The Mayor of Casterbridge · Chapter
XXV explained
Farfrae visits Lucetta, ignoring Elizabeth-Jane, who feels invisible.
What happens
Farfrae visits Lucetta, ignoring Elizabeth-Jane, who feels invisible. Henchard also calls, awkwardly proposing marriage to Lucetta for the sake of her reputation, but she evades him. Lucetta, torn between the two men, resolves to love Farfrae, while Elizabeth-Jane stoically accepts her own neglect.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter explores the tension between love, duty, and reputation as Henchard proposes to Lucetta for the sake of her good name, while Lucetta follows her heart toward Farfrae.
Deception and Truth
Lucetta hides her true feelings for Farfrae from Henchard, and Elizabeth-Jane perceives the emotional dishonesty around her.
Social Class and Reputation
Lucetta's newfound wealth and status make her more independent, yet she fears the judgment of society and Henchard's proposal is framed as a way to protect her reputation.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth-Jane Newson
Feels invisible and neglected by both Farfrae and Lucetta; stoically bears the pain and reflects on her fate.
- Michael Henchard
Calls on Lucetta and awkwardly proposes marriage, but is rebuffed; his smoldering passion for her grows.
- Donald Farfrae
Visits Lucetta with trepidation, ignoring Elizabeth-Jane; his passion for Lucetta is evident.
- Lucetta Templeman
Torn between Henchard and Farfrae; evades Henchard's proposal and resolves to love Farfrae.
Key passages
“The next phase of the supersession of Henchard in Lucetta’s heart was an experiment in calling on her performed by Farfrae with some apparent trepidation.”
Farfrae nervously visits Lucetta, marking the next step in her growing preference for him over Henchard.
Highlights the shift in Lucetta's affections and Farfrae's tentative approach.
“She stoically looked from her bedroom window, and contemplated her fate as if it were written on the top of the church-tower hard by.”
Elizabeth-Jane calmly gazed from her window, seeing her destiny as fixed and unchangeable as the church tower.
Illustrates Elizabeth-Jane's resigned acceptance of her neglected position.
“I won’t be a slave to the past—I’ll love where I choose!”
Lucetta declares she will not let her history dictate her future; she will follow her own heart in love.
Shows Lucetta's determination to break free from her past with Henchard.