The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Ring is an old Roman amphitheater at the edge of town, now little more than ruins. The place has a sinister atmosphere which ensures privacy. Henchard meets Susan in the dark, shadowy structure, which is said to be haunted. The meeting begins with Henchard declaring that he no longer drinks alcohol. Susan speaks about her time with Newson, which she considered to be a legal marriage because otherwise, she might have considered herself immoral. Henchard agrees that she has nothing to feel guilty about. He comes up with a plan. Susan and her daughter can rent a house in Casterbridge. He will publicly court Susan and, after a short time, they can legally marry. Thus, they will avoid any suspicion about their past. Henchard hopes that Elizabeth-Jane never learns the truth about what happened. He plans to adopt her as his stepdaughter and he offers to pay for everything necessary to make this plan work. Susan accepts his proposal. As she is about to leave, Henchard stops her. He asks her whether she forgives him for what he did. She mumbles an answer and he tells her to judge him by his “future works” (54), rather than his shameful past. They walk back to Casterbridge separately.

When Henchard returns to his office, Farfrae is still there, “overhauling the books” (55). He invites Farfrae to dine with him. After, they sit in front of the fire and Henchard opens up about his past. Farfrae encourages Henchard to atone to Susan for what he did to her. Henchard reveals that, in his time alone, he has cultivated a new relationship with another “innocent woman” who lives in Jersey (56), an island off the southern coast of England. She helped to nurse him back to health when he was sick and, when people learned of their relationship, the young woman was beset by scandalous rumors. In their letters, Henchard proposed to this woman but told her that Susan might one day return. Henchard now believes that he still owes a duty primarily to Susan, though he feels bad that he cannot help the other woman. Farfrae agrees to write to her on Henchard’s behalf. He also recommends that Henchard tell Elizabeth-Jane the truth, but Henchard refuses. Farfrae writes the letter, which Henchard then posts to the woman. He includes a check and, while walking home, he wonders whether everything will be solved so easily. He resolves to “make amends” with Susan (58).

Henchard finds a cottage in West Casterbridge for Susan and Elizabeth-Jane. In addition to being well-furnished, the cottage also has a servant, which will make Susan and her daughter seem more respectable. Henchard visits the mother and daughter once they are settled. He pursues a public courtship of the “genteel widow” Susan and he is pleased that Elizabeth-Jane seems content to accept his version of events (59). Susan is less pleased about duping her daughter. When Henchard asks whether they should set a date for a wedding, Susan begins to have second thoughts. She had not planned to remarry Henchard. The marriage is part of Henchard’s plans to make amends, as it will allow him to offer a comfortable life to Elizabeth-Jane and Susan without causing any scandal, though many will consider Susan to be beneath him. Henchard explains that, by hiring Farfrae, he now has more time to dedicate to his marriage. The townspeople talk about the marriage. Due to her pale features, they have taken to calling Susan “The Ghost” (60). Henchard remarries Susan on a cold, wet day in November. The people of Casterbridge think he has married beneath himself. They consider him foolish.

Susan and Elizabeth-Jane move into Henchard’s house. His home is large and their presence is barely noticed. Henchard is kind to Susan and she seems to settle into a melancholic contentedness. Elizabeth-Jane is more pleased by her new circumstances. No longer poor, she can now have whatever she wants. Since she is a serious person, however, she does not allow herself to become greedy or spoiled. She tries to remain respectable and sober so as not to tempt the universe to turn against her. As she grows older, she becomes a physically attractive young woman. Henchard remarks on her maturity, noting her light hair. He remembers Susan once telling him that their daughter’s hair would become dark, but she kicks his leg, urging him to be quiet and not to risk exposing their secret.

Henchard grows close to Elizabeth-Jane. He asks her whether she might consider taking his name. Susan is less enthusiastic but allows Elizabeth-Jane to decide. She chooses to remain Elizabeth-Jane Newson and no one speaks of the matter ever again. During this time, Elizabeth-Jane closely watches the interactions between Farfrae and Henchard. She notices how much Henchard seems to respect the young man, who has succeeded in modernizing Henchard’s business and bringing great success to the town. Elizabeth-Jane has also noticed that Farfrae seems to feel confined by the overbearing Henchard, who reacts badly to the idea that they should spend more time apart so that they can keep their eyes on more of the business. One day, Elizabeth-Jane receives an anonymous note. She is invited to Durnover Hill to meet someone at the nearby granary. When she arrives, Farfrae appears. She hides out of “unaccountable shyness” (67) but eventually reveals herself. They both realize that some unknown person has sent them identical notes, asking them to meet at Durnover Hill. Farfrae suggests that they “better say nothing” (68) about this trick to anyone. As he helps her from her hiding place, he seems struck by her appearance.

