ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE MAYOR OF...
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1 A Thesis ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE By ANDRI HERMANSYAH 102026024515 ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY JAKARTA 2009
Transcript of ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE MAYOR OF...
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A Thesis
ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN
THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE
By
ANDRI HERMANSYAH102026024515
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
JAKARTA
2009
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APPROVEMENT
ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE MAYOROF CASTERBRIDGE
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Adab and Humanities
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Degree of Strata (S 1)
By
ANDRI HERMANSYAH102026024515
Advisory:
INAYATUL CHUSNA, M.Hum.150331233
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES
SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
JAKARTA
2009
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ABSTRACT
Andri Hermansyah, Analysis on Tragic Character In The Mayor of Casterbridge.Thesis; English Letters Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, SyarifHidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 2009
The unit analysis of this study is Thomas Hardy’s novel. The objective ofthe study on this thesis is to find out how Henchard as tragic character is presentedin the novel and how overwhelming pride leads to his downfall. The collecteddata is qualitatively analyzed using the theory of tragic character
After collecting and analyzing the data, the writer concludes that ThomasHardy presents Henchard’s rise and fall. Hardy introduces Henchard as nobody.He undergoes a change from being nobody to become somebody because of hishard work, his success in persuading Farfrae to become his employee and hisability to abstain from drinking alcohol. Yet, Henchard’s success does not lastlong. He turns back from somebody to nobody because of his judgement errorsand his poor personality that lead him to the fall.
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LEGALIZATION
This thesis entitled “Analysis On Tragic Character in The Mayor ofCasterbridge” has been defended before the Letters and HumanitiesFaculty’s Examination Committee on July 14, 2009. The thesis has alreadyaccepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for the strata onedegree.
Jakarta, July , 2009
Examination Committee
Chair Person Secretary
Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd. Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd.NIP: 150229480 NIP: 150261902
Members
Examiner I Examiner II
Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum.NIP: 150261902 NIP: 150317724
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best
of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published
or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has
been accepted for award or any other degree or diploma of the University
or other Institue of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement
has been made in the text.
Jakarta, July , 2009
Andri Hermansyah
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The writer would like to thank Allah the one for divine gift of grace. He
alone we ask for help, for guidance and everything. He has given the writer many
favors. He has allowed the writer to finish this thesis. It is a great pleasure for the
writer. Praise and peace be upon the Master of The Messenger, the prophet
Muhammad S A W. May we always he in straight way until the end of the world.
The writer also absulotely deserves to thank to his advisory, Mrs. Inayatul
Chusna, M.Hum., who has guided him by counseling and advising until this thesis
finished. Without her guidance, this thesis will never be completed.
The writer also wants to thank to:
1. Dr. Abdul Chair, M.A.. Dean of Faculty of Adab and Humanities.
2. Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.P.d. the Head of English Dapartment.
3. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.P.d. the Secretary of English Department.
4. His beloved parents. They have supported him much morally and
materially, their merits and sacrifice will never be paid.
5. All of lecturers in English Department who have taught and educated him
during his study at U.I.N.
6. All his classmates in the English Department, N’cal, Dauz, Gumelar,
Yunus, Shuhada, Dhuha, U’ul, Dian, Atiq, Diah, Agay, Furqon, Romlih,
and those whom cannot be mentioned one by one.
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Finally, the writer hopes that this thesis will be usesfull for the writer
himself and for those who interested in literary research.
Jakarta, July , 2009
The Writer
Andri Hermansyah
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TABLE OF CONTENT
APPROVEMENT ....................................................................................... i
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................... ii
LEGALIZATION ....................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION ........................................................................................ iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENT .............................................................................. vii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1
1. Background of the Research .............................................................. 1
2. Focus of the Study ............................................................................. 3
3. The Research Questions .................................................................... 3
4. The Significance of the Research ....................................................... 3
5. The Methodology of Research............................................................ 4
5.1 The Objective of Research ........................................................... 4
5.2 The Method of Research ............................................................. 4
5.3 Data Analysis .............................................................................. 4
5.4 Unit of Analysis .......................................................................... 4
5.5 Instrument of the Research ........................................................... 5
5.6 Time and Place ............................................................................. 5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..................................... 6
1. Definition of Character ....................................................................... 6
2. Kinds of Character ............................................................................. 9
3. Tragic Character ................................................................................. 10
4. Delineation of Character ..................................................................... 12
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH FINDINGS .................................................. 14
1. Data Description ................................................................................ 14
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1.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character ........................................................ 14
1.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall .............................................................. 15
1.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes ...................................................................... 15
1.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death” ...................... 15
2. Data Analysis ...................................................................................... 23
2.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character ........................................................ 23
2.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall ............................................................. 27
2.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes ...................................................................... 28
2.2.1.1 Henchard Fails to Keep His Wealth ............................................. 28
2.2.1.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Social Life ................................. 30
2.2.1.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Those Who Care
for Him......................................................................................... 31
2.2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Lucetta ....... 31
2.2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Farfrae ....... 32
2.2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with
Elizabeth-Jane ......................................................................... 33
2.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death” ....................... 36
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ......................... 38
1. Conclusions ......................................................................................... 38
2. Suggestions ......................................................................................... 38
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................ 40
APPENDICES ............................................................................................. 41
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1. Background of the Research
Most people are interested in other people. People meet someone for the
first time and then they notice certain things: how the person looks, speaks, and
acts, for example. People make judgements according to what they notice.
Sometimes, as people get to know the person better, those evaluations are
affirmed. Sometimes they are challenged. Interest in other people is more than just
idle curiosity. People base their most important life decision-whom they will be
friends with, whom they will live with – on observation, talking with, and
interacting with.
It’s not surprising, then, people watch television programs, see movies, or
read literature, most of them pay close attention to the people-the character-whose
lives unfold before us. To stay interested in a film, a novel, a short story, or a play,
they must find the characters interesting in some way.
Character refers to the people authors create to inhabit their stories.1 Some
characters fascinate readers by being very different- by living in a distant place or
a time long past or by being wildly glamorous or consummately evil. Sometimes
characters can capture readers’ minds and hearts because they are people readers
can relate to. The characters may have similarities with those of readers or may
1 Gloria Mason Henderson. Literature and ourselves (New York : Pearson Education, Inc., 2003),p.9.
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act in ways that make them feel as though readers are looking in a mirror.
