In this chapter "the Sheep-Washing- the Offer", Hardy presented the scene between the two characters with the mentioning of nature. Using nature, and from Boldwood's perspective, Hardy expressed Mr. Boldwood's deepest feelings for Bathsheba Everdene. In this essay, I will be discussing how Hardy describes nature and what possible interpretations could these descriptions have.
At the start of the chapter, Hardy talked about the time of year, giving the audience an overall background on the setting. "It was the end of May when the farmer determined to be no longer repulsed by trivialities or distracted by suspense." By "the end of May", we could see that Hardy was implying that it was the start of summer time, and this gave Boldwood a chance to turn over a new leaf, and revive his confidence. "…whilst she still lived and breathed within his own horizon, a troubled creature like himself." Hardy portrayed Boldwood as a deep thinker, and self constrained person who would only keep his thoughts to himself. In this quote, Boldwood was describing the atmosphere around Bathsheba, while he tried to join in the "horizon" she was in, and breathe in the same air she was breathing.
"The sheep washing pool was a perfectly circular basin of brickwork in the meadows, full of the clearest water." In Hardy's terms, this could mean Boldwood's impression of Bathsheba Everdene's face, how round and "perfectly circular" it was. "Full of the clearest water" gives a sense of desire, and shows the complete clarity on Bathsheba's face on Boldwood's mind. "To birds on the wing its glassy surface, reflecting the light sky, must have been visible for miles around as a glistening Cyclops' eye in a green face." To Boldwood, Bathsheba Everdene was visible from a long distance. Hardy portrayed the attraction in Miss Everdene to Mr. Boldwood: how it lights up the sky, and brings hope. "To the north of the meadow were trees, the leaves of which were new, soft, and moist, not yet...