A General Drama of Pain. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

 From the dramatic beginning until the last page of this novel Hardy sweeps you off your feet with his beautiful writing, which is just as well, because it’s a world of pain and heartbreak. The Mayor of Casterbridge starts when Michael Henchard, drunk, irritable, and sick of his life, sells his wife and daughter to a sailor, in a fit of bad-temper. Almost immediately, he regrets it, but it’s too late.

Eighteen years later, he has given up the drink, become a wealthy corn-merchant, and a powerful official as the mayor of Casterbridge. When his wife Susan and daughter Elizabeth Jane come back, down on their luck, Henchard is pleased to make retribution, and tries to care for them. However, it’s not going to be easy for Michael Henchard. Hardy’s going to make sure that he pays for his actions!

Character is fate, and Henchard is impulsive, quick to anger, and vindictive. He almost ruins several lives, but in the end, we watch his dramatic downfall, as step-by-step, he loses almost everything. Yet, Hardy is such a great writer, that you remain sympathetic with Henchard, who just constantly fails to see the consequences of his actions.

He is especially obtuse with the young Scotsman, Farfrae. At first, Henchard helps the astute Farfrae, hiring him as his business manager, but his jealousy gets the better of him, and the two become bitter rivals in business, and in romance, as they vie for Lucetta’s affections. Henchard also attempts to ruin his stepdaughter’s relationship with Farfrae. Sometimes, he almost sees the light, realising that he is on the wrong path, but he can’t seem to help himself.

As in Jude the Obscure, Hardy is compassionate towards women, and criticises the narrow-minded provincialism, and hypocritical ‘morality’ of Victorian society in this novel, in the characters of Lucetta and Elizabeth Jane. Henchard compromises pretty and charming Lucetta, and even after she finds happiness, scandal follows her, because of his failure to protect her.

Elizabeth Jane is really the strong character in this novel. Made of sterner stuff than Lucetta, she takes care of everyone, remains grounded even when heartbroken, and constantly tries to improve herself with her work, and her studies. Hardy really puts the poor girl through hell with her downtrodden mother, her deceptive and irritable stepfather, and her failed relationship, but she gets through it all so calmly and sweetly. (I did wish at times that she’d give somebody a piece of her mind, though)! She’s a sympathetic character, although not as interesting as Lucetta.

I loved reading this again with its amazing central character, intricate rivalries and romances, and its analysis of Victorian country life and the rise of industrialisation.