Thomas Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge

Thomas Hardy

THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE (1886)

The Mayor of Casterbridge is one of Thomas Hardy's tragic novels set in Wessex. Originally entitled "The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge: A Story of a Man of Character," it was published in 1886.

The novel opens with Michael. Henchard travelling with his wife, Susan, and their baby daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, looking for a job. One night, they stop for supper. He gets drunk at a fair and sells his wife and daughter to a sailor, Newson for five guineas. In the morning, he regrets what he has done. He searches the town for his family. Horrified by what he has done, he vows not to touch alcohol for the next 21 years, which is the number of years he has been alive till then.

Eighteen years later, believing that Newson is dead, Susan and Elizabeth-Jane travel to Casterbridge to track down Michael Henchard. They learn that Henchard is the mayor of Casterbridge and one of the wealthiest businessmen in the area. Henchard, out of a sense of guilt, and in order to prevent their daughter learning about their disgrace, courts Susan, now known as Mrs. Newson, and remarries her. He hopes that one day he will be able to acknowledge Elizabeth-Jane as his daughter.

Around the same time, Henchard hires Donald Farfrae, a young Scottish man, to manage his affairs. Farfrae has a much better head for business than Henchard. Elizabeth-Jane is attracted by Farfrae, and the two spend time together. Henchard becomes jealous of Farfrae, as the young man consistently outdoes Henchard in every respect. He asks Farfrae to leave his business and to stop courting Elizabeth-Jane.

Susan falls ill and dies soon after. Sometime later, Henchard discovers a letter Susan has left for him before her death where she states that Elizabeth-Jane is not his daughter, but Newson's. Henchard becomes increasingly cold toward her. Elizabeth-Jane moves out of the house to live with Lucetta Templeman, a wealthy young woman, who has just moved to town. She had been involved with Henchard during Susan's absence and now wants to marry him after learning about his wife's death.

Lucetta meets Farfrae and the two are attracted to each other. They are eventually married. Lucetta persuades Henchard to return to all the letters she has sent him. On his way to deliver the letters, the messenger, Jopp, stops at an inn. He opens the letters and shows it to a few people in the bar. Discovering that Lucetta and Henchard have been romantically involved, the peasants organise a "skimmity-ride," a humiliating parade portraying Lucetta and Henchard together. The event takes place on an afternoon when Farfrae is away. The shock of the scandal kills Lucetta.

Henchard has become a broken man and moves to the poorest quarters. His life is made tolerable only by Elizabeth-Jane's kindness and concern. She has moved to stay with him. One day, the sailor Newson arrives at Henchard's door and asks for Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard lies to Newson that she has died. Newson leaves in sorrow. But soon he returns and Elizabeth-Jane is reunited with Newson. Later, she finds out about Henchard's deceit. Henchard decides to leave Casterbridge.

Farfrae, after a period as a widower, renews his interest in Elizabeth-Jane. They get married. When Henchard comes to deliver a wedding gift, she snubs him. Heartbroken, Henchard leaves. She soon regrets her coldness, and with Farfrae, goes looking for Henchard. Unfortunately, they discover that he has died alone in the countryside. He has left a will: his dying wish is to be forgotten.