Mayor of Casterbridge: Discussion Questions

[Denise]

Hi, everyone! It's been a great discussion; thanks to all of you for your participation and insights!

Sorry I'm so late with these, but I promised some discussion questions for the last week. I found that the ones at the back of my B&N Classics edition were based on some reviews that were also in an appendix, so I probably won't use those, since I don't want to transcribe the reviews as well. So I found these online, at Sparknotes (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/casterb...

1) The Mayor of Casterbridge tells the story of one man’s fall and another’s rise. Indeed, Henchard’s fortune seems inversely proportional to Farfrae’s: whatever Henchard loses, Farfrae gains. Is this a believable exchange? If not, is there something more important than realism suggested by Henchard’s relationship with Farfrae?

2) Discuss the role of coincidence in the novel. Many critics of Hardy have argued that the astonishing coincidences throughout The Mayor of Casterbridge make the story improbable and unbelievable. Do you think this is the case?

3) Discuss the role of the peasants of Casterbridge, such as Christopher Coney, Solomon Longways, Nance Mockridge, and Mother Cuxsom.

4) Hardy described himself as a determinist—in other words, he believed that the course of human life was shaped by forces, internal or external, beyond human control. Does this philosophy hold true in The Mayor of Casterbridge? What forces are responsible for shaping Henchard’s life?

5) Is Henchard a tragic character? Why or why not? Does he possess a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall? If so, what is it?

6) Discuss the similarities between Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae, as well as those between Henchard and Lucetta. What effects does Hardy achieve through these pairings?

7) Is Henchard a sympathetic character? Should we pity him at the end of the novel, or does he seem to get exactly what he deserves?

Remember - this is not a test! LOL. No need to try to answer all of them; just some suggestions for further discussion.