Elizabeth-Jane becomes more interested in her clothes. Soon, she is considered to be among the most attractive young women in the town. Farfrae pays increasing attention to her. Elizabeth-Jane is pleased with this newfound attention but sad that she is an “unfinished girl” who does not possess the intellect to match her looks (70). One day, Henchard is angered by the lateness of an employee named Abel Whittle. He goes to Whittle’s cottage and drags him out of bed. Since Whittle needs the job, he cannot react angrily and he must continue to work without being properly dressed, even though he is deeply embarrassed. Farfrae watches this spectacle and takes pity on Whittle, telling him to go home and get dressed. Henchard is furious that he has been publicly undermined. He argues with Farfrae, who gets his way when he threatens to leave. Later, Farfrae discovers that Henchard has financially assisted Whittle’s mother “all the previous winter” (73). As time passes, Henchard becomes concerned that Farfrae is more popular among the workers and the people of Casterbridge. They consider Farfrae to be the real brains of the business, thinking more highly of him than they do of Henchard. He confronts Farfrae about this; Farfrae insists that he has not done anything on purpose and insists that he would never want to hurt Henchard’s feelings. They part in good spirits, but Henchard maintains a lingering sense of dread concerning Farfrae.

As the town celebrates a “national event” (75), Farfrae plans to create a show for the crowd by using several of Henchard’s rick-clothes. He will charge a small fee for entry. Feeling competitive, Henchard sets up a fully catered show with games. He makes it free for everyone and assumes the townspeople will flock to his party. When the day of the festivities arrives, however, a heavy rain dampens the turnout. Few people turn up and Henchard marches “moodily” back into Casterbridge (77), where he discovers that Farfrae has used the rick-clothes to make a tent where he is now hosting a dance. The music and the dancing make everyone happy. Henchard spots Susan and Elizabeth-Jane among the celebrants. He is annoyed that the people seem to be enjoying this event more than the event put on by the mayor. Farfrae is at the center of the happy crowd. He dances with Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard overhears people making scathing comments about him. He responds by saying that Farfrae’s time in Casterbridge may be “drawing to a close” (79). Farfrae hears this and accedes that he may need to leave soon. That night, Henchard returns home. He feels as though he has successfully defended his reputation. When he wakes up the next day, he regrets being so emotional and rash. He discovers that Farfrae plans to stay true to his word.

The suggestion that Elizabeth-Jane was dancing with too much vigor makes her feel “very miserable” (80). Farfrae walks her home and tells her that his relationship with Henchard has fallen apart. If he were a wealthy man, he hints, he would ask her to marry him. She pleads with him not to leave town and, as she returns to her cottage, she cannot stop thinking about him. In the following days, Farfrae completely splits from Henchard by setting up a rival business. Out of respect, he insists that he will not compete with Henchard. According to Farfrae, the hay and corn industries are large enough for them both to make money. When one of Henchard’s long-standing customers approaches him, Farfrae turns the man away out of respect for Henchard. Now, however, Henchard believes that Farfrae is his “enemy” (83). Since he often abused Farfrae, few people in Casterbridge are sympathetic to Henchard’s point of view. Henchard tells Elizabeth-Jane that she may not have any contact with Farfrae. He writes a curt letter to Farfrae, revealing that he has told his stepdaughter to end the relationship. As Farfrae’s business grows, he is inevitably thrown into “mortal commercial combat” with his old boss (84). Henchard responds by initiating a price war. He cannot stop Farfrae’s ascent, however, and Farfrae is soon given a stall at the town market. The mention of Farfrae’s name is enough to infuriate Henchard.

Elizabeth-Jane worries about her mother’s health. Soon enough, Susan reveals that she is very sick. She cannot leave her house. As Henchard hires “the richest, busiest doctor” (86), Elizabeth-Jane fears for her mother’s life. The young woman from Jersey writes to Henchard, forgiving him for not marrying her. She has one request: She wants to meet him to return her letters, which may be compromising. She signs her letter with the name Lucetta and says that she will soon be traveling to meet her wealthy aunt. Henchard takes her letters to the agreed-upon place but Lucetta does not meet him. Susan, suspecting that she may die soon, writes a letter to Henchard which should not be opened until the day that Elizabeth-Jane is married. In her sick bed, she admits to her daughter that she was the person who sent the anonymous notes that arranged the first meeting between Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae. She admits that she wanted her daughter to marry the Scotsman. She admits that this now seems impossible as Henchard hates Farfrae. Susan dies on a Sunday morning.