The Mayor of Casterbridge · Chapter
Chapter XXXII explained
Henchard, now fallen from his former status, encounters his old foreman Jopp who informs him that Farfrae has moved into Henchard's former house and bought his furniture.
What happens
Henchard, now fallen from his former status, encounters his old foreman Jopp who informs him that Farfrae has moved into Henchard's former house and bought his furniture. Farfrae later offers Henchard lodging and the return of some furniture, but Henchard refuses. Eventually, Henchard swallows his pride and works as a journeyman hay-trusser for Farfrae, living in a small cottage. He struggles with bitterness over losing his house, furniture, and Lucetta to his rival. As the twenty-first anniversary of his oath to abstain from alcohol approaches, he begins counting down the days, and Elizabeth-Jane hears that he has broken his sobriety.
Themes in this chapter
Pride and Fall
Henchard's dramatic descent from mayor and master to a day-labourer working for his rival Farfrae, living in a cottage while Farfrae occupies his former house, illustrates the theme of pride and fall.
Social Class and Reputation
Henchard's loss of social standing is emphasized by his shabby clothing, his work as a journeyman, and the gossip about his broken sobriety oath, while Farfrae's rise to potential mayor shows the fluidity of class.
Deception and Truth
Henchard's internal deception about his feelings toward Farfrae and Lucetta, as well as his hidden countdown to breaking his oath, contrasts with the outward appearance of acceptance.
Characters to notice
- Michael Henchard
Fallen from mayor to day-labourer, Henchard works for Farfrae, lives in a cottage, and bitterly counts down the days until his sobriety oath ends.
- Joshua Jopp
Henchard's former foreman, now employed elsewhere, who taunts Henchard by telling him Farfrae has moved into his old house and bought his furniture.
- Donald Farfrae
Now the master of Henchard's former house and business, Farfrae offers Henchard lodging and the return of some furniture, but Henchard refuses.
- Elizabeth-Jane Newson
Lives opposite Farfrae's house, visits Henchard during his illness, and later hears that he has broken his twenty-one-year sobriety oath.
- Lucetta Templeman
Now married to Farfrae and living in Henchard's former house, she is seen by Elizabeth-Jane going in and out with enthusiasm.
- Solomon Longways
Works beside Henchard in the granary and asks why Henchard is counting down the days.
Key passages
“My furniture too! Surely he'll buy my body and soul likewise!”
Henchard exclaims in despair that Farfrae has taken not only his house but also his furniture, and he fears that Farfrae will eventually take everything from him, including his very being.
This line captures Henchard's sense of total dispossession and his bitter rivalry with Farfrae.
“I have worked as a journeyman before now, ha'n't I? and why shouldn't I do it again?”
Henchard defiantly justifies his return to manual labor by reminding himself that he has done such work in the past, trying to mask his shame with bravado.
This shows Henchard's struggle to maintain dignity despite his fall in status.
“Only a fortnight more!—Only a dozen days!”
Henchard repeatedly counts down the days until the twenty-first anniversary of his oath to abstain from alcohol, signaling his intention to break it.
This foreshadows Henchard's impending relapse into drinking and his moral decline.
