The Mayor of Casterbridge

Michael Henchard is an emotional man. When he is angry, jealous, bitter, or drunk, he acts on his emotions without thinking about the consequences, and these actions often lead to misery, suffering, and shame. The opening chapter of the novel depicts Henchard drinking alcohol and acting upon his bitter resentment of his wife, selling her to the highest bidder. The next day, he wakes up and, in the sober light of day, regrets what he has done. Yet the true ramifications of his act do not become clear for many years. In the short term, Henchard reflects on his failure and resolves to turn his life around. He makes a small fortune and becomes the Mayor of Casterbridge. When Susan arrives back in town, however, he attempts to cover up his mistakes to avoid facing the full consequences. Rather than learning to act in a careful, thoughtful manner, he demonstrates that his self-destructive tendencies were not a product of alcohol abuse, but a fundamental part of his personality. By remarrying Susan to cover for his mistake, Henchard forsakes Lucetta, the woman whose reputation he had compromised. He grows to envy Farfrae, and he reacts to his envy by firing his business advisor even though Farfrae has made him a lot of