The Mayor Of Casterbridge: Relationship between Character and Fate
Relationship between Character and Fate
In all of Hardy's novels, character, society, nature, chance, fate and coincidence are responsible for the tragic human situation. In The Mayor of Casterbridge character plays a far greater role than Fate in bringing about Henchard's tragedy. Henchard's misfortunes result from his own deeds and actions. Though Fate plays an important role in the story, Henchard's character plays a much greater role. When the story opens, the reader sees that Henchard is a poor, ambitious, rash, and impulsive young man, who, in a drunken state, sells his wife and child. His past catches up with him more than twenty years later . Thus, the reader witnesses an example ...
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possible to get the best of Farfrae, challenging him to a wrestling match and contemplating murdering the successful, young man. Fate intervenes, however, to make Henchard come to his senses.
Henchard does not treat Elizabeth-Jane much better than he treats Farfrae. When he learns that Elizabeth-Jane is not his real daughter, he becomes very cold towards her, making her want to move out of his house and leave him isolated and lonely. When he realizes how much he loves and misses her, fate again comes into play, she has learned about his lie to Newson and wants nothing to do with him. He tries to reconcile with her on her wedding day, even taking her a caged goldfinch for a wedding present. Unfortunately, he leaves it outside and does not retrieve it when Elizabeth-Jane states she wants nothing to do with her stepfather. Then fate again kicks into control. Elizabeth-Jane finds the goldfinch and realizes it was a token of her father's repentance; but it is too late for the ...
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The Mayor Of Casterbridge: Relationship between Character and Fate. (2013, December 6). Retrieved March 30, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mayor-Casterbridge-Relationship-between-Character-Fate/103426
"The Mayor Of Casterbridge: Relationship between Character and Fate." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Dec. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mayor-Casterbridge-Relationship-between-Character-Fate/103426>
"The Mayor Of Casterbridge: Relationship between Character and Fate." Essayworld.com. December 6, 2013. Accessed March 30, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mayor-Casterbridge-Relationship-between-Character-Fate/103426.
"The Mayor Of Casterbridge: Relationship between Character and Fate." Essayworld.com. December 6, 2013. Accessed March 30, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mayor-Casterbridge-Relationship-between-Character-Fate/103426.
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