Summary
On their way home from market, Bathsheba and Troy climb Yalbury Hill together, but their marriage is clearly strained. Troy casually reveals he's lost over a hundred pounds gambling on horse races, dismissing Bathsheba's distress as weakness. When she begs him not to bet on upcoming races, he cruelly mocks her for losing the boldness he once found attractive. Their argument is interrupted when a destitute woman appears, asking about the workhouse. Troy recognizes her voice immediately and tries to hide his reaction, but the woman—revealed to be Fanny Robin—recognizes him too and collapses. Troy orders Bathsheba to continue up the hill while he tends to Fanny, giving her his last bit of money and arranging to meet her secretly on Monday. When Troy rejoins Bathsheba, she confronts him about knowing the woman. He lies, claiming she's nothing to either of them, but Bathsheba clearly suspects the truth. The chapter exposes the rot in their marriage: Troy's gambling addiction, his contempt for Bathsheba's concerns, and most dangerously, his hidden connection to Fanny. What started as financial betrayal has revealed deeper deceptions that threaten to destroy everything Bathsheba has built.
Coming Up in Chapter 40
The road to Casterbridge holds more revelations as the consequences of Troy's past choices begin to catch up with him. Meanwhile, Bathsheba must decide how much deception she's willing to tolerate.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
COMING HOME—A CRY On the turnpike road, between Casterbridge and Weatherbury, and about three miles from the former place, is Yalbury Hill, one of those steep long ascents which pervade the highways of this undulating part of South Wessex. In returning from market it is usual for the farmers and other gig-gentry to alight at the bottom and walk up. One Saturday evening in the month of October Bathsheba’s vehicle was duly creeping up this incline. She was sitting listlessly in the second seat of the gig, whilst walking beside her in a farmer’s marketing suit of unusually fashionable cut was an erect, well-made young man. Though on foot, he held the reins and whip, and occasionally aimed light cuts at the horse’s ear with the end of the lash, as a recreation. This man was her husband, formerly Sergeant Troy, who, having bought his discharge with Bathsheba’s money, was gradually transforming himself into a farmer of a spirited and very modern school. People of unalterable ideas still insisted upon calling him “Sergeant” when they met him, which was in some degree owing to his having still retained the well-shaped moustache of his military days, and the soldierly bearing inseparable from his form and training. “Yes, if it hadn’t been for that wretched rain I should have cleared two hundred as easy as looking, my love,” he was saying. “Don’t you see, it altered all the chances? To speak like a book I once read, wet weather is the narrative, and fine days are the episodes, of our country’s history; now, isn’t that true?” “But the time of year is come for changeable weather.” “Well, yes. The fact is, these autumn races are the ruin of everybody. Never did I see such a day as ’twas! ’Tis a wild open place, just out of Budmouth, and a drab sea rolled in towards us like liquid misery. Wind and rain—good Lord! Dark? Why, ’twas as black as my hat before the last race was run. ’Twas five o’clock, and you couldn’t see the horses till they were almost in, leave alone colours. The ground was as heavy as lead, and all judgment from a fellow’s experience went for nothing. Horses, riders, people, were all blown about like ships at sea. Three booths were blown over, and the wretched folk inside crawled out upon their hands and knees; and in the next field were as many as a dozen hats at one time. Ay, Pimpernel regularly stuck fast, when about sixty yards off, and when I saw Policy stepping on, it did knock my heart against the lining of my ribs, I assure you, my love!” “And you mean, Frank,” said Bathsheba, sadly—her voice was painfully lowered from the fulness and vivacity of the previous summer—“that you have lost more than a hundred pounds in a month by this dreadful horse-racing? O, Frank, it is cruel; it is foolish of you to take away my money so. We shall have to leave...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Hidden Betrayals
When visible bad behavior serves as a smokescreen for deeper, more destructive secrets that could destroy everything.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how betrayers use visible problems to distract from hidden ones that could destroy everything.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone becomes unusually cruel during confrontation—ask yourself what bigger secret that cruelty might be protecting.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
gig-gentry
Farmers and middle-class people wealthy enough to own a gig (a light two-wheeled cart). This was a marker of social status in rural Victorian England. Not rich enough for a full carriage, but above walking everywhere.
Modern Usage:
Like people who lease a nice car to look successful - it's about projecting status you might not fully have.
buying discharge
Soldiers could purchase their way out of military service early by paying a fee. Troy used Bathsheba's money to leave the army and become a civilian. This was expensive and showed privilege.
Modern Usage:
Similar to buying your way out of a contract early - it costs money but gives you freedom to start over.
workhouse
Victorian institutions for the desperately poor. People went there when they had absolutely nowhere else to go. Conditions were deliberately harsh to discourage dependency. Being sent to the workhouse meant complete social failure.
Modern Usage:
Like today's homeless shelters or welfare systems - last resort help that comes with stigma and judgment.
narrative of chances
Troy's pretentious way of talking about gambling and luck, trying to sound educated and philosophical about his losses. He's making excuses for his poor choices by blaming fate.
Modern Usage:
When someone uses fancy language to justify bad decisions - like calling shopping addiction 'retail therapy' or gambling 'investment strategy.'
market day losses
Farmers would go to town on market days to sell crops and livestock, but also to socialize and sometimes gamble. Troy lost money that should have supported the farm and household.