Frequently a character intrigues them by displaying a special quality or style: a
unique sense of humor, a gift for the absurd, or a profoundly wise way of looking
at the world.
Much of interest in a novel lays in the characters whose world the readers
enter and in whose live the readers share. The reader usually responds to them
first as people. The readers can analyze their personalities, trace how they are
affected by events and empathize or disprove of them. Therefore, the character is
very important aspect in the novel.
In literary work character can be used to create an event and determine the
plot of story. Character is a person or a fictitious creation which is created by the
author to represent what the author wants to tell to the readers in a novel.
Character has an important role because through a character people can know the
totality of the story.2
Without character there would be no plot and hence no story. For most
readers of fiction the primary attraction lies in the characters. It is an inevitable
fact that character is a vital and necessary element in literary work.
The novel The Mayor of Casterbridge written by Thomas Hardy exposes
a character which starts his life as a poor journeyman hay-trusser. He rises above
his humble beginnings to become successful businessman and is respected by
townpeople of Casterbridge for his work etnic and his position as Mayor of
Casterbridge. However his success doesn’t last long because of his fool decisions
2 Tom Baily. A short’s companion ( New York: Oxford Univ. Press, Inc., 1967), p.30.
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and deeds. In the end, he becomes a poorman. He’s not only lost all his materials
but also people he beloved evenworse he dies alone in the countryside.
This drastic changes becomes the reason why I am interested in analyzing
the main character by applying character theory. It will reveal how the tragic
character is presented in the novel. Therefore the writer would like to know how
the the tragic character is presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge.
2. Focus of the Research
The research will be focused to see and explore how the tragic character is
presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge.
3. The Research Questions
To make more convenient and simply in analyzing the novel, the writer
focuses on the content of the novel which deals with the tragic character and then
construct it into the following questions:
1. How is the tragic character presented in the novel The Mayor of
Casterbridge?
2. How does overwhelming pride lead to the downfall of Henchard in the
novel?
4. The Significance of The Research
The writer expects the research findings will uncover the tragic character’s
life, efforts and also obstacles that lead to the downfall.
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5. The Methodology of The Research
5.1 The Objectives of Research
The research is conducted to achieve purposes as the following:
1) Knowing how the tragic character presented in the novel The Mayor
of Casterbridge.
2) Knowing how overwhelming pride leads to the downfall of Henchard
in the novel.
5.2 The Method of Research
The method of this research is descriptive-qualitative. It describes how the
tragic character presented in the novel.
5.3 Data Analysis
The writer attempts to analyze The Mayor of Casterbridge with the
following steps; 1) the writer reads the novel accurately 2) noting the contents of
the novel that deal with the research data 3) concerning to the contents of the
novel that become core of the data 4) the data are analyzed by tragic character
theories.
5.4 Unit of Analysis
The unit analysis of the research is The Mayor of Casterbridge published
by London Penguin Books1994 which is written by Thomas Hardy
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5.5 Instrument of the Research
Instrument of the research is the writer himself. The writer in finding data
uses himself and correlates them with research object as well as the tragic
character theories.
5.6 Place and Time
This research is accomplished in July 2009 in Adab and Humanities
Faculty of Syarif Hidayatullah, State Islamic University, Jakarta.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
1. Definition of Character
Character is an essential element in a literary work. It makes story happen
and support string of the events as well as help people who read it to know the
whole of story.
Stories happen to people. If there is ever a story chiefly concerned with a
tree, or a stone, or an ape the story will exist only because these things will be
treated as if they were human rather than as what people know they are in nature.3
Something such as tree, box or son that can speak out and act like human being in
a story is considered as character since character refers to people. People or
characters play the most essential role in forming a story. It can be said no
character no story.
Many writers insist that character is the single most important element in
the short story. Theme may be misinterpreted, plot may seem disjointed, setting
may be superficial, but the author who depicts intriguing characters is successful
on mayor level.4 It will be a big problem if there is no an intriguing character in
the story but if the author makes a wrong move in determining theme or making
an irreguler plot it will not be a big one. The intriguing character will support or
spur them to begin making a fantastic story and help establish a string of other
3 Robert W.Baynton. Introduction to the short story (New Jersey : Hayden Book Company,Inc.,1972), p. 26.4 Larry M. Sutton. Journey : An introduction to literature (Boston : Holbrook Press, Inc., 1971) ,pp. 4-5.
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elements. It will also prompt readers to follow the story till the end. The different
attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters can greatly influence
the other major elements in a literary work, such as theme, setting, and tone. With
this understanding of the character, a reader can become more aware of other
aspects of literature, such as symbolism, giving the reader a more complete
understanding of the work. For those, the authors make intriguing character as a
top priorty of other elements to be achieved.
Character creates an individual who is involved in the events of story.5
Characters that inhabit in the story support the string of events in that story
through what they say, do, think and so on.
Character is a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions
within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important
because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of
literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author
uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood. The character is
one of the most important tools available to the author.
There are some definitions about character. The following definitions of
character are used in literary work as directed below:
1. Character is of interest for very personal reason that people want to see
how other people live, how they make decisions and react to
responsibility, how they persue their goal.6 Many reasons why readers
want to know character in the story. One of them is they can obtain
5 Panuti Sudjiman. Memahami Cerita Rekaan (Jakarta : Pustaka Jaya, 1988), p.65.6 Leo Hamalian & Karl. The Shape of Fiction (USA: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1967), p.238.
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lesson on how to cope with difficult circumstances in life without get
through it.
2. A character is someone in a literary work that has some sort of
identity, it doesn’t have to be strong, an identity which is made up by
appearance, conversation, action, name and (possibly) thoughts going
in the head.7 Thus character is someone stays in the story eventhough
his role just supporting main character. People can disclose or know
his character through conversation,deeds and so forth.
3. Character is the term for the people in fiction, the heroes and villains,
allies and enemies, love interest and comic reliefs.8 Character is
imaginary person in the story and each character has its own role in the
story
From all definitions above, the writer has a conclusion that character is a
person that inhabits in a story which is not only create the plot of story but also
helps the reader know the totality of story.
