Mayor of Casterbridge

 AN OUTLINE OF 

The mayor of Casterbridge - Thomas Hardy 

Mayor of Casterbridge


Mayor of Casterbridge

In a fit of drunken anger, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter for five guineas at a country fair. Over the course of the following years, he manages to establish himself as a respected and prosperous pillar of the community of Casterbridge, but behind his success there always lurk the shameful secret of his past and a personality prone to self-destructive pride and temper. Subtitled ‘A Story of a Man of Character’, Hardy’s powerful and sympathetic study of the heroic but deeply flawed Henchard is also an intensely dramatic work, tragically played out against the vivid backdrop of a close-knit Dorsetshire town.

summary

The mayor of Casterbridge - Thomas Hardy


  1. Michel Henchard and Susan Henchard were walking through the village. Susan had her baby girl in her arms. Her name was Elizabeth Jane.

  2. They were tired and hungry. They went to a furmity shop. Henchard had a wine. In his drunkard state, he sells his wife and child.

  3. A sailor, named Richard Newson bought Susan and her child for five guineas. Susan returned her marriage ring.

  4. The next day Henchard realized his sin. He searched for them but he did not get them. He vowed never to drink again. He left for Casterbridge.

  5. Susan with Newson goes to Canada. One day Newson goes for fishing but he did not return. Susan had to return to Henchard now Elizabeth had grown up.

  6. Susan told Elizabeth that Newson was her father and that Henchard was a distant relative by marriage.

  7. Fortunately, she came to the same furmity shop, where she was auctioned.

  8. The woman at the furmity shop told her how Henchard was full of guilt. He desperately searched for them. Now Henchard was living at Casterbridge.

  9. Susan goes to meet Henchard. He was a Mayor. He was addressing a meeting. She feared that Henchard would recognise her.

  10. In his meeting, he said he wanted a man who would change the rotten wheat to sound wheat.

  11. Donald Farfrae gave his consent. He was a Scot. He was staying at the three Mariners hotel. Susan reached at the same place. Henchard was impressed with the idea of Donald Farfrae. He offered him the post of manager at the time Donald Farfrae refused. Donald Farfrae offered wine to Henchard. He told him that he had left wine. Henchard narrated his mistake and foolish act.

  12. On the other hand, as Susan was not having money, she requested the owner to give her a job.

  13. Donald Farfrae entertained the people by singing a song.

  14. The next day Henchard once again requested Donald Farfrae to stay back Donald Farfrae agreed.

  15. Susan sent a letter through her daughter to Henchard.

  16. In it, she wrote Susan a sailor’s widow wanted to meet him.

  17. At Henchard’s place, Joshua Jopp came with the claim of the post of manager. Henchard tells him that the post was already appointed.

  18. Joshua gets angry & decides to take revenge.

  19. On reading Susan’s letter, Henchard jumps with joy. He decides to meet Susan the same day, at Bud mouth road ring. Here both exchanged their past. Henchard promised to marry her and bring her to his house.

  20. Back home, Henchard shares his past with Donald Farfrae. He also told him about Lucetta, Susan was back, and he was planning to marry her.

  21.  He thought Susan was his responsibility.

  22. He requests Donald Farfrae to write a polite letter and send it to Lucetta.

  23. Henchard married Susan. One day Henchard asked Susan to change the name of Elizabeth from ‘Newson’ to ‘Henchard’ but Susan refused.

  24. Henchard and Donald Farfrae were good friends but fate had something else for them.

  25. And then, one mysterious thing happened.  A note was given to Donald Farfrae and Elizabeth separately they were asked to meet at ‘Dunover’. They were surprised to see each other but Donald Farfrae was impressed by the simplicity of Elizabeth.

  26. Abel Whittle, a worker of Henchard was always late for work, even after repeated warnings. He did not do it intentionally. Henchard gave him severe punishment. Donald Farfrae asked Henchard not to be cruel but Henchard did not listen slowly there was a breach between the two. This made Elizabeth uncomfortable.

  27. Fate had yet to be cruel with Henchard. Donald Farfrae and Henchard decided to celebrate a function separately. A strom came and spolt the tent of Henchard. All the crowd assembled at Donald Farfare’s function. Henchard saw Elizabeth there, dancing with Donald Farfrae. he was infuriated. He asked Donald Farfrae to resign. He also asked Donald Farfrae and Elizabeth not to meet each other.

  28. Lucetta sent a letter to Henchard, asking him to keep their affairs secret. She requested him to return her letters. He went but unfortunately did not meet her.

  29. On the other hand, Susan’s condition was getting weaker. She wrote a letter to Henchard. She requested him, not to open it before Elizabeth's marriage.

