Far From the Madding Crowd: Chapter 20 Summary & Analysis

Bathsheba muses that Boldwood is so kind to offer her everything she could want. Many women in her situation, indeed, would have jumped to accept such an offer: he is of sufficient standing, good character, respected and esteemed. But she doesn’t love him, and the novelty of her position as farmer has still not worn off. Nonetheless, she feels uneasy, realizing that she had started the game and should accept the consequences. Though she is impulsive, she also has a deliberative spirit, and now both are at odds.

The next day Bathsheba finds Gabriel grinding his sheers with Cainy Ball. She asks to speak with Gabriel alone. She asks him if people remarked on her private discussion with Boldwood yesterday: he says they did, but didn’t think it odd—they imagined the two would be soon married. Bathsheba scoffs at that idea: Gabriel looks incredulous, sad, but also relieved. Gabriel could give an opinion on what she’s done, he says, but she says she doesn’t want it. Bitterly, Gabriel turns back to his work. Bathsheba does, then, ask what he thinks. He responds that it’s unworthy of a woman as thoughtful and comely as she. She blushes scarlet, and he says while he’s been rude, he thinks it will do her good. She replies sarcastically, losing her temper, and breaking out that he probably thinks she’s unworthy in not marrying him. He’s long ago ceased thinking of that, he says quietly, and when she adds, ‘or wishing it,’ he agrees.

Gabriel adds that Bathsheba is to blame for playing pranks on a man like Boldwood. She cries that she won’t allow any man to criticize her private conduct, and she orders him to leave the farm at the end of the week. He acquiesces, taking his shears and leaving her, like Moses left the Pharaoh.