2. Kinds of Character
In life, all people grow and change every day. They often do not notice
day-to-day changes because they are so small, but if they have not seen someone
for a while- for a year or two or even a few months-, they usually notice
differences, both in physical appearances and in the way the person thinks, speaks,
7 Richard Gill. Mastering English Literature (London: Mc Millan Master Series, 1995), p.127.8 Thomas M.Laughlin. Literature the power of language (USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.,1989), p.375.
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and acts. To observe changes accurately and to speculate on what brought about
those changes, people have to know a person fairly well.
Characters are often described as being flat or round, static or dynamic.
A flat character is not fully developed. People see only one aspect of their
personalities because presumably, the author does not need to reveal more about
them for the purposes of the story. It plays a supporting role to the main character.
On the other hand, round character is a very complex individual, more like
someone in real life with several facets to his personality. A static character is one
who does not really change in the progress of the story; he is the same person at
the end as he was in the beginning. But a dynamic character does change,
psychologically, physically, or otherwise.9
Because flat character is not fully developed, most minor characters are
flat. Flat character is defined by a single quality without much individualizing
detail or one who is minimally described, stereotypical or who has only one
purpose.
In reading literature, there are two other important terms to keep in mind
for describing people: protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is the mayor
character with whom readers generally sympathize, while the antagonist is the
character with whom the protagonist is in conflict. The antagonist is generally not
sympathetic.10
9 Larry M Sutton, op.cit, p.5.10 Judith A. Stanford. Responding to Literature (New york: MacGraw Hill Companies,Inc.,2003fourth edition), p.37.
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The protagonist is the main character, who is not necessarily a hero or a
heroine. People can assume that not all protagonists are heroic. The antagonist is
the opponent or a character (or sometimes a thing) in conflict with the main
character or protagonist.
3. Tragic Character
Tragic hero should be neither better nor worse morally than normal
people. In order to allow the audience to identify with him, this also introduces
pity which is crucial in tragedy, for if the hero were perfect the audience either be
outraged with his fate or not especially care due to his ideological superiority. If
the character were evil, then the audience would feel that he had gotten what he
deserved. It is important to strike a balance in the heroes character.
Tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the main character,
protagonist, is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a
consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with
unfavorable circumstances. People can say that tragedy is typically describing the
development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as
destiny, circumstance, or society) and reaches a sorrowful or disastrous
conclusion.
According to Aristotle, a tragedy must contain of tragic hero: “a leader in
his society who mistakenly brings about his own downfall because of some errors
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in a judgement or innate flaw.”11 Tragedy depicts serious incidents in which
protagonists undergo a change from happiness to suffering, often involving the
death of others as well as the main characters because of either a mistake in the
character’s actions or in his personality that leads to a downfall. Tragic character
records his rise and fall. When his position at the height of prosperity and resides
at the top of fortune’s wheel is quite enough for his fall to be considered tragic.
A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that
inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. 12 Meanwhile tragedy in
Shakespeare’s conception is described as a strong of suffering and calamity
unexpectedly befalling a person in high estate and leading to his death. A tragic
character must be faced with a very serious decision and he usually fights to the
death for what he believes in. Tragic character suffers through more than one
death in the novel. Long before his physical death, tragic character loses
reputation and public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his
glorious time ends
Arthur Miller stated, “tragedy, then, is the consequence of man’s total
compulsion to evaluate himself.”13 Tragic characters have to carry out for their
past choices and actions that contribute to the downfall.
11 Thomas Howard Banks. “Introduction.” Three Theban Plays: Sopholacles’ Antigone, Oedipusthe King and Oedipus at Colonus by Sopholes (New York: Oxford,1956), p. ix.12 Noah Webster. Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English (USA: Williams
Collins, 1978),p.2432.
13 Michael Steppat. The Critical Reception Of Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra from 1607 to1905 (Amsterdam: Verlag B.R. Gruner, 1980), p. 152.
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From all definitions above, the writer has a conclusion that tragedy is not
just a sad story but tragedy is when a character creates his personal and moral
downfall that result from a mistake in the character’s decisions, actions or in his
personality that based on impulsive what he believe in.
4. The Delineation of Character
In the delineation of character, the author has certain methods at his
disposal. He can describe his character physically: age, height, weight, and so
forth. He can develop a character through action: what he does in different
situations, how he reacts to problems. The writer can also depict character through
dialogue: how character talks, what he says. Sometimes the author tells you what
the character is thinking.14 Authours may reveal characters in variety of ways: by
telling about them directly, by letting their actions and speech reveal their
personalities, or having others characters tell about them. This is also familiar
with a term of characterization. Although techniques of characterization are
complex, writers typically reveal characters through their speech, dress, manner,
and actions. It is the way or the means by which writers present and reveal
character.
A character is often revealed through his or her action, which provide
readers with clues about the character’s personality, motives and expectation.15
Readers can track from attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters
14 Larry M.Sutton, loc.cit, p.5.
15 Sheena Gillepse, et.al. Literature Across Cultures ( USA: Allyn and Bacon, 1994),p. 984.
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to disclose a character.
As whole, evidences and explanations are related to the character, the
writer has a conclusion that character is a person who is responsible for the
thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are
extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader
interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his/her own personality,
which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a
mood. The character is one of the most important tools available to the author.
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CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
The previous chapter has explicated about the theoretical framework
which is going to be used to analyze in this chapter. In this case, it’s needed to be
confirmed that theoretical framework is only a tool not the main purpose. Chapter
III will provide the data description and the data analysis.
1. Data Description
1.1 Henchard as a tragic character
After doing deeply research, the writer finds some research findings. They
show Henchard undergoes a change from nobody becomes somebody. The change
process of Henchard’s life happens by the age twenty-one years old until thirty-
nine years old. And by this span of his life, there is no detail explanation given by
Hardy about the way Henchard raises his social status. Thomas Hardy misses the
change process of Henchard’s life from zero to zillionaire. At the beginning of
chapter three Hardy introduces readers to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown
probably twenty-one years old and Henchard who then becomes mayor of
Casterbridge and a businessman. Meanwhile at the end of the chapter two of the
novel, Hardy tells of Henchard who takes an oath before God that he stops
drinking liquor after Henchard sells his wife ang baby, Elizabeth-Jane. Meanwhile
Hardy in more detail tells about the process of Henchard’s fall. Turns points of
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Henchard’s life is starting from thirty-nine till fourty-three years old. Then
Henchard’s fall will be futher discussed.
