The Mayor of Casterbridge: The Life and Death of a Man of Character

The Mayor of Casterbridge is a novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1886. Its full subtitle, The Life and Death of a Man of Character, reflects its focus on moral consequence and personal downfall. The story follows Michael Henchard, a poor hay-trusser who, in a drunken rage, sells his wife Susan and their infant daughter at a country fair. Years later, he becomes a successful and respected businessman, eventually rising to become the mayor of the fictional town of Casterbridge. When Susan and their daughter Elizabeth-Jane return, Henchard tries to rebuild his life and relationships, but his earlier actions set in motion a slow and irreversible decline. His impulsive nature, pride, and inability to change his character lead to repeated personal and professional failures. A key figure in the novel is Donald Farfrae, a younger, more modern and adaptable man who gradually replaces Henchard in business success and social standing, highlighting a contrast between rigid character and flexible modernity. The novel ultimately traces Henchard’s psychological and social collapse as he loses wealth, status, and emotional connections, ending in isolation and regret.