Character and Destiny:
Hardy writes classical tragedies. In classical tragedies we find the conflict between the hero and fate. Destiny dominates the character and the hero falls from prosperity to adversity. All Greek tragedies show the powerful influence of supernatural forces exerted on the destiny of man. Gods direct the happenings of human life. They favour and reward the virtuous and punish the vicious. But so many times they put human beings to severe tests by filling their lives with utmost suffering and bless them who adore with a deep - rooted faith. For the great forces man is not important than playthings for children.
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| A Battle between Man and Destiny in The Mayor of Casterbridge |
Presenting a Battle between Man and Destiny:
Hardy's novels present a battle between man and his destiny. Destiny or fate dominates and the hero is thrown like a ball from one place to another. What he wishes is not important for he is like a puppet in the hands of his fate or destiny. Yet Hardy's heroes do not surrender like cowards. They struggle upto the last with great courage. It is their struggle which brings to light the bright aspect of their heroic glory. They become more impressive in their tragic moments. They suffer more than common human beings, but their brave battle against destiny or fate makes them highly honorable, adorable and admirable.
Destiny is Character:
In The Mayor of Casterbridge, Hardy presents the dominance of destiny or fate in human life. In this novel almost all the important events are directly or indirectly dominated by the forces of fate or chance. Henchard, a poor hay - trusser, with his wife Susan and daughter Elizabeth visits the fair in search of employment. In the fair they enter a tent in which furmity, a drink of boiled milk is sold. By chance here an old woman sells unlicensed wine also. Taking wine, Henchard, thus gets highly intoxicated. By chance some people are talking regarding the sale of useless horses and Henchard decides to sell his wife and daughter. It is irony of fate that he sells Susan and Elizabeth for five shillings. By chance a sailor named Newson is ready to buy them. It is thus the supernatural power of destiny that circumstances turn towards the character's misfortune.
The Return of Susan:
The Hostility of Fate or Destiny:
Fate or destiny proves cruel to Henchard. It is Henchard's bad luck that brings Susan's return into his life. The return of Susan means the revival of Henchard's past. The irony is that Susan turns up just when Henchard has decided to marry Lucetta. Susan brings Elizabeth Jane with her and keeps the true facts about the girl a secret from Henchard.
The Trick Played by Weather:
Henchard is also unlucky in his grain transactions. At the advice of a weather-prophet, Henchard expects bad weather, and bad weather does come but too late. In this grain transaction, Henchard is completely ruined.
The Appearance of Furmity Woman:
The arrival of the furmity woman to Casterbridge and her statement in the court about his past life damages his social reputation beyond repairs. The furmity woman's disclosure also frightens Lucetta to such an extent that she hastens to marry Farfrae without the least delay.
Newson's Return:
The hand of fate or destiny can further be seen in the arrival of Newson in Casterbridge. Newson is supposed to have been drowned at sea long ago. And yet this man turns up in Casterbridge to claim his daughter Elizabeth - Jane. Newson's arrival in the town extinguishes the only remaining hope of Henchard who knows that he can no longer enjoy Elizabeth Jane's affection.
Character is Fate or Destiny:
A famous Moto: Character is fate or destiny is the motto of the story of The Mayor of Casterbridge and it is this motto in particular that places the novel among the supreme works of human genius. Mr. Hardy has borrowed this saying from Novalis, the German philosopher and mystic whom Carlyle called the German Pascal. His real name is Von Hardenbeg. Novalis is his literary name. If we look at the course of the novel, we shall find that this saying holds good in its case especially as illustrated by the character of Mr. Henchard’s.
Man, the Architect of his Fate:
Man is the architect of his own destiny. A man's character and his deeds determine his fate. Whether a man suffers or prospers will depend upon a man's temperament, his actions, and his doings. Good actions usually lead to good results, and bad or ill - considered actions have unpleasant, and even disastrous, consequences. Shakespeare holds the same view. He believes that if people suffer, the fault does not lie in stars but in themselves only. He writes in Julius Caesar.
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves that we are underlings.”
Henchard's Selling his Wife:
Henchard himself is responsible for his tragedy. Hasty, rash, reckless actions must produce unpleasant and harmful results. Such actions may be forgotten for some time, but they may in the long run lead to bitter consequences. Such an action is Henchard's sale of his wife, Susan. Partly under the influence of liquor and partly under an impulse, Henchard sells his wife. It is a disgraceful act. For eighteen years this action of Henchard remains buried. And then, after eighteen years, he has to pay the penalty for his misdeed.
The Flourishing of Henchard and Farfrae:
The flourishment of Henchard and Farfrae testifies that man can shape his own destiny. Henchard, in the beginning is just a poor hay - trusser, but he rises to high in life by sheer hard work and sustained efforts. He has a large business and a host of labourers to help him in his trade. By virtue of his wealth, he becomes the Mayor and Churchwarden. By virtue of his Mayorship, he attends court as Justice of the Peace. He occupies a very high position in the town on account of his strong character and determination, honesty and sincerity in his business dealings. In the same way, Farfrae also rises very high in life on account of his education, patience, honesty, sincerity and hard work. The flourishment of both Henchard and Farfrae shows that man can make his own fate and character is destiny.