1.2 Henchard’s tragic fall
Here, the writer will classify the analysis into two sections of description. First
description is Henchard’s mistakes and second description is about Henchard
suffering more than one death.
1.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes
Henchard’s judgement error and his poor personality play a significant
role in leading him to the fall. His failure to keep his wealth, his social life and his
relationship with those who care for him are mostly caused by these both. In
taking actions and making decisions, Henchard comes up with his excessive pride
rather than uses his brain. His poor personality prompts him to do some mistakes.
Here are Henchard’s mistakes that lead him to the fall.
1.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death”
Long before his physical death, Henchard loses reputation and public
esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends.
Henchard loses reputation and public esteem when his scandal, which centers on
the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local people.
Here are the data the writer is going to use:
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NO INDICATION EXPLANATION CORPUS DATA
1 Henchard As a TragicCharacter
The change process ofHenchard’s lifehappens by the agetwenty-one years olduntil thirty-nine yearsold. And by this spanof his life, there is nodetail explanationgiven by Hardy aboutthe way Henchardraises his social status.Thomas Hardy missesthe change process ofHenchard’s life fromzero to zillionaire. Atthe beginning ofchapter three Hardyintroduces readers toElizabeth-Jane who isfully grown probablytwenty-one years oldand Henchard who thenbecomes mayor ofCasterbridge and abusinessman.Meanwhile at the lastchapter two of thenovel, Hardy tellsHenchard who takes anoath before God that heavoid all strong liquorsafter Henchard sells hisfamily. Hardy isseemingly in moredetail tells about theprocess of Henchard’sfall. Turns points ofHenchard’s life is
‘I, Michael Henchard, onthis morning of thesixteenth of September, dotake an oath before Godhere in this solemn placethat I will avoid all strongliquors for the space oftwenty-one years to come,being a year for every yearthat I have lived. And this Iswear upon the bookbefore me; and may I bestrook dumb, blind, andhelpless, if I break this myoath!’ (Hardy, 1994: 18).
The scene in its broadaspect had so much of itsprevious character, even tothe voices and rattle fromneighbouring villagedown, that it might for thatmatter have been theafternoon following thepreviously recordedepisode. Change was onlyto be observed in details;but here it was obviousthat a long procession ofyears had passed by. Oneof the two walked the roadwas she who had figuredas the young wife ofHenchard on the previousoccasion; now her face hadlost much of its rotundity;
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starting from thirty-nine till fourty-threeyears old. ThenHenchard’ fall will befuther discussed.
her skin had undergone atextural change; andthough her hair had notlost colour it wasconsiderably thinner thanheretofore. She wasdressed in the mourningclothes of a widow. Hercompanion, also in black,appeared as well-formedyoung woman abouteighteen, completelypossessed of thatephemeral preciousessence youth, which isitself beauty, irrespectiveof complexion or contour.
A glance was sufficient toinform the eye that thiswas Susan Henchard’sgrown-up daughter (Hardy,1994: 20).
‘Well, ye must be astranger sure,’ said the oldman, without taking hiseyes from the the window.‘Why, ‘tis a great publicdinner of the gentle-peopleand such likeleading Volk-wi’ the Mayor in the chair.As we pliner fellows bain’tinvited, they leave thewinder-shutters open thatwe may get jist a sense o’tout here. If you mount thesteps you can see ‘em.That’s Mr. Henchard, the
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2 Henchard’s Tragic Fall:
2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes:
2.1.1 Henchard Fails to KeepHis Wealth
Farfrae is on the cuttingedge of agriculturalscience. He is a pivotalfigure behindHenchard’s success.Henchard’s excessivepride cannot accept thefact that Farfraebecomes more popularthan him among thetownspeople ofCasterbridge. He firesFarfrae to show whatpeople think thatFarfrae is better thanhim in running thebusiness is wrong.
Mayor, at the end of thetable, a facing ye; andthat’s the Council menright and left……… Ah,lots of them when theybegun life were no morethan I be now!’
‘Henchard!’ saidElizabeth-Jane, surprised,but by no maenssuspecting the whole forceof the revelation (Hardy,1994: 35-36).
But he had to enter theCasterbridge Bank that dayfor reasons which hadnever sent him there- andto sit a long time in thepartnerss’ room with aconstrained bearing. It wasrumoured soon after thatmuch real property as wellas vast stores of produce,which has stood inHenchard’s name in thetown and neigbourhood,was actually the possessionof his bankers (Hardy,1994: 216).
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2.12 Henchard Fails toMaintain HisSocial Life
Henchard has to payfor the consequences ofselling his wife and sonin the past. His scandal,which centers on thesale of his wife and sonby Henchard, wasuncovered by localpeople when a furmitywoman exposes it in acourts which Henchardpresided over.
One day Elizabeth-Janewas passing the king’sArms when she saw peopleblusting in and out morethan usual when there wasno market. A bystanderinformed her, with somesurprise at her ignorance,that it was a meeting of theCommissioners under Mr.Henchard’s bankruptcy(Hardy, 1994: 252).
On that day-almost at thatminute-he passed the ridgeof prosperity and honour,and began to descendrapidly on the other side. Itwas strange how soon hesank in esteem. Socially hehad received a statlingfillip downwards; andhaving already lostcommercial buoyancyfrom rash transactions, thevelocity of his descent inboth aspects becameacceletaed every hour(Hardy, 1994: 251).
He now gazed more at thepavements and less at thehouse-fronts when hewalked about; more at thefeet and leggings of men,and less into the pupils of
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2.1.3 Henchard Fails toMaintainHisRelationship withThose Who Care forHim :
2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails toMaintain HisRelationship withLucetta
Henchard’s scandal,which centers on thesale of his wife and sonby Henchard, makesLucetta no longer love,respect and admirehim. Lucetta will marryFarfrae, his businessrival, instead.
their eyes with blazzingregard which formerly hadmade them blink (Hardy,1994: 251-252).
