Boldwood then engaged in a conversation with sergeant Troy. Mr. Boldwood knew about Fanny and Troy and told Troy to marry Fanny and not Bathsheba. The problem lied here though because Troy and Bathsheba had already gotten married, but Boldwood had not found out about that yet. Boldwood also told Troy that he would pay fife hundred pounds for their wedding should he marry Fanny and he would have fifty pounds if he left Weatherbury that night. Troy took the fifty pounds from Boldwood and agreed to leave Weatherbury on one condition. The condition was that he would tell Bathsheba first before leaving. Boldwood disagreed, he told Troy that it was best to leave Weatherbury straightaway and not tell Bathsheba at all. Troy disagreed. In the midst of their argument, Bathsheba came out and Troy quickly dropped his carpet-bag and went to her. After Troy came back, Boldwood told him to instead of marrying Fanny to marry Bathsheba instead, the reason being that Boldwood could not bear the thought of Bathsheba getting hurt. Troy then told Boldwood to go with him into Bathsheba’s parlour and write that agreement down on paper. Boldwood agreed to Troy’s suggestion.
When they went to the house Troy told Boldwood to wait outside while he checked that the parlour was clear. Troy closed the door and went inside. A few minutes later Troy opened the window from Bathsheba’s room and threw the money back into the lane. Troy also told Boldwood the one thing that he did not want to hear, that was, that both Bathsheba and Sergeant Troy had gotten married that very morning in Bath.
In chapter thirty-five, we see a bright morning with singing birds and the dew shimmering in the sunlight. Troy woke up early that morning and was looking out of his window taking a survey of the land he now owned. In the meantime, Jan Coggan and Gabriel Oak passed the village cross and made their way to the fields. Hey were yet barely in view of the house when Gabriel thought he saw an open window. Partially screened by an elder bush they decided to wait before they came out of the shade. They could see a handsome man leaning idly from the lattice, the man was sergeant Troy. Coggan said quietly while looking at the window that they have gotten married, Gabriel’s face turned white. They finally came out of the bushes and made their way past the house. Troy saw them and said “hello”. He then went on by saying how he found the house old. He described it to be like ‘New wine in an old bottle’; he then asked a peculiar question, he asked Coggan if there had been any cases of insanity in Farmer Boldwood’s family. Coggan said that Boldwood had an uncle who was a bit queer in the head, but he didn’t know the whole story. They then made their way to the fields where on their way saw Farmer Boldwood on his horse. Mr. Boldwood looked very distraught about something. Oak asked Coggan what Troy meant by his question earlier about Farmer Boldwood. Coggan didn’t quite know.
Why are the chapters so significant?
These chapters are significant because, they show me as the reader that Bathsheba thinks that she has found the right person, where she doesn’t know that he is the reason that Fanny an away. Therefore, this shows me as the reader that Sergeant Troy is not only a sly person but he is also a trickster. These two chapters basically set out the rest of the story.
How do the chapters fit into the overall plot?
These two chapters fit into the overall story well. They explain to us what all the main characters are like even if we didn’t know they were like before. These two chapters are like a midpoint in the story and are there to explain the story clearly to us.
How is the reader’s understanding of the characters increased through these chapters?
The reader is given more confidence in the understanding of the characters in these two chapters. More happens in these two chapters than in the rest of the story so the reader can read these two chapters and get a clear understanding of the characters.
Are any themes developed or touched upon?
The themes of trickery and sorrow are developed in these two chapters. Sergeant Troy shows us how trickery and deception can work for a while but always end in sorrow. Farmer Boldwood shows the theme of sorrow. He endures the suspense of waiting for the answer of marriage from Bathsheba and in the end, she doesn’t talk to him anymore and instead marries Sergeant Troy. This is too much for Mr. Boldwood and he ends up almost insane.
Are the chapters important in view of what happens later in the text?
The chapters are important in view of what happens later in the story because we need to know what happens to Farmer Boldwood and Sergeant Troy. These two chapters leave each character drifting but at such a point that anything can happen.
What does the reader learn about the social and historical background of the text from these chapters?
The reader learns that the village and the people are very close nit and if anyone or anything comes in or interferes then the balance is disturbed and some people could get hurt by this.
