Everything Goes On like sticks a-breaking

In Chapter 42 of the Far From The Madding Crowd the expression that "Everything goes on like sticks a-breaking" is a rustic idiom used by Mark Clark to Joseph Poorgrass when the latter meets the former and Jan Coggan. All of them are neighbours and Joseph Poorgrass has been carrying the coffin of Fanny Robin back to Weatherbury. On the way he enters Buck Head inn for a mug of ale.

It means: 
Things are collapsing, falling apart or going wrong.

The image behind the phrase is that of dry sticks snapping one after another -- quickly and disorderly.  Hardy often gives his rural charecters vivid speech drawn from rustic dialogue.

The phrase reflects the events at the household and farm of Bathsheba Everdene, where the death of Fanny Robin exposes her relationship with sergeant Troy.  Life, order, and happiness of Bathsheba Everdene and her home seem to be breaking apart.

The tone is similar to saying "Everything is going to pieces" or "things are falling apart." 


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