Explore the Relationship between Bathsheba and Troy. What do we learn of Bathsheba's Character from the relationship?

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Explore the Relationship between Bathsheba and Troy

What do we learn of Bathsheba’s Character from the relationship?

Before Bathsheba’s relationship with Troy, she is a very outgoing and extremely independent. She does not seem to want a man to rule her life, and she is arrogant and vain when it comes to that subject. This can be seen in the opening chapters of the book, with her relationship with Gabriel Oak.

When Bathsheba and Troy first meet, it is in the darkness of the Fir plantation. Bathsheba’s dress became entangled upon Troy’s spur; perhaps the entrapment would resemble Troy’s personality towards women and one that would come into effect later in their relationship, it is symbolic and foreshadowing these events. However Troy had an image about him that could appeal to Bathsheba ‘The man to whom she was hooked was brilliant in brass and scarlet...His sudden appearance was to darkness the sound of a trumpet is to silence.’

This image shows Troy as high in status and in some way heroic. However Bathsheba does not sway towards Troy on their first meeting.

In the second meeting (this time on Bathsheba’s farm) their conversation continues much in the same fashion which it had been the night before. Troy was possibly working on the farm to apologise for his rudeness the night before and possibly to show that he was physically capable of working on a farm. Although Bathsheba curses Troy, she has some desire for him.

“Don’t-don’t! I won’t listen to you-you are so profane!” she said in a restless state between distress at hearing him and a penchant to hear more.’

Bathsheba and Troy’s next encounter occurs during the period where Bathsheba was busy hiving her bees. When Troy asks Bathsheba if he can help in anyway, she helps him put on the Bee-hiver’s apparel. There is a physical attraction between the two upon this. After the task is complete, Troy proposes that he should show her a sword exercise. The sword exercise is a moment for Troy (who the readers have become wary of now) to get the most intimate with Bathsheba and ‘woo’ her with his physical and phallic sword. The exercise is set in an “uncultivated tract of land” covered with ferns, the place is hidden from view and gives the two privacy- allowing more intimacy between them. Again the reader is aware of Troy's scarlet uniform-Hardy uses the red motif in the novel which represents lust and anger. When Troy kisses Bathsheba, she feels sinful and the scarlet appears again on Troy’s exit

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 “A minute later and she saw his scarlet form disappear amid ferny thicket….here a stream of tears. She felt like one who has sinned a great sin…he had kissed her.” 

This seems a bit strange for Bathsheba, who craves attention and admiration. Her mind is still split for Troy. When she enters her home, her conflicting feelings for Troy show themselves again. The few meetings with Troy have been enough for him to use his charm on Bathsheba, as well as his manipulative attitude. This appears to have worked on Bathsheba, who now feels a slight desire for Troy, yet ...

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