Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Henchard receives letters from Lucetta telling him she expects him to keep his promise to marry her now that his wife has died. She inherited money from her aunt and hires Elizabeth-Jane to give him an excuse to visit her. Henchard looks forward to marrying her since she is now a woman with means.

Lucetta reveals some of her past to Elizabeth-Jane. She sends her on an errand and invites Henchard to visit her. Instead, Donald Farfrae shows up to visit Elizabeth-Jane. Lucetta witnesses his charitable act in hiring a young farmer. After he leaves, Henchard arrives but is told Lucetta can’t receive him.

Elizabeth-Jane introduces Lucetta to her father and overhears him accusing her of avoiding him. Lucetta seeks Elizabeth-Jane’s advice about a “friend” who was involved with a man. Elizabeth-Jane suspects she is speaking of herself. Farfrae visits Lucetta and ignores Elizabeth-Jane who accepts the rejection stoically.

Henchard proposes marriage to Lucetta, but Lucetta refuses him and insists she will love whom she pleases. She is now in love with Farfrae. Henchard suspects Farfrae is his rival for Lucetta’s affections. He hires Joshua Jopp with the intention of ruining Farfrae’s corn and hay business. Relying on a weather-forecaster’s prediction of heavy rain which will ruin the corn, Henchard purchases large quantities of corn but loses money when the weather remains fair, bringing down the price of corn.

The contrast continues between Henchard’s traditional way of doing things vs. Farfrae’s willingness to embrace new methods and to adopt modern machinery. Farfrae came up with a method to restore grown wheat—something Henchard couldn’t do. And Henchard relies on an outdated method of predicting the weather which turns out to be disastrous.

Hardy seems to be positioning Wessex as a transition point between the old methods which are no longer effective and new methods, which, while effective, are destroying long-held traditions. This may or may not be a good thing depending on how you read Hardy.

Lucetta comes to Casterbridge to marry Henchard and restore her reputation. But she changes her mind and asserts her independence by announcing to Henchard she will marry whom she pleases. Unlike Susan who uses deception to navigate a system that oppresses her as a woman, Lucetta openly challenges that same system. She insists on exercising agency and refuses to submit to male dominance. Will any good come of her choice?

Farfrae strikes me as being calculating in his choice of a lover. He is attracted to Elizabeth-Jane when their relationship has the blessing of the mayor. When the blessing is withdrawn, he makes no attempt to defy Henchard. He drops Elizabeth-Jane like a hot potato. When Henchard gives his blessing, he seeks her out but then rejects her in favor of Lucetta who is a more favorable prospect since she is independently wealthy and projects an image of sophistication.

For her part, Elizabeth-Jane cares for Farfrae and had thought her feelings were reciprocated. But when she realizes he is now interested in Lucetta, she accepts his choice with resignation.

Neither Farfrae nor Elizabeth-Jane allow their emotions to dictate their behaviors. Are they being set up as foils for Henchard and Lucetta?

- Farfrae goes to visit E-J but sees instead Lucretta, the Jersey woman. They quickly fall in love. Doesn't this throw a wrench in everything!
- Henchard offers to marry Lucretta, maybe out of a mix of honor and cupidity. He is put off, to his annoyance.
- Henchard loses a small fortune in business and takes it out on his foreman Jopp, who vows revenge. He knows of his previous life on Jersey. The clouds are gathering.
- Still no sign of Newson.

Roger wrote: "The clouds are gathering..."

Indeed, they are.

Hardy seems to determined to make Henchard suffer.

Henchard’s attempts to make amends for past mistakes keep firing back at him. He hires Farfrae to restore his ruined wheat. That backfires on him when Farfrae becomes more popular with the villagers. He takes in Susan and Elizabeth-Jane thinking the latter is his daughter. When he finds out she is not, he makes her life so uncomfortable that she leaves his home. He tries to make amends with Lucetta by proposing marriage to restore her reputation. She rejects him because she now loves Farfrae. He loses money on corn when the predictions of rain turn out to be wrong. It seems everywhere he turns, Henchard is faced with yet another obstacle, yet another disappointment.

Is Hardy making some sort of statement about the nature of life? About human suffering? About making amends for past mistakes? Any other possibilities?

Tamara wrote: "Lucetta comes to Casterbridge to marry Henchard and restore her reputation. But she changes her mind and asserts her independence by announcing to Henchard she will marry whom she pleases. Unlike S..."

Will any good come of her choice? Given that the author is Thomas Hardy, I suspect the answer is “no.” “Man proposes, Fate disposes” could be his motto, but at least there’s no fake sunshine ;)

Tamara wrote: "Is Hardy making some sort of statement about the nature of life? About human suffering? About making amends for past mistakes? Any other possibilities?"

Like you mentioned previously, Henchard is transactional. Many of his actions appear to be principled, but he never seems to do things solely for the sake of the other person involved. He does them to protect his reputation or to salve his conscience. He feels things deeply, but he's not terribly bright, which leads me to feel some pity for him. The scene where he goes to Wide-oh the weathercaster is reminscent of a fairy tale; he seems so gullible. Is it his fault he's like this?

Farfrae, on the other hand, is highly intelligent and resourceful. But he has a musical, ephemeral character. By contrast to Henchard, he doesn't seem to feel anything too deeply, including his fleeting attraction to Elizabeth. He's entirely reasonable but less substantial somehow. He dances while Henchard stomps -- sort of like Achilles compared to Odysseus.

Thomas wrote: "He [Farfrae] dances while Henchard stomps -- sort of like Achilles compared to Odysseus..."

I like the idea of comparing Henchard to Achilles in that they both lash out irrationally when they perceive a personal injury.

I also see something very Shakespearean about Henchard. I’m thinking specifically of Lear. Like Lear, Henchard is larger than life. As mayor of a small community, he has a high status, is powerful and respected. But there is also an element of resentment towards him from the villagers as if they are waiting for him to get his comeuppance. He "stomps" about, like Lear, lacks empathy, and is self-absorbed. And like Lear, he treats his gentle, mild-mannered daughter very poorly and then regrets it. He is his own worst enemy.

I find him so much more interesting than Farfrae. He doesn't understand that what he says and does has an impact on others. And when they take him at his word, like Susan does at the auction, or when he fires Farfrai, or when Elizabeth-Jane agrees to leave his home, he is taken aback. There is something tragic about him, and I can't help feeling sorry for him.

Tamara wrote: "Thomas wrote: "He [Farfrae] dances while Henchard stomps -- sort of like Achilles compared to Odysseus..."

I like the idea of comparing Henchard to Achilles in that they both lash out irrationally..."

Yes, he's a tragic hero.