The Mayor Of Casterbridge

Introduction

Thomas Hardy was born on June 2, 1840, near Dorchester in Dorset in Southwest England. Thomas was famous for his poets and novels. He developed his affection of music from his father and a devotion to literature from his mother. After his success in novels and poetry he died in 1928. Much of his writing in 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge' reflects his life in the countryside and his attachment to the local towns folk. One such character is Henchard, the main male in 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge; who finally becomes the mayor.

The start of the novel

At the start of the novel, we can observe Henchard as poor, fierce, ambitious and a drunk. One situation that arises which is important in this novel, which I believe is to blame for Henchard's downfall is indeed at the start. He is at the fair at Weydon Priors with Susan and baby Elizabeth Jane and he is drunk, he hastily sells his wife for 5 guineas to a sailor.

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However earlier on Hardy indicates that their relationship had always been week. 'The young woman his wife, who has seemed accustomed to such remarks acted as if she did not hear them.'

After this point, Henchard realizes his mistake; this is how he lost Susan. Here Henchard has mixed sentiments but he does feel some remorse and guilt for his actions. From this he swears on an oath not to drink for twenty-one years, this shows that Henchard does not make this oath for life and so there is an element of doubt that he is not entirely serious about the situation.

This is due to his personality and his character, Hardy has already shown that he is a short-tempered man with too much pride and this is a reason to blame Henchard himself for his downfall. Hardy expresses Henchard's physical appearance as swarthy and stern in aspect.

Secrecy is the main theme in the novel

As secrecy is the main theme in the novel, I believe this is another cause for Henchard's downfall. An example is when he sold Susan and Elizabeth Jane and years later both Susan and Henchard met in secrecy to keep Elizabeth Jane's knowledge of her real father is mystery. 'Henchard had chosen this spot as being the safest from observation which he could think of for meeting her long-lost wife.'

However when Susan died, Henchard and Lucetta got engaged, Lucetta then moved to Casterbridge in the hope that she would marry him and they also frequently wrote love letters to each other. However Lucetta then met Farfrae and they soon fell in love and got married, as this occurred Lucetta wanted the letters she wrote to Henchard, for fear that people would find out about their past together. Soon the whole community learnt about the relationship with Henchard and Lucetta and shortly Henchard's respect from the community declines, he becomes bankrupt and lonely. '...it was a meeting of the Commissioners under Mr. Henchard's bankruptcy.' This is another reason to account for his downfall.

But the reason why the whole community learnt about the relationship between Henchard and Lucetta was because of Joshua Jopp. This man was out for revenge against Henchard and Lucetta, as Henchard declined him from being the manager and gave the job to Farfrae and as a result, Jopp hates him for that. Jopp behaves as a villain and as he knew about Lucetta's past he opens the package, which Henchard gave to him to deliver to Lucetta. 'Jopp, too, had had a convenient experience: he was the only one in Casterbridge beside Henchard and the close lipped Elizabeth who knew that Lucetta came truly from Jersey.'

Jopp shares the letters with some townsfolk and they finally plan for a skimmity-ride to bring shame on them both. This was acceptable in the community at this time and in the community. Here the rash decision that Henchard had made about giving the job to Farfrae was a mistake, as he did not even want the job in the beginning.

To some extent I do believe that Henchard himself is to blame for his downfall, this is because he makes mistakes in life and the wrong decisions. He has too much pride and pride stands in the way when he tells Newson that Elizabeth Jane is dead and he tries his best to keep his secret from Newson. However, near to the end of the novel, when his decline had already started he then saw Newson again and he knew that Elizabeth Jane would find out that he had lied to him, this makes her furious. He is impulsive when he sells his wife at Weydon Priors. He also acts in haste when he offers Farfrae a job where Jopp was the only candidate for the job.

'A Man Of Character'

Hardy presents Henchard as 'A Man Of Character' in this novel. Throughout the novel he is extremely descriptive about Henchard and attributes in his character. Hardy indicates that Henchard is many things, for example, extremely short-tempered and we can see this throughout the novel. An example of this is when Abel Whittle is constantly late for work and Henchard punishes him by dragging him out of bed without his trousers.

'Out of bed, sir, and off to the granary, or you leave my employment to-day! 'Tis to teach you a lesson. March on; never mind your breeches!'

Even after this, Abel Whittle still remains loyal to Henchard and at the end of the novel gives Elizabeth Jane the will, which he left and informs her that he has died. Another person who is also extremely loyal to Henchard is Elizabeth Jane even though he has been so undeserving from the way he has treated her. All the women give in to Henchard, finally however, Lucetta has been the most difficult.

However Hardy portrays him also as not a bad man sometimes caring as Lucetta says to Elizabeth Jane '...hot-tempered man - a little proud - perhaps ambitious; but not a bad man.'

Conclusion

In conclusion I believe that to some extent Henchard himself is to blame for his own downfall from these examples and these reasons however it was not his own entire fault about his downfall, other characters in the novel played a big part in his life as when new characters for example, Farfrae were introduced, his life suddenly declined. In the beginning he became the mayor and was certainly a respectable man in the community. It is all down to fate, as nearly everything that happened in the novel was against him and at the end of the novel Hardy indicates this by signifying him dead.