.‘I cannot!’ she insisteddesperately.
‘Why? When I have onlywithin these few minutesreleased you from promiseto do the thing offhand.’
‘Because- he was awitness!’
‘Witness?Of what?’
‘If I must tell you-. Don’t,don’t upraid me!’
‘Well! Let’s hear what youmean?’
‘Witness of my marriage-Mr. Grower was!’
‘Marriage?’
‘Yes. With Mr. Farfrae. OMichael! I am already hiswife. We were married thisweek at PortBready(Hardy, 1994: 242-243).
21
2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails toMaintain HisRelationship withFarfrae
2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails toMaintain HisRelationship withElizabeth-Jane
Henchard’s failure inthe trade and lovecompetition withFarfrae deepens hisdislike to the latter.Henchard goes wild.He makesconfrontation withFarfrae. Henchardchallenges him inwrestling. Quarrel isunevitable.
For his excessive pride,Henchard cannotaccept the fact thatElizabeth Jane is nothis biological daughter.Henchard’s treatmentof Elizabeth-Janechanges dramatically.He becomes very meanand cold toward her.Yet Henchardcompletely fails tomaintain hisrelationship with Janewhen he lies to Newsonabout Elizabeth-Janedeath. His deception ofNewson betraysElizabeth-Jane trustand ultimately destroytheir relationship. Hisuntruth brings about tosuffer from a losssomeone he loves very
Farfrae, however, diddistrust him utterly (Hardy,1994: 330).
Farfrae would neverrecognize him more thansuperciliously; his povertyensured that, no less thanhis past conduct (Hardy,1994: 353).
She flushed up, and gentlydrew her hand away; ‘Icould love you always—Iwould have, gladly, saidshe. ‘But how can I knowyou have deceived me so-so bitterly deceived me!You persuaded me that myfather was not my father-allowed me to live on inignorance of the truth foryears; and then when he;my warm-hearted realfather, came to find me,cruelly sent him away witha wicked invention of mydeath, which nearly brokehis heart. O how can I oncedid a man who has servedus like this!’ (Hardy, 1994:376).
22
2.2 Henchard Suffers ThroughMore Than One “Death”
much.
Henchard dies inreputation and publicesteem when hisscandal, which centerson the sale of his wifeand son by Henchard,was uncovered by localpeople.
Waiving, therefore, hisprivilege of self-defence,he regarded onlydiscomposure. ‘Don’t yedistress your self on myaccount,’ he said, withproud superiority. ‘I wouldnot wish it-at such a time,too, as this. I have donewrong in coming to ‘ee- Isee my error. But it is onlyfor once, so forgive it. I’llnever trouble ‘ee again,Elizabeth-Jane – no, not tomy dying day! Good night. Good-bye!’ (Hardy,1994: 377).
On that day-almost at thatminute-he passed the ridgeof prosperity and honour,and began to descendrapidly on the other side. Itwas strange how soon hesank in esteem. Socially hehad received a statlingfillip downwards; andhaving already lostcommercial buoyancyfrom rash transactions, thevelocity of his descent inboth aspects becameacceletaed every hour(Hardy, 1994: 251).
23
2. Data Analysis
2.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character
Henchard is a powerful man and having height more than six feet tall. He
is twenty-one years old at the beginning of the story as a married man and a young
hay-trusser. At the end of the story he dies at forty- three years old. The novel
described him as being dark-haired. His wife is Susan Henchard and his baby
daughter is Elizabeth-Jane. They live in poverty.
One evening of late summer, before the nineteenth century hadreached one-third of its span, a young man and woman, thelatter carrying a child, were approaching the large village ofWeydon-Priors, in Upper Wessex, on foot. They were plainlybut not ill clad, though the thick hoar of dust which hadaccumulated on their shoes and garments from an obviouslylong journey lent a disadvantageous shabbiness to theirappearance just now.
The man was of fine figure, swarthy, and stern in aspect; andhe showed in profile a facial angle so slightly inclined as to bealmost perpendicular. He wore a short jacket of browncorduroy, newer than the remainder of his suit, which was afustian waistcoat with whine horn buttons, breeches of thesame, tanned leggings, and a straw had overlaid with blackglazed canvas. At his back he carried by looped strap a rushbasket, from which protruded at one end the crutch of a hay-knife, a wimble for hay-bonds being also visible in aperture(Hardy 1994: 1)
24
Henchard goes to Weydon-Priors looks for better life. After long journey,
they stop at furmity stall. Michael Henchard overindulges in rum-laced furmity.
Spurred by alcohol, he decides to auction off his wife and baby daughter,
Elizabeth-Jane, to a sailor, Mr. Newson, for five guineas. Once sober the next day,
he realizes that his wife and daughter are gone, he pledges not to drink alcohol for
twenty-one years, the same number of years that he has been alive.
Henchard is very impulsive. He always has a way to rationalize his
impulsive decision making. He has no problem leaving other people to pay for the
consequences of his bad decision making. He makes no great effort to find his
wife after selling her because he is interested in hiding his role in what happened
than in mounting an effective search.
Henchard is a risk-taker type person. Such as he buys a large quantity of
corn which he believes that the upcoming crop will be bad because of bad weather
but the weather is fine and the crop is good so he loses money. He takes too many
risks, gambling too aggressively which cause him to looses his credit, his business
and most of his fortune.
Michael Henchard is poorly educated although he can read, he is not good
at math and is not up to date in the scientific or record-keeping aspect of his
business. Yet, his hard work, his success in persuading Farfrae to becomes his
employee and his ability to abstain from liquor make him become successful
businessman, mayor of Casterbridge and magistrate. Henchard is respected in
Casterbridge for his hard work and current position as mayor of Casterbridge. He
25
lives in wealth and receives the privileges because of his role as mayor of
Casterbridge.
In the novel Mayor of Casterbridge, Henchard undergoes a change from
nobody becomes somebody. The change process of Henchard’s life happens by
the age twenty-one years old until thirty-nine years old. And by this span of his
life, there is no detail explanation given by Hardy about the way Henchard raises
his social status. Thomas Hardy misses the change process of Henchard’s life
from zero to zillionaire. Yet, at the beginning of chapter three Hardy introduces
readers to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown probably twenty-one years old and
Henchard who then becomes mayor of Casterbridge and a businessman.