Henchard's Suffering due to his Peculiar Temperament:
Henchard's relations with Farfrae again show how a man may suffer on account of his peculiar temperament. Henchard is a man of strong likes and dislikes. Farfrae catches his fancy all of a sudden, and he becomes too fond of the Scotchman. Soon afterwards, however, Henchard's attitude towards Farfrae undergoes a change. The Scotchman does nothing to offend or injure his employer. But Henchard is an impulsive and reckless man. Now he becomes jealous of Farfrae as suddenly as he had become fond of him. He terminates Farfrae's services at the expiry of original contract and starts a war against him. If Henchard had been a shrewd and sagacious man, he would never have alienated Farfrae. Henchard's antagonism towards the Scotchman is a direct consequence of his own temperament. He resolves to crush Farfrae when he discovers that Farfrae is not only his business rival but also his rival in love. To a certain extent this reaction on Henchard's part is natural. But a more balanced and prudent man would have exercised restraint upon his feelings. Henchard, in a desperate effort to destroy Farfrae, enters into foolish and rash transactions and ruins himself. His bankruptcy is brought about by his own impulsive actions.
Henchard Arranging a Grand Fair in Open is his Great Foolishness:
On the day of rejoicings in celebration of a national event, Henchard organizes his function in the open field. By doing so, he does not think about changing of weather. Here we find he greatly lacks in farsightedness. If he had arranged his programme in tent, he would not have been humiliated. On the other side Farfrae thinks about the sudden change of weather and makes his arrangement in tent. His farsightedness acts a good job here. In the afternoon, the day becomes stormy and rainy and Henchard's arrangements are so much disturbed that the crowd leaves his tent and gathers at Farfrae's.
His Blind Belief in Prophet is Extently Responsible for Henchard's Ruining:
Man has no control over nature. He falls a prey of this power. If there is any possibility to escape the cruel and purposeless hands of these forces, it is by adapting oneself to the existing circumstances of life with the help of education, knowledge and intelligence. It is his blind belief in prophet that he follows his advice and makes a huge store of corns under this hope that weather would change and he would be able to earn more. But everything happens against his expectation. The weather does not change and he gets a great loss. Thus this loss goes in his favour due to ill - advice of Jopp and fortune teller.
A Slow and Careless Lover:
In losing Lucetta Henchard himself is responsible. When Lucetta settles down in Casterbridge, she does so to make it easier for Henchard to marry her. But he proves a rather slow and careless lover. He remains ignorant towards the feelings and desire of a woman. In fact, he feels no great enthusiasm for her. He delays meeting her. His slowness and indifference lead to his losing Lucetta altogether, because in mean while Lucetta meets Farfrae and falls in love with him. If Henchard had been an ardent and passionate lover, he would not have lost her.
Another Misfortune due to his Moods: When Henchard loves, he loves intensely. When he hates, he hates violently. He loves Elizabeth Jane intensely but when he discovers from Susan's letter that Elizabeth Jane is Newson's daughter, his attitude towards the girl undergoes a complete change. He suddenly becomes cold and indifferent towards her. Subsequently, after he has lost his status and his prosperity, he again becomes fond of Elizabeth Jane, and now he becomes so deeply attached to the girl that she becomes indispensable to him. The thought of losing her now fills him dismay and horror. It is this thought which makes him tell a lie to Newson and say that Elizabeth is also dead. This lie subsequently turns Elizabeth Jane against him, so that, when he comes to meet her on her wedding day, she treats him shabbily and he goes away utterly disappointed.
Henchard's Being Disgraced by Farfrae due to his (Henchard’s) Ego:
On the occasion of the visit of a royal personage to Casterbridge, Henchard shows the same impulsiveness. Farfrae is perfectly right in refusing to include Henchard among the persons who are to receive the royal visitor. But Henchard's ego makes it necessary for him to assert himself. However, his effort to assert himself proves absolutely futile, and he is publicly disgraced by Farfrae who is now the Mayor of the town.
Farfrae's not Believing Henchard due to his Rashness:
The consequence of Henchard's rashness is that Farfrae refuses to believe him when he informs Farfrae that Lucetta is lying critically ill and that Farfrae's presence is needed by her bedside. Farfrae thinks that there is some sinister motive behind Henchard's effect on Henchard.
Hardy's Firm Faith in Human Struggle against Destiny:
Hardy always inspires a firm faith in human struggle against destiny. His characters never feel helpless. They know their situation, their strength and their duty. They face all boldly. Henchard, after the shameful happening of his wife's sale, feels deep remorse but it does not make him weak or dull. On the contrary he becomes more active and resolute, he swears not to touch wine for the coming twenty one years and settles in Casterbridge to show what human efforts can do. No wonder, his hard labour brings golden fruits. He becomes the richest man of the town. He is elected the Mayor of Casterbridge. When destiny favours Farfrae and Henchard's all efforts go in vain, the heroic glory of Henchard's character shines more brightly. Henchard disposes of his property to clear his commercial liabilities. He is never deprived of his self - respect. Even when he calls Farfrae to wrestle, he fastens his arm to equalize his strength with his rival’s. When Farfrae is defeated, Henchard spares him in a heroic manner. He goes to congratulate Elizabeth on the day of marriage but he is treated rudely and coldly.
Hardy's Presenting a Realistic Picture of Life:
Even at the most hopeless period of his life, he does not wish anybody's mercy. When he dies, his will reads that Elizabeth Jane and Farfrae should not be told of his death or made to grieve for him. Thus throughout his life Henchard fights against his destiny. His struggle provides a battle between man and destiny.
Thus we see that Hardy presents a realistic picture of life. In his opinion human life is so complex that one factor is not responsible for a man's tragedy. The drama of human life presents a battle between man and his destiny.
