Far from the Madding Crowd, Chapter 35 summary

What happens

1. Before five, Oak and Coggan see Troy at an upstairs window, and Oak concludes that Bathsheba has married him.
2. Oak struggles with grief and questions the secrecy, but decides to remain civil for Bathsheba’s sake.
3. Troy proposes modernizing the house, while Oak objects to removing its old features.
4. Troy asks about insanity in Boldwood’s family, and Coggan reports an uncertain story about an uncle.
5. Troy throws them money; Coggan retrieves it, but Oak refuses gifts and rejects flattering Troy to protect his employment.
6. Boldwood rides past, and Oak briefly puts aside his own sorrow as he notices the farmer’s controlled anguish.

In this chapter

What to notice

Oak distinguishes basic civility from submission. His refusal shows that preserving his dignity matters more to him than securing his position through flattery.

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