Modern Usage:
Like someone taking the rent money to Vegas or spending the grocery budget on lottery tickets.
soldierly bearing
The upright posture, confident walk, and military mannerisms that stayed with former soldiers. Troy still looked and moved like a sergeant even in civilian clothes.
Modern Usage:
How certain jobs leave their mark on you - you can often spot former military, teachers, or cops by how they carry themselves.
Characters in This Chapter
Bathsheba
Betrayed wife
She's trapped watching her husband destroy everything she worked for. Her distress over the gambling losses shows she still cares about the farm's survival, but Troy dismisses her concerns as weakness.
Modern Equivalent:
The wife who built the business while her husband gambles it away
Troy
Destructive husband
He's gambling away Bathsheba's money and mocking her for being upset about it. His cruel comment about her losing her boldness shows he married her for qualities he now wants to destroy.
Modern Equivalent:
The charming partner who turns controlling and financially abusive after marriage
Fanny Robin
The secret from the past
She appears destitute and desperate, asking about the workhouse. Her recognition of Troy and his panicked reaction reveals a hidden connection that threatens his marriage.
Modern Equivalent:
The ex who shows up broke and pregnant, exposing lies you told your current partner
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Don't you see, it altered all the chances? To speak like a book I once read, wet weather is the narrative of chances."
Context: Troy explaining away his gambling losses to Bathsheba
Troy uses pretentious language to avoid taking responsibility for losing their money. He's blaming the weather instead of his poor judgment, showing how he deflects accountability with fancy words.
In Today's Words:
It's not my fault I lost our money - the weather messed up my sure thing.
"I wish you wouldn't talk like that. It is so unlucky."
Context: Bathsheba responding to Troy's casual attitude about their losses
Bathsheba sees the real danger in Troy's gambling while he treats it as entertainment. Her plea reveals both her practical fears and her growing powerlessness in the relationship.
In Today's Words:
Please stop acting like this is no big deal - we can't afford to lose money like this.
"She is nothing to me. Nothing whatever to either of us."
Context: Troy lying to Bathsheba about knowing Fanny Robin
This blatant lie, told right after secretly giving Fanny money and arranging to meet her, shows how easily Troy deceives his wife. His emphasis makes the lie more obvious.
In Today's Words:
I have no idea who that woman is and neither do you.
Thematic Threads
Deception
In This Chapter
Troy lies about knowing Fanny while orchestrating a secret meeting, using his gambling losses to distract from this deeper betrayal
Development
Evolved from his earlier charm and evasiveness into active, calculated deception that threatens Bathsheba's entire foundation
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone's explanations for their behavior don't quite add up, especially during stressful times.
Financial Control
In This Chapter
Troy casually dismisses losing over a hundred pounds gambling, showing complete disregard for their financial security
Development
Developed from earlier hints of his careless spending into open contempt for Bathsheba's legitimate concerns about money
In Your Life:
You see this when a partner makes major financial decisions without consultation or dismisses your money concerns as 'overreacting.'
Power Dynamics
In This Chapter
Troy mocks Bathsheba for losing the boldness he once found attractive, using her vulnerability against her
Development
Evolved from his initial pursuit of her strength into contempt for the very qualities that attracted him
In Your Life:
This appears when someone punishes you for the changes they themselves caused in the relationship dynamic.
Class Vulnerability
In This Chapter
Fanny's destitution and desperation make her completely dependent on Troy's charity and secrecy
Development
Continues the theme of how economic powerlessness makes people vulnerable to exploitation and abandonment
In Your Life:
You might experience this when financial stress makes you dependent on someone who doesn't have your best interests at heart.
Recognition
In This Chapter
Both Troy and Fanny immediately recognize each other despite the darkness, showing their intimate past connection
Development
Introduced here as the moment when hidden connections surface despite attempts to conceal them
In Your Life:
You see this when body language, tone, or instant familiarity reveals relationships that someone claimed didn't exist.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Troy reveal about his gambling, and how does Bathsheba react to this news?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Troy's encounter with Fanny Robin represent a bigger threat to his marriage than his gambling losses?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you seen someone create drama about small issues to distract from bigger problems they're hiding?
application • medium - 4
If you were Bathsheba's friend, what signs would tell you to look deeper than the gambling problem?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how people use visible betrayals to mask invisible ones?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Betrayal Iceberg
Draw an iceberg diagram. Above the waterline, list Troy's visible betrayals that Bathsheba can see and fight about. Below the waterline, list the hidden betrayals that could destroy everything. Then think about a current conflict in your own life - what might be above and below your waterline?
Consider:
- •The visible problems often consume all our emotional energy
- •Hidden betrayals usually require the visible ones to stay concealed
- •The person creating surface drama may be buying time to manage deeper secrets
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered that someone's annoying or hurtful behavior was actually covering up something much more serious. How did the discovery change your understanding of their earlier actions?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 40: The Journey of Broken Steps
In the next chapter, you'll discover to break overwhelming challenges into manageable pieces, and learn the power of self-deception as a survival tool. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.