Far From the Madding Crowd Chapter 55 Summary

The March Following: "Bathsheba Boldwood"

  • Three months after Boldwood's Christmas party, we hear about how Boldwood's trial has been going. The guy's only hope for survival is to be declared insane.
  • A few of Bathsheba's workmen are chatting about whether Boldwood will be given a death sentence.
  • While the trial is happening, some new evidence is found in Boldwood's home. Or to put it another way, there are tons of coats and scarves and other lady's clothing found in boxes marked "Bathsheba Boldwood," meaning that Boldwood's fantasies of marrying her were completely obsessive. This, of course, becomes a topic of discussion in the town for weeks afterward.
  • The people use this evidence to petition for Boldwood's cause. The man's execution date has been set. But only one day before Boldwood's date with death, he gets pardoned for being insane.