Meanwhile at the last chapter two of the novel, Hardy tells Henchard who takes an
oath before God that he avoid all strong liquors after Henchard sells his family.
Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Henchard takes an oath
before God not to drink alcohol.
‘I, Michael Henchard, on this morning of the sixteenth ofSeptember, do take an oath before God here in this solemnplace that I will avoid all strong liquors for the space of twenty-one years to come, being a year for every year that I have lived.And this I swear upon the book before me; and may I be strookdumb, blind, and helpless, if I break this my oath!’ (Hardy1994: 18).
Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully
grown
26
The scene in its broad aspect had so much of its previouscharacter, even to the voices and rattle from neighbouringvillage down, that it might for that matter have been theafternoon following the previously recorded episode. Changewas only to be observed in details; but here it was obvious thata long procession of years had passed by. One of the twowalked the road was she who had figured as the young wife ofHenchard on the previous occasion; now her face had lostmuch of its rotundity; her skin had undergone a texturalchange; and though her hair had not lost colour it wasconsiderably thinner than heretofore. She was dressed in themourning clothes of a widow. Her companion, also in black,appeared as well-formed young woman about eighteen,completely possessed of that ephemeral precious essenceyouth, which is itself beauty, irrespective of complexion orcontour.
A glance was sufficient to inform the eye that this was SusanHenchard’s grown-up daughter (Hardy 1994: 20).
Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Michael Henchard who
becomes mayor of Casterbridge.
‘Well, ye must be a stranger sure,’ said the old man, withouttaking his eyes from the the window. ‘Why, ‘tis a great publicdinner of the gentle-people and such likeleading Volk-wi’ theMayor in the chair. As we pliner fellows bain’t invited, theyleave the winder-shutters open that we may get jist a sense o’tout here. If you mount the steps you can see ‘em. That’s Mr.Henchard, the Mayor, at the end of the table, a facing ye; andthat’s the Council men right and left……… Ah, lots of themwhen they begun life were no more than I be now!’
‘Henchard!’ said Elizabeth-Jane, surprised, but by no maenssuspecting the whole force of the revelation (Hardy 1994: 35-36).
27
Meanwhile Hardy in more detail tells about the process of Henchard’s
fall. Turns points of Henchard’s fall is starting from thirty-nine till fourty-three
years old. Then Henchard’s fall will be futher discussed.
2.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall
As defined by Aristotle in The Poetics, a hero fall in the world and endures
suffering as the result of an error judgement.16 In the modern tragedy, hero bears
all this alone from deliberate willed decision. This description is more or less
suitable with Henchard character. Henchard suffers through more than one death
in the novel. Long before his physical death, Henchard dies in reputation and
public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends.
The moment of his final suffering, however, occurs after he experiences the loss
of his step-daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. Thus Henchard is to be considered as tragic
character because of either a mistake in the character’s actions or in his
personality that leads to a downfall.
Here, the writer will classify the analysis into two sections of description.
First description is Henchard’s mistakes and second description is about Henchard
suffering more than one death.
1616 Thomas Howard Banks, op.cit, p.ix.
28
2.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes
Through the novel, Henchard makes many mistakes: He fails to maintain
his wealth, his social and his relationship with those who care for him.
2.2.1.1 Henchard Fails to Keep His Wealth
Henchard’s decision to dismisses Farfrae and challenges him in a reckless
attempt to win commercial battle with him in running a hay and corn business
lead him to bankruptcy. He fires Farfrae to show what people think that Farfrae is
better than him in running the business is wrong. Henchard’s excessive pride
cannot accept the fact that Farfrae becomes more popular than him among the
townspeople of Casterbridge.
‘Where would his business be if it were not for this youngfellow? ‘Twas verily Fortune sent him to Henchard. Hisaccounts were like a bramblewood when Mr. Farfrae came. Heused to reckon his sacks by chalk strokes all in a row likegarden-palings, measure his ricks by stretching with his arms,weigh his trusses by a lift, judge his hay by a chaw, and settlethe price with a curse. But now this accomplished young mandoes it all by ciphering and measuration. Then the weath-thatsometimes used to taste so strong o’mice made into bread thatpeople could fairly tell the breed-Farfrae has a plan forpurifying, so that nobody would dream the smallest four-leggedbeast had walked over it once. O yes, everybody if full o him,and the care Mr. Henchard has to keep him, to be sure!’concluded this gentleman.
‘But he won’t do it for long good-now,’ said the other.
‘No!’ said Henchard to himself behind the tree. ‘Or if he do,he’ll be honeycombed clean out of all the character andstanding that he’s built up in these eighteen year! (Hardy 1994:122).
29
‘No,’ said Henchard gloomily. ‘He won’t be that, because he’sshortly going to leave.’ He looked towards Donald, who hadagain come near. ‘Mr. Farfrae’s time as manager is drawing toclose- isn’t it Farfrae (Hardy 1994: 123).
Farfrae is on the cutting edge of agricultural science. He helps Henchard
out of a bad financial situation by giving him timely advice. Without Farfrae as a
pivotal figure behind his success, Henchard makes a blunder in thriving his
business by believing in prophet weather’s prediction that the upcoming crop will
be bad because of bad weather, instead of his experience as a wizard merchant.
Henchard buys grain to such an enormous extent.
Yet, it’s the opposite of forecaster’s prediction as the wheather is fine.
Henchard lost heavily.
But he had to enter the Casterbridge Bank that day for reasons whichhad never sent him there- and to sit a long time in the partnerss’ roomwith a constrained bearing. It was rumoured soon after that much realproperty as well as vast stores of produce, which has stood inHenchard’s name in the town and neigbourhood, was actually thepossession of his bankers (Hardy 1994: 216).
One day Elizabeth-Jane was passing the king’s Arms when she sawpeople blusting in and out more than usual when there was no market.A bystander informed her, with some surprise at her ignorance, that itwas a meeting of the Commissioners under Mr. Henchard’sbankruptcy (Hardy 1994: 252).
