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Far from the Madding Crowd · Character

Joseph Poorgrass

A stammering, blush-prone farmhand who turns his painful shyness into a kind of mournful entertainment, forever moralizing over his own afflictions.

supporting

Also known as Joseph, Poorgrass, neighbour Poorgrass

First appearance: The Malthouse; The Chat; News

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Poorgrass is the farm's resident worrier, a man so constitutionally bashful that even recounting his blushes brings him a mild, self-satisfied glow. His timidity and fondness for a drop of drink make him the butt of…

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See Joseph Poorgrass in The Malthouse; The Chat; News

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Joseph Poorgrass sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

TKTom KingARAndrew RandlePTParson ThirdlyJCJan CogganGOGabriel OakJPJoseph Poorgrass

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  • Friendship
  • Other

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  • Main character circle
  • Peripheral community figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this scene, Bathsheba reaches an emotional and psychological peak of feverish, impulsive passion as she wri…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

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See Joseph Poorgrass in The Malthouse; The Chat; News

In the story

Joseph Poorgrass appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Joseph Poorgrass in The Malthouse; The Chat; News