene
Insists Fanny's body be brought into the house, shows solicitousness despite earlier indifference.
- Joseph Poorgrass
Collects Fanny's coffin from the workhouse, delays at the Buck's Head, becomes emotional and drunk.
- Fanny Robin
Her coffin is transported and brought into Bathsheba's house; the inscription 'and child' is erased by Gabriel.
- Parson Thirdly
Arranges the funeral, speaks of God's mercies, and agrees to delay the burial until morning.
- Jan Coggan
Present at the Buck's Head, teases Joseph Poorgrass about his drinking.
Key passages
“It is unkind and unchristian to leave the poor thing in a coach-house all night.”
Bathsheba insists that Fanny's body must be brought inside, calling it cruel and unchristian to leave it in the coach-house.
Bathsheba's sudden concern contrasts with her earlier indifference.
“Gabriel took his handkerchief and carefully rubbed out the two latter words, leaving visible the inscription 'Fanny Robin' only.”
Gabriel wipes away the words 'and child' from the coffin lid to hide the fact that Fanny died in childbirth.
Gabriel's protective act aims to shield Bathsheba from the painful truth.
“I feel too good for England: I ought to have lived in Genesis by rights, like the other men of sacrifice, and then I shouldn't have b-b-been called a d-d-drunkard in such a way!”
Joseph Poorgrass drunkenly claims he is too virtuous for the modern world and should have lived in biblical times.
Joseph's self-pity and bibical allusion highlight his comic yet pathetic character.