  30. She also told Elizabeth that it was she who had sent the mysterious letter. It was her planning for their meeting at Dunover.

  31. Susan died. This made Henchard gloomy but fate plays its people. Misfortune does not came alone.

  32. Henchard opened the letters of Susan, reading it he comes to know Elizabeth was Newson’s daughter but he doesn't disclose this secret to Elizabeth but his behaviour towards her changed.

  33. Henchard could not bear Elizabeth Jane. she was rebuked many times. He could not tolerate her presence and then one day he asked her to leave the house.

  34. She met an old lady. She offered a job to Elizabeth Jane. she left for High place hall. There she heard a man’s footstep. She did not see him. It was Henchard.

  35. Henchard was shocked. He asked her to stay back but she refused.

  36. High place hell was Lucetta’s house. She wrote a letter asking Henchartd to meet her but when he went, Lucetta was not there. He thought that Lucetta was avoiding her.

  37. Lucetta, on the other part, took Elizabeth as an obstacle in her meeting with Henchard. so, she sent Elizabeth out for a whole day errand. Then she invited Henchard but Donald Farfrae arrived to meet Elizabeth. Such was the role of fate and destiny.

  38. Lucetta fell in love with Donald Farfrae at first sight.  Seeing him he had come to meet Elizabeth, she decided not to get rid of her. Moreover, she was not interested in Henchard anymore. She knew as long as Elizabeth was here, Henchard would not come.

  39. Elizabeth observed that Lucetta was having soft feelings for Donald Farfrae. she also noted that both Donald Farfrae & Henchard were in love with Lucetta but that, she was not interested in Henchard anymore Lucetta, on the other side was hurt by the fact that Donald Farfrae was not interested in her but in Elizabeth.

  40. Henchard and Donald Farfrae were for tea at Lucetta’s place. Henchard observed that Lucetta was in love with Donald Farfrae again and played a cruel game. Henchard got angry and planned to destroy Donald Farfrae. he called Joshua to replace Donald Farfrae as a manager but then he had complaints against Joshua. Joshua also became his enemy.

  41. Time passed Henchard had to face a great loss. Lucetta refused to marry Henchard. Henchard threatened her that he would show her letters to all and Lucetta fainted.


  1. Henchard’s misfortune seemed not to end. The wagon deliveries of Henchard and Donald Farfrae had a quarrel. Lucetta and Elizabeth favoured Donald Farfrae. people said that they favoured him because he was handsome.

  2. Then at the trial, Henchard had to preside over an issue of women being drunk. The woman was the one at the people how Henchard had sold his wife and daughter.

  3. Henchard accepted and refused to preside.

  1. One day while walking on the road, Lucetta and Elizabeth saw a bull coming towards them they were terrified just at that moment.

  2. Henchard came and saved them. Lucetta fainted he took her but he did not see Elizabeth later Donald Farfrae came. Elizabeth related the incident.

  3. Later Lucetta tells Henchard that she had married Donald Farfrae. hearing this Henchard lost his temper. He said he would never forgive her.

  4. The marriage of Lucetta and Donald Farfrae was kept as a secret. Donald Farfrae asked Lucetta to tell Elizabeth about their marriage. Elizabeth could not bear this. She left the house. She took a lodging opposite Henchard's house.

  5. Henchard’s destiny was taking him to destruction. He faced a major loss. The creditors wanted their money back. He had sold his land and property. He even sold his gold watch and other belongings.

  6. People were touched by his honesty and morals. Henchard had to shift to the cottage of Joshua Jopp.

  7. Elizabeth offered Henchard to stay with her. But he did not reply.

  8. The irony was that Donald Farfrae had bought his property. Henchard had now become pessimistic. He wanted to commit suicide Joshua Jopp stopped him. Donald Farfrae offered a job to Henchard & he accepted it.

  9. Earlier Donald Farfrae had asked Henchard to come and stay with him but he refused. After his job at Donald Farfrae's place, all was going well and then Donald Farfrae was to be elected mayor. Henchard could not bear it he started drinking. Elizabeth served him sincerely but when he started drinking she left him.

  10. Donald Farfrae always had good intentions for Henchard. He wanted to settle Henchard with some business but he was not successful. Some people told Henchard that Donald Farfrae was against him.

  11. Donald Farfrae was elected as mayor.

  12. This was unbearable for Henchard. He read out letters of Lucetta to Donald Farfrae but he did not disclose the name. He wanted to disclose the name, but he could not. Lucetta heard him reading she knew it was her letters.

  13. She requested Henchard not to ruin her life. She pleaded to return her letters. Henchard felt ashamed. He promised to return her letters.

