MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE-Part IV

MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE-

Part IV

Chapters 31-45

Chapter 31 -

Henchard's Bankruptcy

After the furmity woman's revelation, Henchard's fortunes and esteem diminish rapidly. One of his heavy debtors fails and bad judgment by one of his employees causes a serious financial loss.

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Bankruptcy proceedings are instituted against Henchard in which his creditors take possession of all his property. He is at his lowest point: "The black hair and whiskers were the same as ever, but a film of ash was over the rest." At the proceedings,

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Henchard offers his remaining property, the loose change in his money-bag, and his gold watch. The creditors refuse to take these last remaining possessions, but instead praise him for his extraordinary honesty in giving over all his worldly goods. Much affected, Henchard leaves, sells his watch for the first offer, and brings the cash to one of his minor creditors.

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Henchard moves to Jopp's cottage by Priory Mill. Elizabeth-Jane, moved to compassion by his terrible downfall, attempts to see him. However, Henchard is at home to no one, including Elizabeth-Jane. After an unsuccessful attempt to see her stepfather, Elizabeth-Jane passes by Henchard's former place of business. 

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She learns that Donald Farfrae has bought the property and taken over all of Henchard's employees.

Though the salary is slightly lower, the men are happy with Farfrae's working conditions.

Furthermore, whereas Henchard's business had been conducted by rule-of-thumb procedures, Donald has instituted sound business techniques and modern innovations.

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Chapter 32 -

Farfrae Hires Henchard

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Henchard begins to haunt one of the town's bridges which has become known for its attraction to failures and suicides.

One afternoon Jopp encounters him on the bridge and states that Donald and Lucetta have purchased Henchard's old house and are moving in. He also tells him that the man who bought Henchard's best furniture at the auction was in reality bidding for Donald Farfrae. 

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Jopp departs well satisfied that he has wounded Henchard. Henchard's bitterness is increased at the vagaries of fortune.

Donald Farfrae arrives in a gig to see Henchard. He repeats the rumor that Henchard is planning to emigrate and asks him to remain in Casterbridge, just as Henchard had once asked him to stay.

Donald generously offers Henchard lodging within the same house that he and Lucetta have just purchased.

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Henchard visualizes this arrangement with repugnance and refuses outright.

Donald then offers to give back to Henchard all the furniture which might hold sentimental value for him.

For a moment Henchard is struck by Donald's magnanimity and says, "I — sometimes think I've wronged 'ee!"

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Later Elizabeth-Jane hears that Henchard is confined to his room with a cold. She immediately goes to him and, after a preliminary refusal by Henchard, administers to him and sets his room in comfortable order.

Due to Elizabeth-Jane's repeated visits and tender care, Henchard regains his strength and a more cheerful outlook. 

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Judging that hard work never hurt a young man — Henchard is not much over forty — he applies to Farfrae as a day-laborer.

Farfrae employs him, but is careful to relay instructions and orders through a third person.

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And thus Henchard who once worked as a hay-trusser dressed in clean, bright clothes appears in the yards he used to own;

now he wears "the remains of an old blue cloth suit of his gentlemanly times, a rusty silk hat, and a once black satin stock, soiled and shabby."

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The days go by and Henchard watches Donald and Lucetta. His old jealousy and hatred return, especially when he hears that Farfrae may be chosen mayor in a few years.

One day Elizabeth-Jane hears a villager say that "Michael Henchard have busted out drinking" again. The twenty-one year "gospel oath" has come to an end. Elizabeth-Jane immediately sets out to find him.

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Chapter 33 -

Henchard's Resentment Is Inflamed

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One Sunday Henchard takes part in the after-church discussion and song-fest which the townspeople and the choir members hold at the Three Mariners.

He sees Donald and Lucetta leaving church, and under the influence of drink, forces the members of the choir to sing one of the Psalms, which contains a curse against the man of "ill-got riches."

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When Farfrae passes, Henchard tells the dismayed company that the curse was meant for him. Elizabeth-Jane arrives and takes Henchard home.

While walking with him she hears Henchard make veiled threats against Donald. She resolves to warn Donald as soon as it becomes necessary.

