# Troy's Romanticism explained — Far from the Madding Crowd

> Chapter companion for Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

## What happens

After Bathsheba leaves, Troy covers Fanny's body and waits miserably for morning. He reflects on the previous day: he had secured twenty-seven pounds ten shillings to meet Fanny, but she failed to appear, and he later discovered she had died. In a bitter mood, he attended Budmouth races but did not bet. Returning home, he learned of Fanny's death. The next morning, he goes to the churchyard, finds Fanny's grave, and travels to Casterbridge to purchase a tombstone with all his money. He arranges for its delivery and planting of flowers, working through the night until rain extinguishes his lantern, then falls asleep in the church porch.

## Themes in this chapter

### Obsession and Madness

Troy's frantic, irrational behavior—spending all his money on a tomb and planting flowers in the dark—reflects a obsessive, almost maddened remorse.

### Deception and Honesty

Troy's romantic gestures are a form of self-deception, masking his earlier neglect and dishonesty toward Fanny.

## Character check-ins

### Frank Troy

Troy is consumed by remorse and romanticism after Fanny's death, spending his last money on a tomb and planting flowers by lantern light.

### Fanny Robin

Fanny is dead; Troy's actions are driven by guilt over his treatment of her and his failed appointment.

### Bathsheba Everdene

Bathsheba has left the house after confronting Troy; Troy is indifferent to her whereabouts.

## Key lines

> There is always an inertia to be overcome in striking out a new line of conduct—not more in ourselves, it seems, than in circumscribing events, which appear as if leagued together to allow no novelties in the way of amelioration.

Changing one's behavior is difficult, both because of our own resistance and because circumstances seem to conspire against improvement.

_Narrator reflects on Troy's failed attempt to do right by Fanny._

> Troy, in his prostration at this time, had no perception that in the futility of these romantic doings, dictated by a remorseful reaction from previous indifference, there was any element of absurdity.

Troy was so overwhelmed by guilt that he failed to see how pointless and ridiculous his elaborate floral tribute was.

_Narrator critiques Troy's sentimental but hollow gesture._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/far_from_the_madding_crowd_se/chapters/xlv-troy-s-romanticism
- 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