  14. Joshua Jopp was from Jersey. Lucetta was from the same town. He came for a recommendation letter from Donald Farfrae. Lucetta refused to help him.

  15. Henchard had given the letters to Joshua Jopp to give it to Lucetta. Joshua Jopp was offended with Lucetta’s refusal. He took revenge. He opened the letters at Peter’s ring. The furmity women was also there. They decided to take out a skimmity ride in connection with these letters. A sailor arrived there. He was Newson. 

  16. Lucetta was happy that Henchard had returned her letters. She burnt it.

  17. A few days later a royal personage was to pass through Casterbridge. Donald Farfrae was to chalk out the programme for the reception. Henchard also wanted to be in the reception party but Donald Farfrae refused to allow him.

  18. Lucetta being the Mayor’s wife was in the front seat. She was happy that the Royal personage shook hands with her. Henchard vows to take revenge. He threw Donald Farfrae at a dangerous point. 

  19. Instead of seeking mercy, Donald Farfrae said “take it, you have wished too long enough.”

  20. At these words, Henchard feels ashamed and leaves him.

  21. He asked Donald Farfrae to come to the stone Bridge. He wanted to beg pardon from Donald Farfrae.

  22. At the same time, a skimming ride was being taken out by the people.

  23. An anonymous letter was given to Donald Farfrae asking him to attend an emergency meeting but this was just to keep Donald Farfrae away from the skimmity ride.

  24. It was morning time. A loud noise was heard on the road. They were taking out the skimmity ride. They had put the effigies of Lucetta and Henchard on a donkey.

  25. Lucetta insisted on seeing it. Elizabeth had seen it. So she did not want Lucetta to see it but Lucetta was very eager to see it. She saw it and she fainted. She was pregnant. The doctor called Lucetta was taken seriously ill.

  26. Mr Grower, the magistrate sent two constables to stop the ride seeing the constables, the people ran away.

  27. Henchard could not understand the procession. He was confused. He went to Jane’s house. She had gone to Lucetta’s place. There he found Lucetta seriously ill. He himself went to meet Farfrae he told him about Lucetta’s health but  Farfrae did not believe him. He suspected that  Farfrae must be planning some conspiracy.

  28. But when he come, he was pained to see Lucetta’s condition. He called for another doctor but things did not improve. Lucetta passed away.

  29. Elizabeth was very tired. She went off to sleep. The next day Henchard prepared breakfast for her.

  30. Jopp had told Henchard that a sailor name Newson had come to Henchard's place. Henchard lied, saying both Susan and Elizabeth passed away.

  31. Newson was depressed to hear it but then Henchard realized that one day Newson would come to know the truth.

  32. He went in search of Newson but he could not get him. Then Jane and Henchard had breakfast she took a tender case of Henchard. Henchard was also very grateful.

  33. Farfare was very angry on knowing the real cause of Lucetta’s death and the thought of taking revenge but after the funeral, he cooled down. He knew all these would make matter worse with time people would forget.

  34. Time heals all misfortunes and grief.

  35. Henchard was established as a seedsman. His condition was getting better.

  36. Farfare’s visit to Elizabeth was getting regular.

  37. Henchard did not like it but he controlled his anger.

  38. One day Henchard saw Newson. He decided to leave. He told Elizabeth that if he stayed there, the future would become troublesome.

  39. Elizabeth felt sad about his departure. 

  40. And one day Newson come. He told Elizabeth what Henchard had told him.

  41. Preparation started for the wedding of Elizabeth and Farfare. The atmosphere had changed. 

  42. For Henchard life was miserable. Somehow he got a job as a hay trusser but he was tempted to know about the wedding of Elizabeth. He got to know that it would be on St. Martin’s day.

  43. He walked for three days. He brought a goldfinch with a new cage. His desire was to present it to the new couple.

  44. Henchard’s dress was not presentable. The servant did not allow him to enter. She behaved roughly.

  45. He left the cage at Jame’s place. Then he left her house.

  46. After a week Elizabeth found the new cage. The Goldfinch was dead. No one knew who had brought it. She enquired about it. She came to know that it was brought by a farmer. She guessed that it must be Henchard.

  47. The bird was buried. Then they went in search of Henchard unfortunately Elizabeth and Farfrae could not meet Henchard.

  48. Abel told them that he passed away just half an hour before Abel narrated the pathetic story of Henchard.

  49. He gave them Henchard’s will. In it, he had -

  1. written that Elizabeth should not know about his death.

  2. And if at all she comes to know she must not grieve his death.

  3. And that no flower should be planted on his grave.

  4. And that no one should remember him.

  1. Elizabeth burst into tears. She respected the will of Henchard’s will.

  2. Time passed Elizabeth lived happily with her husband.


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