Henchard’s property and stores are under the possession of his creditor or
bank. Everything that Henchard has owned is tickted by creditors. And the little
30
money Henchard has will just keep body and soul together for few weeks and no
more. Henchard has no house and furniture. This condition forces Henchard to
lodge in Job’s cottage, his ex-employee.
2.2.1.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Social Life
Henchard has to pay for the consequences of selling his wife and son in
the past. His scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard,
was uncovered by local people when a furmity woman exposes it in a courts
which Henchard presided over. Those attending the court were shocked and
mocked Henchard after he admitted to the truth of her revelation. They feel
embarrassed because of the fact that the town is led by such a bad guy as
Henchard.
He now gazed more at the pavements and less at the house-fronts whenhe walked about; more at the feet and leggings of men, and less intothe pupils of their eyes with blazzing regard which formerly had madethem blink (Hardy 1994: 251-252).
Henchard’s dignity turns upside down before townspeople of
Casterbridge.They used to picture Henchard as a good man who deserved to be
followed and admired, especially for his hard work and ability to abstain from
liquor but now they condemn and despise him. They don’t need to bow their head
and give a salute when Henchard walks. They stare Henchard as a criminal who
should be taken to justice while Henchard considers himself as useless.
31
The furmity woman’s revelation seems to taint his good name, threatens
his present position as mayor of Casterbridge and plays a vital role in speeding up
Henchard’s decline of popularity and result in Henchard’s social ruin or social
outcast.
2.2.1.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Those Who Care
for Him:
2.2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Lucetta
Lucetta is a woman once Henchard deeply loved. He falls in love with
Lucetta when he is traveling to Jersey on business. They are not only spending
time together but also having sexual relationship. They pledge to love each other.
But Henchard has to bury his hope to marry Lucetta. She will marry Farfrae, his
business rival, instead.
‘I cannot!’ she insisted desperately.‘Why? When I have only within these few minutes released you frompromise to do the thing offhand.’‘Because- he was a witness!’‘Witness?Of what?’‘If I must tell you-. Don’t, don’t upraid me!’‘Well! Let’s hear what you mean?’‘Witness of my marriage- Mr. Grower was!’‘Marriage?’‘Yes. With Mr. Farfrae. O Michael! I am already his wife. We weremarried this week at PortBready (Hardy 1994: 242-243).
Lucetta’s decision to marry Farfrae is a disappointment for Henchard. He
attempts to destroy her marriage with Farfrae. He threatens to tell the local people
about their past love affair. Worried that Henchard will make good on this threat,
32
she decides to keep an eye on him and keep distance away from him. Everytime
Lucetta meets him Henchard always speaks to her with bitter sarcasm and treats
her so poorly. So Lucetta would rather have died than the risk of encountering
Henchard.
Henchard’s failure to marry her is actually triggered by Henchard’s unfair
decision toward Lucetta. His unfair decision are as he abandons her with no regret
and fails to keep promise to marry her when his lost-long wife return to
Casterbridge. Besides of those, Henchard’s scandal, which centers on the sale of
his wife and son by Henchard, makes Lucetta no longer respect and admire him.
Henchard get punished for what he did in the past.
2.2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Farfrae
Henchard lets his secret, which is concerned with his relationship with his
lover and lost-family story be shared with Farfrae. Two men should meet as they
done on purely business ground but Henchard speaks to Farfrae on a family
matter. This thing indicates that their relationship is not just between employee
and employer but between friend. Henchard makes Farfrae a close friend. Yet,
Henchard’s excessive pride is seemingly more important than losing his best
friend, Farfrae.
An arrogant Henchard cannot accept when people begin to respect Farfrae
more than they respect him. He wants to prove his capability to local people in
handling his own business without Farfrae’s help. Henchard fires Farfrae.
33
Henchard’s failure in the trade and love competition with Farfrae deepens
his dislike to the latter. Henchard goes wild. He makes confrontation with Farfrae.
Henchard challenges him in wrestling. Quarrel is unevitable.
Farfrae, however, did distrust him utterly (Hardy 1994: 330).
Farfrae would never recognize him more than superciliously; hispoverty ensured that, no less than his past conduct (Hardy 1994: 353).
Henchard informs Farfrae’s men that Mr.Farfrae is in Weatherbury town
not in Butmouth town. Yet,no one believes him. They insist on going to Butmouth
town in searching Farfrae. Knowing Farfrae’s men go to wrong direction to find
Farfrae when they want to notify that his wife sick, Henchard decides to search
Farfrae by himself. Finally Henchard comes upon Farfrae and ask him to visit his
wife immediately. But Farfrae ignores his suggestion. He does not believe in
Henchard’s good intention after Henchard entices him into deadly wrestle four
hours ago. Farfrae regards Henchard as a man with full of motives to destroy him.
Farfrae will never see him more than snobbish. Henchard looses Farfrae’s respect
and trust.
2.2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Elizabeth-Jane
For his excessive pride, Henchard cannot accept the fact that Elizabeth
Jane is not his biological daughter.
MY DEAR MICHAEL,- For the good of all three of us I have kept onething a secret from you till now. I hope you will understand why; I thinkyou will; though perhaps you may not forgive me. But, dear Michael, Ihave done it for the best. I shall be in my grave when you read this, andElizabeth-Jane will have a home. Don’t curse me, Mike- hink o how I
34
was situated. I can hardly write it, but here it is. Elizabeth-Jane is notyour Elizabeth-Jane- the child who was in my arms when you sold me.No; she died three months after that, and this living one is my otherhusband’s. I christened her by the same name we had given to the first,and she filled up the ache I felt at the other’s loss. Michael, I am dying,and I might have held my tongue; but I could not. Tell her husband ofthis or not, as you may judge; and forgive, if you can, a woman you oncedeeply wronged, as she forgives you.
SUSAN HENCHARD (Hardy 1994:143).
Henchard’s treatment of Elizabeth-Jane changes dramatically. He becomes
very mean and cold toward her. Henchard always criticizes her mother tongue and
manner. Elizabeth-Jane cannot stand to live in one roof with Henchard. So She
prefers leaving to staying with him. But Elizabeth-Jane returns to Henchard after
learning he falls sick. She takes care of him. Elizabeth’s assistance heals not only
his health but also pain of loneliness. For the first time Henchard have a faint
dream that he may get like her as own child.
