: Eighteen years later, Susan and a grown Elizabeth-Jane return. Henchard’s past resurfaces, clashing with his rigid pride and his rivalry with a progressive young Scotsman, Donald Farfrae. A series of financial failures and exposed secrets eventually strip Henchard of his status and family, leading to a lonely, tragic end. Key Characters
: Henchard eventually becomes a wealthy grain merchant and the respected Mayor of the town of Casterbridge. The Mayor of Casterbridge
Thomas Hardy’s 1886 novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge , is a powerful Victorian tragedy subtitled "The Life and Death of a Man of Character". It chronicles the spectacular rise and devastating fall of Michael Henchard, whose life is dictated by a single impulsive act of youth and the inescapable consequences that follow. : Eighteen years later, Susan and a grown
: A deeply flawed protagonist driven by pride, temper, and a desperate desire for redemption. Key Characters : Henchard eventually becomes a wealthy
: In a drunken rage at a country fair, young hay-trusser Michael Henchard auctions off his wife, Susan, and infant daughter to a sailor for five guineas.
: A woman from Henchard's past who arrives in Casterbridge to marry him, but falls for Farfrae instead. The Mayor of Casterbridge | Summary, Characters & Analysis
: A modern, technically-minded newcomer who eventually replaces Henchard in both business and civic leadership.
