The Mayor of Casterbridge SparkNotes Literature Guide

Michael Henchard

Henchard is a complex and tragic figure. A self-made man, he is proud, ambitious, and driven. However, his rash decisions and moral lapses ultimately lead to his downfall.

Mayor of Casterbridge (SparkNotes Literature Guide) (SparkNotes Literature Guide Series)

by Charles Ramírez Berg

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	224 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	88 pages

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Elizabeth-Jane Newson

Elizabeth-Jane is a kind and compassionate woman who becomes Henchard's second wife. Despite her love for him, she is unable to fully understand or accept his flaws.

Donald Farfrae

Farfrae is a young, ambitious corn merchant who becomes Henchard's rival. He is intelligent, charming, and ultimately more successful than Henchard.

Lucetta Templeman

Lucetta is a beautiful and enigmatic woman who becomes involved with both Henchard and Farfrae. She is manipulative and ambitious, and her actions contribute to the downfall of both men.

The novel opens with Henchard selling his wife and daughter at a fair. Eighteen years later, he has become a prosperous corn merchant and the mayor of Casterbridge. However, his past catches up with him when his wife and daughter return, seeking his forgiveness.

Henchard is torn between his desire for redemption and his pride. He tries to deny his past, but his actions eventually reveal the truth. As his reputation is destroyed, Henchard's life spirals downward. He loses his fortune, his friends, and his family.

In the end, Henchard dies a broken man, haunted by the consequences of his past actions.

Fate and Destiny

The Mayor of Casterbridge explores the role of fate and destiny in human lives. Henchard believes that he is cursed, and his actions seem to support this belief. However, the novel also suggests that Henchard's downfall is partly due to his own choices.

The theme of fate is further explored through the character of Elizabeth-Jane. She is a good and innocent woman, but she is drawn into Henchard's world and ultimately suffers because of his actions.

Morality and Redemption

The novel also examines the themes of morality and redemption. Henchard is a deeply flawed character, but he is also capable of great kindness and compassion. He tries to redeem himself, but his past mistakes ultimately catch up with him.

The theme of morality is also explored through the character of Elizabeth-Jane. She is a good and virtuous woman, but she is unable to fully understand or accept Henchard's flaws.

The Complexity of Human Nature

The Mayor of Casterbridge is a novel that explores the complexity of human nature. Its characters are neither purely good nor evil, but are instead a mixture of strengths and weaknesses. Henchard is a flawed and tragic figure, but he is also capable of great love and compassion. Elizabeth-Jane is a good and virtuous woman, but she is also unable to fully understand or accept Henchard's flaws.

The novel suggests that human nature is complex and unpredictable, and that even the best of intentions can lead to unintended consequences.