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Henchard's misery is intensified by the pitying looks he gets from Abel Whittle. Elizabeth-Jane offers to help Henchard in Abel's place. Her reason for helping is to observe Henchard and Donald when they come face to face.

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One day Lucetta accompanies Donald into the yard, but wanders away and accidentally confronts Henchard.

Henchard bitterly feigns servility to Lucetta. The next morning Henchard receives a note from Lucetta which asks him to behave with less bitterness toward her if they should meet again.

Henchard realizes that this letter places Lucetta in a compromising position, but he destroys it rather than use it against her.

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Elizabeth-Jane begins to bring Henchard tea in order to keep him away from stronger drink. One day she arrives to find Henchard and Donald standing near the open door on the top floor of the corn building.

Elizabeth-Jane sees Henchard make a furtive gesture as if he intended to push Donald out the opening to his death. This so frightens her that she resolves to inform Donald of her stepfather's mental state.

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Chapter 34 -

Henchard Reads to Farfrae

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Fill in the Blank

Who has purchased Henchard's house and furniture?

Elizabeth-Jane meets Farfrae early one morning and warns him that Henchard may try "to do something — that would injure you." Donald makes light of the warning, but later receives a similar warning from the town clerk.

We learn that Donald had offered the first fifty pounds if the town council would underwrite the remainder of the costs to install Henchard in a seed shop. 

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Because of the disconcerting information Donald has to review the plans, and he cancels the negotiations with the owner of the seed shop. The disappointed owner tells Henchard that the council had planned to give him a new start but that Donald had ruined it.

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Multiple Choice

He informs Henchard that Farfrae has purchased his house and furniture.

• Mayor Chalkfield

• Abel Whittle

• Solomon Longways

• Joshua Jopp

Donald confides to Lucetta that he is upset because of Henchard's enmity. She suggests that they sell out and move away. Donald gives the thought consideration.

At that moment Alderman Vatt arrives with the news that Mayor Chalkfield has died. He tells Donald that the council would like to elect him mayor.

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Because it is the town's wish, Donald says he will accept the office if it is bestowed upon him. It seems that now, despite Lucetta's fears and his own worry over Henchard, he must stay because destiny requires it.

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Fill in the Blank

Who had stopped Donald Farfrae from leaving Casterbridge initially?

Lucetta meets Henchard by accident in the market-place. "Imprudence incarnate," she asks him once again to return her old letters. Henchard says he does not have them, but that he will consider her request. Next evening the town bell announces a new mayor.

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Henchard has remembered that the letters are among papers in the safe of his former house and arranges with Donald to come and retrieve them.

Fortified with drink, Henchard arrives at Mayor Farfrae's home quite late. He gets the letters and morbidly reads their contents to Farfrae. 

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This grotesque conduct seems to give Henchard pleasure, since at this point he holds the future happiness of Lucetta and Donald in his hand.

However, he cannot bring himself to reveal to Donald that Lucetta had written the letters: "His quality was such that he could have annihilated them both in the heat of action; but to accomplish the deed by oral poison was beyond the nerve of his enmity."

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Chapter 35 -

Henchard and Lucetta at the Ring

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In a flashback we learn that Lucetta has overheard Michael reading the letters to her husband. She fears he has revealed all, but when Farfrae retires that night she learns "to her joyous amazement" that he knows nothing of her past.

The next morning she writes to Henchard and asks to meet him at the Ring. She decides to present herself humbly and to beg for the return of her letters.

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At sunset she meets Henchard at the Ring. The surroundings are gloomy, as usual, but the area brings to Henchard's mind his meeting with Susan, another woman whom he had wronged. 

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This realization causes his heart to melt, and when he sees Lucetta so plainly dressed and so miserable, he relents.

He feels that she has stupidly placed herself in a very compromising position by meeting him.

He therefore loses all interest in her and promises that her letters will be returned the next morning.

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Chapter 36 -

Jopp Opens the Letters

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Lucetta returns home to find Jopp waiting for her. He asks her to put in a few good words with Donald about employing him.

She replies that she knows nothing about him, and that it is not her custom to interfere in her husband's business. Lucetta ends the interview abruptly for fear that Donald will miss her. 

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Jopp returns to his cottage, and Henchard asks him to deliver a parcel to Mrs. Farfrae. Jopp states that he will do it.

