# XXX: Hot Cheeks and Tearful Eyes explained — Far from the Madding Crowd

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

## What happens

Bathsheba returns home flushed and excited after Troy's farewell kiss. She writes a letter to Boldwood rejecting his marriage proposal, then overhears her servants gossiping about her and Troy. In a fit of contradictory emotions, she first denies caring for Troy, then confesses her love to Liddy, swearing her to secrecy. The chapter explores Bathsheba's inner turmoil, her passionate attachment to Troy, and her volatile behavior.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Bathsheba's passionate confession of love for Troy contrasts with her rejection of Boldwood, highlighting the tension between romantic desire and social expectation.

### Deception and Honesty

Bathsheba publicly denies caring for Troy while privately confessing her love, and she lies to her servants about her feelings, illustrating the theme of self-deception.

### Independence and Gender Roles

Bathsheba's fear of appearing 'mannish' and her servants' assumption that marriage would end her farming reflect contemporary gender constraints.

## Character check-ins

### Bathsheba Everdene

Flushed and excited after Troy's kiss; writes to reject Boldwood; denies then confesses her love for Troy; volatile and tearful.

### Frank Troy

Kisses Bathsheba goodbye at her door; leaves for two days to visit friends in Bath; subject of servants' gossip.

### Liddy Smallbury

Bathsheba's confidante; overheard gossiping; receives Bathsheba's confession of love and is sworn to secrecy.

### Maryann Money

Servant gossiping in the kitchen about Bathsheba and Troy; claims to hate Troy but earlier admired him.

### William Boldwood

Addressee of Bathsheba's rejection letter; not physically present in the chapter.

## Key lines

> Oh, I love him to very distraction and misery and agony!

Bathsheba confesses to Liddy that she loves Troy with overwhelming passion that causes her great suffering.

_This is the pivotal moment where Bathsheba admits her true feelings after vehemently denying them._

> I shall never forgive God for making me a woman, and dearly am I beginning to pay for the honour of owning a pretty face.

Bathsheba laments the burdens of womanhood and her beauty, which she feels have led to her emotional turmoil.

_Reflects Bathsheba's frustration with gender roles and the consequences of her attractiveness._

> He is a sort of steady man in a wild way, you know. That's better than to be as some are, wild in a steady way.

Bathsheba rationalizes Troy's character to Liddy, suggesting his wildness is preferable to a more predictable but dangerous steadiness.

_Shows Bathsheba's attempt to justify her love for Troy despite his questionable reputation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/far_from_the_madding_crowd_se/chapters/xxx-hot-cheeks-and-tearful-eyes
- 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