Far from the Madding Crowd · Chapter
XXVII: Hiving the Bees explained
Bathsheba attempts to hive a swarm of bees herself while her workers are busy with the hay.
What happens
Bathsheba attempts to hive a swarm of bees herself while her workers are busy with the hay. Sergeant Troy arrives and insists on helping, donning her protective veil and gloves. After successfully hiving the bees, he asks her to untie him, and their conversation leads to her agreeing to watch him perform the sword-exercise in private.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Honesty
Troy manipulates the situation to arrange a private meeting under the guise of a simple favor, while Bathsheba hides her true feelings behind a facade of reluctance.
Independence and Gender Roles
Bathsheba's attempt to hive the bees alone asserts her independence, but Troy's intervention and her subsequent compliance highlight the tension between her self-reliance and societal expectations of female dependence.
Characters to notice
- Bathsheba Everdene
Attempts to hive the bees herself; becomes flustered and agrees to a private meeting with Troy to see his sword-exercise.
- Frank Troy
Arrives at the garden gate, assists with the bees, and persuades Bathsheba to meet him alone for a demonstration of sword-exercise.
- Liddy Smallbury
Mentioned as having left the house to help with hay; Bathsheba briefly considers bringing her to the meeting with Troy.
Key passages
“Bathsheba flung down the brush, crook, and empty hive, pulled the skirt of her dress tightly round her ankles in a tremendous flurry, and as well as she could slid down the ladder.”
In a sudden panic, Bathsheba dropped her tools, gathered her skirts, and hurried down the ladder.
Shows Bathsheba's flustered reaction to Troy's unexpected arrival.
“It was the removal of yet another stake from the palisade of cold manners which had kept him off.”
This moment broke down another barrier of her formal reserve toward him.
Highlights the gradual erosion of Bathsheba's defenses against Troy's charm.