After Henchard retires, Jopp begins to think about the connection between Henchard and Lucetta.

Because Jopp had come from Jersey, he knows that Henchard had once courted her.

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His bitterness at Lucetta for refusing to speak to Farfrae intensifies his curiosity, so Jopp opens the package and finds the letters.

While on his way to deliver the package, Jopp encounters Mother Cuxsom and Nance Mockridge, who invite him to an inn called Peter's Finger in Mixen Lane, a place of evil repute near Casterbridge. 

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At the gathering, when the furmity woman asks Jopp what the parcel contains, his bitterness at Lucetta comes out and he reveals the contents. Jopp proceeds to read the letters to the assembled company. Soon afterward a stranger appears on his way to Casterbridge. He hears the rogues in the tavern discussing a "skimmity-ride," and learns that it is a lower-class form of making fun of a married couple when the wife has not been altogether faithful. 

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Since the stranger will be residing in Casterbridge for a while, and desiring some kind of entertainment, he gives the assembly of thieves and poachers a gold sovereign to cover the initial cost of the old custom.

The townspeople begin to plan the skimmity-ride. The next morning Jopp delivers the parcel to Lucetta, who burns the letters immediately.

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Chapter 37 -

Henchard Greets the Royal Visitor

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The town receives word that a royal personage will pass through Casterbridge in the near future. Mayor Farfrae and the council arrange for an elaborate reception. Henchard comes to the council meeting and asks to participate in the reception. Donald, with the concurrence of the council, refuses, whereupon Henchard makes plans to welcome the royal visitor by himself.​

The royal visitor is escorted into the packed, spruced-up town by Donald and the members of the council. Lucetta indignantly tells some ladies looking on that Henchard had little or nothing to do with Donald's success. By this time, she doesn't like to be reminded that Henchard exists. Suddenly Henchard steps into the space before the Town Hall, waving a Union Jack (the British flag) and stretches out his arm to welcome the esteemed guest.​

Because it is Farfrae's duty as mayor to maintain decorum and safety for the visitor, he grabs Henchard by the collar and shoves him roughly into the crowd. The spectators, especially Lucetta and Elizabeth-Jane, are shocked by Henchard's low behavior. The royal personage, however, pretends "not to have noticed anything unusual."​

The reader learns that the skimmity-ride will take place that night. Jopp confirms the plans and is now acting as a prime mover in the attempt to humiliate the mayor. But two of the townspeople decide to write to the concerned parties and warn them of the impending demonstration.​

Chapter 38

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Henchard fights Farfrae​

​Henchard, as maddened by Lucetta's scorn as Farfrae's humiliating shove, resolves to wrestle Donald to the death. He leaves a message for Donald to meet him in the corn storage building and immediately goes there himself. Henchard knows he is stronger than Donald, so he ties his left arm to his body, rendering it useless in combat. Donald arrives later and Henchard calls him up to the loft. Michael faces him squarely and says that Donald has snubbed him at work and disgraced him in public.

​Now it is time to finish the wrestling match which was begun that afternoon in front of the townspeople: "'You may be the one to cool first,' said Henchard grimly. 'Now this is the case. Here be we, in this four-square loft, to finish out that little wrestle you began this morning. There's the door, forty foot above ground. One of us two puts the other out by that door — the master stays inside. If he likes he may go down afterwards and give the alarm that the other has fallen out by accident — or he may tell the truth — that's his business. As the strongest man I've tied one arm to take no advantage of 'ee. D'ye understand? Then here's at 'ee.'"

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​Donald is no match against Henchard's strength, and soon he is half-out the open doorway with Henchard ready to hurl him to his death. But Henchard cannot commit the ultimate act of violence. He frees Donald and lies in a corner. The "womanliness" of his posture "sat tragically on the figure of so stern a piece of virility." Donald departs, and Henchard overhears Donald tell Whittle that he has been unexpectedly summoned to Weatherbury, thus causing him to cancel his intended plans of traveling toward Budmouth. Henchard is overcome by remorse and the desire to see Donald and seek his pardon. But Donald is out of town, and Henchard returns to his customary place on the bridge. From there he hears jumbled noises and rhythmical confusion coming from the town. So great is his consternation, he is not even curious about the unexplained noise.