Far from the Madding Crowd · Chapter
Night; Horses Tramping explained
Bathsheba, desperate to resolve her situation with Troy and Boldwood, devises a plan to drive alone to Bath at night to confront Troy and end their relationship.
What happens
Bathsheba, desperate to resolve her situation with Troy and Boldwood, devises a plan to drive alone to Bath at night to confront Troy and end their relationship. Meanwhile, Maryann, believing a thief has stolen Bathsheba's horse, raises the alarm. Gabriel Oak and Jan Coggan pursue the supposed robber on Boldwood's horses, tracking the horse's prints through the night.
Themes in this chapter
Independence and Gender Roles
Bathsheba's decision to drive alone at night to Bath defies conventional expectations of female behavior, highlighting her autonomy and the risks she takes.
Obsession and Madness
Bathsheba's turbulent emotions and irrational plan to confront Troy at night reflect her obsessive attachment, despite knowing his tendencies.
Characters to notice
- Bathsheba Everdene
Devises a risky plan to drive to Bath alone at night to confront Sergeant Troy and end their relationship.
- Gabriel Oak
Leads the pursuit of the supposed horse thief, borrowing Boldwood's horses and tracking the prints with Coggan.
- Jan Coggan
Accompanies Gabriel in the chase, using his knowledge of horse tracks and a pocket watch to gauge the pace.
- Maryann Money
Wakes to see a figure taking the horse, raises the alarm, and mistakenly believes a gipsy thief is responsible.
- William Boldwood
Mentioned as being away from home; his horses Tidy and Moll are borrowed without his knowledge for the pursuit.
Key passages
“She jumped to her feet. She would see him at once. Yes, she would implore him by word of mouth to assist her in this dilemma.”
Bathsheba resolved to go to Troy immediately and beg him in person to help her out of her predicament.
Shows Bathsheba's impulsive decision to confront Troy directly rather than rely on a letter.
“The only way to accomplish her purpose was to give up her idea of visiting Liddy at Yalbury, return to Weatherbury Farm, put the horse into the gig, and drive at once to Bath.”
She abandoned her plan to visit Liddy and instead decided to go back to the farm, harness the horse, and drive straight to Bath.
Highlights Bathsheba's determination and the drastic change in her plans.
“Maryann, who had been afraid to shout in the robber's presence, having seen him depart had no fear. She hastily slipped on her clothes, stumped down the disjointed staircase with its hundred creaks, ran to Coggan's, the nearest house, and raised an alarm.”
Once the figure was gone, Maryann quickly dressed, hurried down the noisy stairs, and ran to Coggan's house to alert him.
Illustrates Maryann's fear and her subsequent urgent action to raise the alarm.
“Coggan carried an old pinchbeck repeater which he had inherited from some genius in his family; and it now struck one.”
Coggan's inherited pocket watch, a repeater made of pinchbeck, chimed one o'clock.
Provides a detail about Coggan's heirloom and the passage of time during the chase.