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the one turn of events that didn't make sense to me [spoilers]

posted 8 years ago by erinthelass
9 replies | jump to latest

[SPOILERS AHEAD -- READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM]

Full disclosure: I never read the book. But did Thomas Hardy really write that Mr. Boldwood would take a rifle and shoot Sgt. Troy to death at the end? Throughout the film (and, I assume, throughout the novel), Boldwood was such a mild-mannered, sweet-natured, courteous, civilized gentleman who never even gave a hint that he could hurt a fly, that I was totally stunned when the shot rang out and Troy fell, and it was, of all people, Mr. Boldwood holding the gun. What? His action was quickly described as a "crime of passion" ("You'll be glad to know he won't hang," or words to that effect, said a character later). The scene just made no sense to me. I've heard script writers refer to this sudden turn as a kind of betrayal to the character, one whose personality and life values have been clearly fixed in the minds of the audience members.

Was anyone else struck by the jarring action of Mr. Boldwood? (And educate me -- did Thomas Hardy depict this very scene in his novel?)

[–] marlarkey 8 years ago

Boldwood was obsessed and incensed by Troy's reappearance. He was getting wound up - you can see that in the preceding scene with Gabriel.

BTW not sure legally if you can kill a dead man ? Troy having been declared dead.

[–] Drumcheeny 8 years ago

Mr Boldwood was a gentleman who hadn't felt passion before - he was fairly controlled and hadn't had much experience with women or love. He already had lost Bathsheba once to Troy and was so in love with her he couldn't bear it. His act was a culmination of all these factors combined with his rival coming back to life to steal her and not just that, manhandling her and threatening her. I think his action was quite natural under the circumstance. I think one thing the film didn't do well was show the passage of time -- he loved her for ages before he got to this stage. The three men demonstrate three strands of choice for women - lust, wealth or love.

You must be here to fix the cable

[–] paramitch 8 years ago

As far as poor Boldwood, I thought that final scene was a bit confusingly staged.

To me, it appeared that Bathsheba's husband wasn't just threatening her with violence, but he shoved her and then appeared to draw his sword (or definitely reach for it). So when Boldwood shot him, I fully thought it was in defense of Bathsheba.

So when he ended up in jail for a "crime of passion," I was confused. I'm still not really convinced he should have ended up there. Yes, he was in love with her. But he acted as he did because her husband suddenly appeared from beyond death only to manhandle his wife and then threaten her life in front of him. Everyone seemed to act like he had no possible defense and his character arc ended, which frustrated me, because he certainly appeared to me to have a plausible defense for his action.

I liked the movie even if I thought the heroine was very frustrating to watch. Carey Mulligan was lovely, but I really disliked Bathsheba.

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I keep thinking I'm a grownup, but I'm not.

[–] fanaticita 8 years ago

Boldwood was in love with Bathsheba and was infuriated when he saw her husband shoving her and being otherwise aggressive. While it might have seemed extreme, I was glad he did it. I hated her soldier husband!

[–] Unwanted_Birdtamer 8 years ago

During the 1800s, men abusing their wives was not only fairly common, it was actually stated by law that he had the right to beat or "correct" her with little to no limitations on that. Abuse only caused outrage if it was particularly brutal (like causing permanent injury) or resulted in the woman's death. Violence as the grounds for divorce was only first allowed in 1857. A bystander stepping in between a husband and his right to correct his wife, when the husband had grabbed/shoved her only, would not have been justifiable in court. Especially not when the bystander's actions resulted in the husband's death. Given all that, Boldwood couldn't claim he feared for Bathsheba's life, not when Troy never actually brought out his sword out. Claiming it was a crime of passion (temporary insanity) was the only way that Boldwood would avoid being executed for murder.

Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.

[–] doughazelrigg 8 years ago

Well stated, Birdtamer

The novel provides more insight into Boldwood's state of mind. I thought Sheen did a fine job of conveying the turbulence within a man who is at once self-controlled and yet driven by desperation

[–] paramitch 8 years ago

Great points.

I was viewing it from a modern perspective in which Bathsheba's physical abuse and danger meant that Boldwood's actions were warranted. When of course, in the time period, Troy as her husband had a right to do those things to her with impunity. Aghgh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I keep thinking I'm a grownup, but I'm not.

[–] molypocho 8 years ago

The movie is about fate. It's often feels as if characters are incapable of making the right decisions. I was watching the extras on the DVD and at least twice Thomas Vinterberg says pointblank, "It's about fate".

Fate is the thematic structure that holds this movie's narrative together. Vinterberg uses the weather to express Fate. Whenever something fateful and terrible is about to happen, look at the clouds. Things are always happening that are beyond characters' control. Fate takes hold. I remember Mr. Boldwood's expression after shooting Troy. It was one of intense surprise. Fate took hold and pulled the trigger for him.

As another example, one could see the story as the twisting of fate. If Bathsheba and Oak are fated to be together, then Bathsheba's rejection of Oak causes a recoil effect whereby the originally fated pair are brought back together through far reaching events. Or, in Vinterberg's words, the film works like a rubber band: Bathsheba and Oak are together to begin the film, their ties become tenuous and at times it appears they will separate, but in the end they are brought together again: Fate.

[–] Stovepipe99 8 years ago

In the book there are several scenes that make it clearer why Boldwood would be more likely to shoot Troy.

It's been a while since I read the book, but there is a part where Troy basically gets Boldwood to pay him a big sum of money to leave Bathsheba alone. Then, later, Troy tells Boldwood that he has been intimate with Bathsheba. Troy then gets Boldwood to pay him off with even more money to agree to be with Bathsheba.

Troy is incredibly manipulative of Boldwood in the book. Boldwood thinks he is being a gentleman protecting Bathsheba's honor and Troy is playing games with him. (It is also very creepy that Boldwood feels it appropriate to use his wealth to control who Bathsheba is with, but that's another story).

By the end, Boldwood feels as if his "decency" has paid off and he gets to claim Bathsheba as his own. Troy's reappearance basically send him into hysterics and he shoots Troy. To me it wasn't so much a crime of passion as it was a man who wanted desperately to be in control, and then at the cusp of getting what he wants it all starts to fall apart and he snaps.