Far From the Madding Crowd Summary

At the outset, Bathsheba Everdene, an attractive yet penniless young lady, crosses paths with Gabriel Oak, a humble farmer whose life she saves one night. Despite his marriage proposal, Bathsheba turns him down, unable to return his affections. After inheriting a profitable farm from her late uncle, she relocates to the town of Weatherbury.

After a catastrophic incident annihilates Gabriel's farm and livestock, he leaves farming and ends up seeking employment in Weatherbury. Following his successful attempt to save a farm from a fire, he inquires about job opportunities and is employed by none other than Bathsheba. As Bathsheba navigates farm ownership, she playfully sends a valentine to neighbor Mr. Boldwood reading "Marry me". This sparks an obsession from the wealthy and attractive Boldwood who seeks her hand in marriage. Despite initial refusal, Bathsheba eventually agrees to reconsider Boldwood's proposal.

During the same night, Bathsheba encounters charming Sergeant Troy, unaware that he has recently fathered a child with Fanny Robin, a local girl he nearly married. Troy's attraction to Bathsheba incites Boldwood's anger. Bathsheba, having rushed to warn Troy of Boldwood's fury, succumbs to Troy's persuasion and marries him, to the disapproval of her constant companion, Gabriel. Following Fanny's death in childbirth and the revelation of Troy's paternity, a remorseful Troy vanishes, presumably drowned. With Troy believed dead, Boldwood becomes increasingly insistent about marrying Bathsheba. However, Troy reappears at an ill-timed moment, just after Bathsheba agrees to Boldwood's marriage proposal at a Christmas party. In a fit of rage, Boldwood shoots Troy dead, leading to his lifetime imprisonment. Months later, Bathsheba finally marries Gabriel, who by now has become a successful bailiff.