Hello and welcome to a discussion of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy.
The Mayor of Casterbridge was Hardy’ tenth novel and it shows in the masterly way he
handles his story. I am not sure what I expected when I decided
to read this novel at last. I don’t know if I expected it to be boring, dry as dust,
dull or uneventful, but whatever I thought all my preconceptions were blown away by this
superb story. There could not be a more dramatic opening
to any novel. It starts off quietly enough with a young
couple walking along a country lane. Michael Henchard is 21 years old and is seeking employment
as a hay-trusser. He is married to Susan who is carrying their baby, Elizabeth-Jane in
her arms. When they arrive at Casterbridge they enter
a tent which sells alcohol. Michael drinks heavily and becomes intoxicated and then declares
that he wants to sell his wife and he holds an auction. An Irish sailor called Newson,
enters the tent and takes one look at Susan and pays over the five guineas that Henchard
is asking for her and their child, which both she and Michael accept, although it was meant
as a half-serious joke.
In the morning, Henchard regrets what he has done and searches the town for his wife and
daughter. Unable to find them, he goes into a church and swears an oath that he will not
drink alcohol for twenty-one years, the same number of years he has been alive.
After the sailor’s death, eighteen years later, Susan and Elizabeth-Jane seek Henchard;
Elizabeth-Jane believes he is merely a long-lost relative. They arrive in Casterbridge and
learn that Henchard is the mayor. The parents meet and decide that in order to prevent Elizabeth-Jane
from learning of their disgrace, Henchard will court and remarry Susan as though they
had met only recently.
Meanwhile, Henchard has hired Donald Farfrae, a young Scotchman, as the new manager of his
corn business. Elizabeth-Jane is intrigued by Farfrae, and the two begin to spend time
together. Henchard becomes alienated from Farfrae, however, as the younger 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 her remarriage to Henchard. After discovering that Elizabeth-Jane
is not his own daughter, but Newson’s, Henchard becomes increasingly cold toward her. Elizabeth-Jane
then decides to leave Henchard’s house and live with a lady who has just arrived in town.
This lady turns out to be Lucetta Templeman, a woman with whom Henchard was romantically
involved during Susan’s absence; having learned of Susan’s death, Lucetta has come
to Casterbridge to marry Henchard.
While Lucetta is waiting for Henchard to call on her, she meets Farfrae, who has come to
call on Elizabeth-Jane. However, Lucetta and Farfrae hit it off and they are eventually
married. Lucetta asks Henchard to return to her all the letters she has sent him. On his
way to deliver the letters, the messenger, Jopp, stops at an inn. The peasants there
convince him to open and read the letters aloud. Discovering that Lucetta and Henchard
have been romantically involved, the peasants decide to hold a “skimmity-ride,” a humiliating
parade portraying Lucetta and Henchard together. The event takes place one afternoon when Farfrae
is away. Lucetta faints upon seeing the spectacle and becomes very ill. Shortly afterward, she
dies.
While Henchard has grown to hate Farfrae, he has grown closer to Elizabeth-Jane. The
morning after Lucetta’s death, Newson, who is actually still alive, arrives at Henchard’s
door and asks for Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard tells him that she is dead, and Newson leaves
in sorrow. Elizabeth-Jane stays with Henchard and also begins to spend more time with Farfrae.
One day, Henchard learns that Newson has returned to town, and he decides to leave rather than
risk another confrontation. Elizabeth-Jane is reunited with Newson and learns of Henchard’s
deceit; Newson and Farfrae start planning the wedding between Elizabeth-Jane and the
Scotchman.
Henchard comes back to Casterbridge on the night of the wedding to see Elizabeth-Jane,
but she snubs him. He leaves again, telling her that he will not return. She soon regrets
her coldness, and she and Farfrae, her new husband, go looking for Henchard so that she
can make her peace. Unfortunately, they find him too late, discovering that he has died
alone in the countryside. He has left a will: his dying wish is to be forgotten.
So, what did I think of this novel? This is one of the best novels that I have
read of Hardy’s of which I have read 8 or 9.
None of the great Victorian novels is more vivid and readable than The Mayor of Casterbridge.
The fast-moving and ingeniously contrived narrative is Shakespearian in its tragic force,
and features some of the author's most striking episodes and brilliant passages of description.
The novel is considered to be one of Hardy's masterpieces, although it has been criticised
for incorporating too many incidents. But I thought it was one of its strengths! With
several intriguing romantic subplots set against the charming backdrop of rural nineteenth
century England, the novel is a joy to read. It is both accessible and enjoyable
So, my rating for this superb novel is A.
And now here is a quick recap and I’ll be back soon with another BookTube video.