

Such stereotypes are harsh and unforgiving. My suspicion is that both designation and defense of the claims are a sign of deep rooted insecurities.Īll the claims are made by nations located in what is classified from a geopolitical standpoint as Eastern Europe, which connotes a certain level of authoritarian government, endemic corruption, and economic backwardness. It also says a great deal about the countries and empires that made these claims. The designation is both trivial and prestigious. Those nations and empires that have claimed the Center of Europe is located on their territory, all wanted to be at the center of Europe in some way, shape or form. Some of this makes sense and none of it makes sense. When it comes to the Center of Europe national self-interest trumps the scientific in all but one case and that was in Lithuania by way of France. The coffin's lid originally reads, Fanny Robin and child, but he scratches out the part about the child in order to protect Bathsheba from the truth: that Sergeant Troy and Fanny Robin had a baby together.A Pole put it in Poland, a couple of Belarusians in Belarus, Hungarians in Hungary, Austro-Hungarians in Austria-Hungary not once, but twice.Before leaving himself, Oak erases a few words that have been chalked into the cover of the coffin. Gabriel takes the coffin to Bathsheba's house and has it stored in a sitting room inside.They'll have to hold the funeral the next day. When he gets there, he runs into Parson Thirdly, who tells him he's too late. Gabriel takes it upon himself to transport the body for the graveyard.Gabriel Oak comes storming into the pub and gives him a good tongue-lashing for neglecting his duties so badly. Eventually, Poorgrass ends up staying for so long that he misses the cutoff time for having a funeral service in Weatherbury that day.

But his buddies egg him on to drink more, arguing that the body outside isn't going anywhere.

While riding, he feels lonely and wishes he had the company of a person or a dog.

Joseph Poorgrass has been given the job of driving the coffin back to Weatherbury.One of them takes out a piece of chalk to write Fanny's name and a few other words on the lid. We're back in the town of Casterbridge now, where two men are taking care of Fanny Robin's coffin.