Yet Henchard completely fails to maintain his relationship with Jane when
he lies to Newson about Elizabeth-Jane death. Richard Newson’s appearance in
Casterbridge destroys any hope Henchard has of a possible future with Elizabeth-
Jane. He is trying to avoid losing her for the second times. Sadly, his deception of
Newson betrays Elizabeth-Jane trust and ultimately destroy their relationship. His
untruth brings about to suffer from a loss someone he loves very much.
She flushed up, and gently drew her hand away; ‘I could love youalways—I would have, gladly, said she. ‘But how can I know you havedeceived me so-so bitterly deceived me! You persuaded me that myfather was not my father- allowed me to live on in ignorance of thetruth for years; and then when he; my warm-hearted real father, cameto find me, cruelly sent him away with a wicked invention of my
35
death, which nearly broke his heart. O how can I once did a man whohas served us like this!’ (Hardy1994: 376).
Waiving, therefore, his privilege of self-defence, he regarded onlydiscomposure. ‘Don’t ye distress your self on my account,’ he said,with proud superiority. ‘I would not wish it-at such a time, too, as this.I have done wrong in coming to ‘ee- I see my error. But it is only foronce, so forgive it. I’ll never trouble ‘ee again, Elizabeth-Jane – no, notto my dying day! Good night . Good-bye!’ (Hardy 1994: 377).
For his deception, Henchard must bear apart from her. Elizabeth-Jane does
not want to see Henchard again. Henchard goes to nowhere. He has no friend and
family to be visited. He apparently sinks into the earth on leaving Elizabeth-Jane.
There will remain nobody for him to be proud of, no body to fortify him.
Susan, Farfrae, Lucetta, Elizabeth-all has gone from him, one after one, either by
his fault or by his misfortunes. Henchard suffers from loneliness. He sees no
reason to continue living; he has lost the last person who loved him and whom he
beloved in return.
His loneliness prompts/spurs him to write tragic wills before he is about to
die. Here are Micheal Henchard’s tragic wills:
1.That Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve
on account of me.
2. That I be not bury’d in consecrated ground.
3. That no sexton be asked to toll the bell.
4. That nobody wished to see my dead body.
5. that no murners walk behind me at my funeral.
6. that no flours be planted on my grave.
7. That no man remember me.
36
It seem Henchard does not care any more about his name. Those requests are
very tragic, especially when one considers how important his name has been to
him during his lifetime. Actually local people those who received Henchard’s
paper on his last wishes determine to carry out his dying wishes as best as they
can.
2.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death”
Long before his physical death, Henchard loses reputation and public
esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends.
Henchard loses reputation and public esteem when his scandal, which
centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local
people. The retort of the furmity-woman before the magistrate had spread; and in
four-and- twenty hours there was not a person in Casterbridge who remainded
unacquainted with the story of Henchard’s mad freak at Weydon-Priors Fair, long
years before.
On that day-almost at that minute-he passed the ridge of prosperity andhonour, and began to descend rapidly on the other side. It was strangehow soon he sank in esteem. Socially he had received a statling fillipdownwards; and having already lost commercial buoyancy from rashtransactions, the velocity of his descent in both aspects becameacceletaed every hour (Hardy 1994: 251).
Eventhough townspeople of Casterbridge wonder and regret his fall but
they still condemn what he did in the past. Even they soon forget how admirable
Henchard is when he starts his career from hay-trusser and then becomes a
37
successful businessman. Most townpeople seems to isolate Henchard except those
who care for him Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae, although they actually admire his
ability to abstain from liquor.
Henchard fully recognizes the loss of his status. He can no longer identify
himself as the mayor of Casterbridge, nor can he expect to receive the same
privileges that he once enjoyed. With this realization, Henchard finally
acknowledges the overthrow of his own reign as the mayor of Casterbridge.
Henchard suffers from poverty, finds himself back at he bottom of the
fortunes’s wheel, while Farfrae now occupies a position at the top, as a newmayor
and successful businessman. This circumstance hurts Henchard who once enjoyed
his wealth and power as mayor of Casterbridge. Nothing left from Henchard’s
glory now except for his little money that enough just to fulfill his needs for
couple days. Even he must spare his supper for his breakfast. No horse to take him
to some place but he must go on foot for miles to reach his direction.
He turns back as hay-trusser to earn some money. He has to lodge in Jop’s
cottage, his ex-employee. Henchard’s excessive pride cause everything he had
gone. As already mentioned, his jealousy of Farfrae leads him to lose a faithful
employee and friend and also leads to his financial downfall. His excessive pride
also causes him alienate Elizabeth Jane. When he finds out she is not his real
daughter, Henchard becomes cruel towards her. Finally he loses a valuable
companion, Elizabeth Jane. Henchard pride not only ruins him financially, but it
also ruins his relationships with all who would love him.
38
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
In the novel Mayor of Casterbridge, the writer sees that Henchard
undergoes a change from nobody becomes somebody and turns back as nobody.
Henchard’s hard work and cleverness in persuading Farfrae to be become his
employee makes him as a successful businessman and mayor of Casterbridge.
Yet, his glory as number one person in Casterbridge ends to suffering, loneliness
even death because of either a mistakes in his deeds and personality.
Henchard’s judgement error and his poor personality play a significant
role in leading him to the fall rather than his misfortunes. His failure to keep his
wealth, his social life and his relationship with those who care for him are mostly
caused by these both. In taking actions and making decisions, Henchard comes up
with his excessive pride rather than uses his brain. This excessive pride, then, led
to the tragic downfall of the character. As a conclusion from this novel, we may
take lesson that excessive pride can lead someone to zero point.
B. Suggestions
Through this paper, the writer suggests that we can learn the character,
Henchard, to compare his with us. The people who still have bad characters as his
can motivate themselves to change in good one. However good or bad our
38
39
characters are the destiny of our life. We still have time to look back ourselves
and turns around to become good person.
By learning other character, the writer hopes everyone who read this novel
takes the great lesson to understand others better and also makes his life better.
40
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41
APPENDICES
41
