# Farmer Groby — Tess of the d’Urbervilles character guide

> Farmer Groby in Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Groby

**First appearance:** 0050-xliii

## Who they are

A harsh farmer who employs Tess during her time at Flintcomb-Ash farm.

## Relationships

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_professional_

Farmer Groby is Tess's harsh and vindictive employer at Flintcomb-Ash, treating her cruelly.

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_professional_

Farmer Groby is Tess's harsh and vindictive employer at Flintcomb-Ash, treating her cruelly.

### [Tess Durbeyfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/tess_durbeyfield)

_professional_

Farmer Groby is Tess's harsh and vindictive employer at Flintcomb-Ash, treating her cruelly.

## In the story

### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xliii)

The harsh farmer at Flintcomb-Ash who pressures Tess to work harder.

### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlvii)

Insists the women start early to finish threshing by day's end; places Tess on the machine platform.

### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlviii)

Farmer Groby comes up to Tess on the machine and offers to let her leave with her 'friend' Alec, showing his complicity in Alec's pursuit.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/farmer_groby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters