Far From the Madding Crowd Theme of Marriage

No matter what page you turn to in Far from the Madding Crowd, it seems like marriage is always on one of the main characters' minds. First Gabriel wants to marry Bathsheba, then Boldwood does, then Sergeant Troy does, and then Boldwood does again. Fanny Robin wants Troy to make good on his promise to marry her, and then Bathsheba actually does marry Troy. And then she marries Gabriel. It's a freaking marriage three-ring circus. After all, marriage in Far from the Madding Crowd is both a question of love and a question of finance. And for farmers in 19th century England—or 21st century anywhere, for that matter—what else is there?

Questions About Marriage

  1. What do you think of Farmer Boldwood's attempts to get Bathsheba to marry him? Does the guy come on too strong, or is it Bathsheba's fault for leading him on?
  2. Why do you think Bathsheba sends Farmer Boldwood the Valentine with "Marry Me" written on the seal? Use specific evidence from the text to support your answer.
  3. Why does Bathsheba refuse Gabriel Oak's proposal the first time? Why does she accept it the second time?
  4. What is it about Sergeant Troy that makes Bathsheba agree to marry him? What does he offer that Oak and Boldwood can't?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

In Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy shows us that in the end, it's always important to choose substance over style when choosing a marriage partner.

In Far from the Madding Crowd, we learn that marriage is pretty much the most important event of a person's life back in the 1870s.