Michael henchard mayor of casterbridge
Michael Henchard is a tragic figure. ... Michael Henchard is the chief character in the novel. The tale is all about the rise and fall of the lonely and dominant Henchard who starts the tale as a hay-trusser and is looking for a job to support his wife and child. He works himself up through the town council and becomes the Mayor of Casterbridge. He slowly loses his wealth, position and his friends and family to the Scotsman, Donald Farfrae and the story ends when Michael wanders off to his tragic fate. ... ’ Henchard loses his wealth etc through his many character flaws. ... When reading this chapter the book suggests that Michael has tried to sell his wife before. ‘ Michael, you have talked this nonsense in public places before. ... This suggests that Henchard often drinks excessively and tries to sell his wife. This is a cruel flaw in Henchard. On sobering up the following day, Henchard is filled with remorse, swears himself to a twenty-one year ban from alcohol and begins his search for his family. Henchard may be bad-tempered and irrational when drunk but he knows that there was no excuse for it and has a conscience. ... The novel continues to tell the reader that Susan and Elizabeth – Jane search for Henchard because Newson (the man that bought her from Michael) died. They go back to Weydon Fair which Susan last visited twenty-one years ago when Henchard sold her and Elizabeth. Susan asks the furmity woman, who was present at the auction whether Henchard ever came back. She says that she can’t remember where Michael said he had gone. ... She tells Susan that he had gone to Casterbridge, so Susan and Elizabeth search for Michael Henchard. ... Here’s the first time that Susan and Elizabeth- Jane hear Donald Farfrae and Michael Henchard. ... This is also the first time that Donald and Michael meet. Michael thinks that Donald has applied for a job as manager but he hasn’t. He helps Michael out by giving him some new corn seeds for free, because Michael and his corn are going through a slump. Henchard is thrilled at what Donald is doing and he showers Donald with praise. ... Henchard is a generous man and offers Donald the manager’s job even thought he didn’t apply for it. This just shows how much Michael wants to make amends for Donald and the generous thing he has done.