Far from the Madding Crowd · Chapter
XVI: All Saints’ and All Souls’ explained
Sergeant Frank Troy waits at All Saints' Church to marry Fanny Robin, but she mistakenly goes to All Souls' Church instead.
What happens
Sergeant Frank Troy waits at All Saints' Church to marry Fanny Robin, but she mistakenly goes to All Souls' Church instead. After a humiliating wait in front of the congregation, he storms out and meets Fanny in the square, where he angrily rebuffs her pleas to reschedule the wedding.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Honesty
Fanny's innocent mistake is perceived by Troy as a deliberate deception, leading to his harsh rejection and the collapse of their wedding plans.
Fate and Free Will
The mix-up of churches and the rigid ticking of the clock suggest a cruel twist of fate, while Troy's angry choice to abandon Fanny underscores the role of free will in their doomed relationship.
Characters to notice
- Frank Troy
Sergeant Troy waits at the altar for Fanny, then angrily dismisses her after she arrives at the wrong church.
- Fanny Robin
Fanny mistakenly goes to All Souls' instead of All Saints', causing the wedding to fail; she pleads with Troy to reschedule.
Key passages
“Oh, Frank—I made a mistake!—I thought that church with the spire was All Saints’, and I was at the door at half-past eleven to a minute as you said. I waited till a quarter to twelve, and found then that I was in All Souls’. But I wasn’t much frightened, for I thought it could be tomorrow as well.”
Fanny explains that she went to the wrong church by mistake, thinking the one with the spire was All Saints', and suggests they can simply try again tomorrow.
Fanny's naive hope contrasts sharply with Troy's fury, highlighting her vulnerability and his lack of compassion.
“To-morrow! and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. I don’t go through that experience again for some time, I warrant you!”
Troy scoffs at the idea of rescheduling, declaring he will not endure such humiliation again anytime soon.
Troy's bitter laugh and refusal reveal his pride and the depth of his anger, foreshadowing his abandonment of Fanny.