# XXVI explained — The Mayor of Casterbridge

> Chapter companion for The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy.

## What happens

Henchard and Farfrae meet in the chestnut-walk, where Henchard asks Farfrae's opinion on a woman who refuses to marry him after a past intimacy, not revealing it is Lucetta. Later, at Lucetta's tea-table, Henchard's suspicions of rivalry grow as Farfrae arrives, and the two men awkwardly share a slice of bread-and-butter. Henchard, convinced Farfrae is his rival in love and business, hires Jopp to help him ruin Farfrae by underselling him. Meanwhile, the weather is poor, and Henchard, superstitious, seeks out a weather-prophet to guide his business strategy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Fall

Henchard's pride drives him to plot Farfrae's ruin, both in business and love, setting the stage for his eventual downfall.

### Deception and Truth

Henchard conceals Lucetta's identity when questioning Farfrae, and Jopp's hidden knowledge of Lucetta's past hints at future revelations.

### Change vs. Tradition

Farfrae represents modern business methods and competition, challenging Henchard's traditional dominance in Casterbridge's grain trade.

## Character check-ins

### Michael Henchard

Henchard confronts Farfrae about a past woman, grows suspicious of Farfrae's relationship with Lucetta, and hires Jopp to undermine Farfrae's business.

### Donald Farfrae

Farfrae meets Henchard in the chestnut-walk, visits Lucetta's tea-table, and becomes the target of Henchard's business rivalry.

### Lucetta Templeman

Lucetta hosts Henchard and Farfrae at tea, showing nervousness and affection toward Farfrae, which fuels Henchard's jealousy.

### Elizabeth-Jane Newson

Elizabeth-Jane observes the tension at Lucetta's tea-table, recognizes the budding romance between Donald and Lucetta, and warns Henchard against hiring Jopp.

### Joshua Jopp

Jopp is hired by Henchard as his new foreman, agreeing to help ruin Farfrae's business, motivated by his own grudge against Farfrae.

## Key lines

> Do you remember my story of that second woman—who suffered for her thoughtless intimacy with me?

Henchard asks Farfrae if he recalls the tale of a woman who was harmed by her casual relationship with him.

_Henchard obliquely refers to Lucetta without revealing her identity, testing Farfrae's reaction._

> They sat stiffly side by side at the darkening table, like some Tuscan painting of the two disciples supping at Emmaus.

Henchard and Farfrae sit rigidly together at the dimly lit table, reminiscent of a religious painting of the disciples at Emmaus.

_The simile highlights the tension and almost sacred awkwardness of the scene, with Lucetta as a central, haloed figure._

> By such a desperate bid against him for the farmers’ custom as will grind him into the ground—starve him out.

Henchard plans to undercut Farfrae so aggressively in the grain market that he will be financially destroyed.

_Henchard's ruthless business strategy reveals his determination to eliminate Farfrae as a competitor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mayor_of_casterbridge_se/chapters/xxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mayor_of_casterbridge_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mayor_of_casterbridge_se/chapters