The Mayor of Casterbridge: 3rd thread: Chapters 18 - 27

[Pamela]

I agree, Peter. There are so many connotations in this chapter. So much one side or the other, such as the two haymen's wagons and how argumentative their employees are to each other.

And then there are the conflicting sides to Lucetta: she appears strong and yet faints after promising to marry Henchard, she seems to create the conflict with her actions toward Farfae, yet she also allowed Henchard to dangle and finally only responds to his attempt to blackmail her.

Henchard hates that Farfae is doing so well and he is not, not only in business but also in romance. Yet, he talks about a 'voodoo' over him yet admits that it can't be tied to Farfae.

And what is going on with Farae? Yes, Lucetta is attractive and alluring but does he really think she would be the wife for him. Remember in the earlier chapter how he was thinking of Elizabeth-Jane as a proper choice for a wife?

I keep thinking that Henchard is a good man who reacts instead of thinking and perhaps learning some information he doesn't know. He also talks peremptory to everyone he should be treating them more kindly. As he has done with Lucetta (rather than woo her) and Elizabeth-Jane (not seeing that she would reflect well on him as a daughter), and Farfae (who has indeed been a friend and an honest fellow tradesman). He is leading to his downfall.

[Petra]

I missed that Henchard had lost his mayorship. It was coming to an end, I recall, but I missed when that term was up.

Elizabeth-Jane is becoming very astute and wise. The other three could learn a thing or two from her. It's too bad that she is made to feel so invisible and unnecessary. I hope she finds a happy end in this novel.

I'm a bit angry at Henchard for bullying Lucetta like he did. He seems to want the very things he cannot have and doesn't care who he hurts to get it.
Poor Lucetta. She's shallow but she deserves better than Henchard.

I really enjoyed the discussions about the paintings. Thank you for that. I don't know much about art appreciation, so really appreciate this information.

[Bridget, Moderator]

Claudia wrote: "Henchard is indeed incriminating "some power working against him" and thinks more of sorcery or voodoo (a miniature doll with pins representing him), not of his impulsiveness, his lack of patience or an error of judgement, all connected together. ..."

This is exactly right, Claudia. Henchard is someone who blames anything and everyone else before he looks at himself.

I know people in real life who are like that, to an extent. Funny story . . . the other day my son told me he is always late to work because he encounters so many bad drivers on the road. I just shook my head and laughed. I told him, if you know there are so many bad drivers, then you should leave earlier so they don't make you late. And then we both laughed, because he knows I'm right! That's the kind of excuse I think Henchard would make, never his fault!!

[Bridget, Moderator]

Peter wrote: " The fact that Henchard entered Lucetta’s house without being invited I found to be a very interesting and revealing characteristic that anticipated the events that occurred after Lucetta returned to her own house. To me, it was an act of aggression, of brutality, of domination."

I too felt very uncomfortable when Henchard entered Lucetta's house alone - and you've just articulated perfectly what made me feel that way! I also liked your connection to Macbeth!

[Bridget, Moderator]

Pamela wrote: "And what is going on with Farae? Yes, Lucetta is attractive and alluring but does he really think she would be the wife for him..."

Lots of nice observations in your post, Pamela. Farfrae's switch from Elizabeth to Lucetta, happens so quickly that one has to wonder if his feelings for Elizabeth were real, or even if his new feelings for Lucetta are real? I'm not convinced Lucetta would make Farfrae a good wife, as she's very dramatic. Elizabeth on the other hand seems a solid choice. I think there is more for Hardy to unravel on that particular thread of the story!

"I keep thinking that Henchard is a good man who reacts instead of thinking and perhaps learning some information he doesn't know."

It's interesting how my feelings for Henchard keep changing. I will start feeling sorry for him as he is slowly losing everything to Farfrae. But then he bullies Lucetta into marrying him, and now like Petra said, I feel angry at him.

I hope everyone is catching up with reading today. We will be on a new thread tomorrow.

Here is the link:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

I think I'm angrier with Michael Henchard at this point (ch 27) than I have been so far!

Like you Bridget, my feelings keep changing towards him, but outright bullying is despicable in any situation 😡. We all know that Lucetta seems a bit of a flibbertigibbet ... (although quite calculating in some ways), but Henchard's interest in her was only rekindled when he thought she and Donald Farfrae were an item.

Even that would not have been so bad if he had then courted her properly. It would have been fair competition. But to force Lucetta's hand in this way, by threats and blackmail, is completely unacceptable, and beneath him. I hope he comes to his senses and releases her from her promise.

Henchard has a track record now for regretting what he has done in a passionate temper, so my fingers are crossed.

[Claudia]

Pamela and Bridget made interesting observations about Farfrae.

JO Bailey wrote an essay in 1946 about "Mephistophelian Visitants" in Thomas Hardy's novels, available on JSTOR. We may agree or disagree with him, but it is still a point of view.

According to him, Farfrae belongs to that category of protagonists who are introduced into a "tranquil current of events to project a disturbing force". He is an outsider to the town and was not intending to stay. Henchard's prosperity was indeed at its zenith, except for the issue of bad quality grains that was the reason for Farfrae's interest in getting acquainted to Henchard when Farfrae had incidentally overheard the issue being discussed. It was initially all a matter of coincidence.

Since Farfrae has been in Casterbridge, luck seems to have turned in disadvantage for Henchard: he is acting, in short, in a messy way but there is nevertheless an accumulation of coincidences against him, including weather conditions, including Lucetta's unexpectedly falling in love with Farfrae, etc, impalpable things which may appear supernatural. The red colour often associated with those "Mephistophelian Visitants" - here the cherry dress chosen by Lucetta, and the bright coloured new machine may enhance this impression of an outside force, "infernal harpies" or "some sinister intelligence bent on punishing" Michael Henchard.

[Bionic Jean, Moderator]

Farfrae

I think of Farfrae as a catalyst. In a way he works as a Dickens hero does, enabling the action but a little amorphous in personality himself.

We rarely read details of his motivation, or read the text from his point of view, unlike Elizabeth-Jane, Lucetta, Henchard or even Susan. With all of these we have been privy to their inner thoughts at some stage, but the clearest idea we have of Farfrae is that he is like David in the Bible. We are told that Farfrae has both the sides we mentioned: romanticism and business acumen, and can see that whichever the story needs at any point is to the fore. Farfrae is often oblivious to what is going on around him.

In the Norton edition there are several critical essays featuring Henchard, but not many which consider Farfrae. Yet to me he is interesting, precisely because he is not very well-rounded and we can overlay our own interpretations. Is he perhaps just a facilitator: a literary device?

[Kathleen]

I'm catching up, and enjoying all of the excellent points. I particularly appreciate your idea about Farfrae being a literary device, Jean. It has been frustrating to me that Farfrae seems to act out-of-character, however I realize it is my own interpretation of his character that doesn't seem to match! I know we as readers frequently "add on" our own ideas to characters, but you're right that he has remained particularly vague. I don't really like the idea of him being used by Hardy in this way! :-) Will be interesting to watch this going forward.