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 ev...