The Mayor of Casterbridge · Chapter
XVIII explained
Susan Henchard's health declines rapidly, and she dies.
What happens
Susan Henchard's health declines rapidly, and she dies. Before her death, she writes a sealed letter to Henchard to be opened on Elizabeth-Jane's wedding day, and confesses to Elizabeth-Jane that she orchestrated the note that brought her and Farfrae together. Henchard receives a letter from Lucetta, who asks for the return of her letters and a meeting, but she does not appear. After Susan's death, the townspeople discuss her funeral preparations and the theft of the burial pennies by Christopher Coney.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Truth
Susan reveals her secret manipulation to bring Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae together, while Lucetta's letter seeks to conceal the past relationship with Henchard.
Fate and Consequence
Susan's death and her sealed letter set the stage for future revelations; Henchard's past actions with Lucetta continue to haunt him.
Isolation and Connection
Elizabeth-Jane feels isolated in her vigil, while the townspeople gather to discuss Susan's death, highlighting both communal bonds and personal loneliness.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth-Jane Newson
Nurses her mother through her final illness, learns of her mother's secret scheme to bring her together with Farfrae, and is left to grieve.
- Michael Henchard
Receives a letter from Lucetta, arranges to meet her but she does not appear; treats Susan kindly but is irritable; is left a widower.
- Susan Henchard
Falls ill and dies; writes a sealed letter for Elizabeth-Jane's wedding day and confesses to her daughter about the trick to bring her and Farfrae together.
- Lucetta Templeman
Writes to Henchard asking for the return of her letters and arranges a meeting, but fails to appear.
- Donald Farfrae
Passes Henchard's house on Sunday, sees the blinds down, and learns of Susan's death.
- Mrs. Cuxsom
Describes the details of Susan's death and funeral preparations to the townspeople at the pump.
Key passages
“There came a shock which had been foreseen for some time by Elizabeth, as the box passenger foresees the approaching jerk from some channel across the highway.”
Elizabeth had long anticipated the sudden blow of her mother's illness, like a traveler bracing for a jolt in the road.
Foreshadowing Susan's death and Elizabeth's emotional preparation.
“To learn to take the universe seriously there is no quicker way than to watch—to be a 'waker,' as the country-people call it.”
Nothing makes one confront the gravity of existence faster than keeping vigil, as the locals say.
Reflects Elizabeth's existential awakening during her mother's final nights.
“Why should death rob life o' fourpence? Death's not of such good report that we should respect 'en to that extent,' says he.”
Christopher Coney argued that there was no harm in taking the burial pennies, since death has no right to deprive the living of small comforts.
Illustrates the townspeople's pragmatic and irreverent attitude toward death.