The Mayor of Casterbridge · Chapter
XXXIV explained
Elizabeth-Jane warns Farfrae that Henchard may try to harm him, but Farfrae initially dismisses her fears.
What happens
Elizabeth-Jane warns Farfrae that Henchard may try to harm him, but Farfrae initially dismisses her fears. Later, Farfrae learns from Lawyer Joyce that Henchard has spoken against him publicly, yet he still considers helping Henchard with a shop. A misunderstanding leads Henchard to believe Farfrae sabotaged the plan, deepening their enmity. Farfrae discusses Henchard's hatred with Lucetta, who urges him to leave Casterbridge. Alderman Vatt offers Farfrae the mayoralty. Henchard visits Farfrae, reads aloud old love letters from Lucetta without revealing her name, but stops short of exposing her.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Truth
Henchard reads Lucetta's letters aloud without revealing her name, balancing truth and deception; the misunderstanding about the shop scheme breeds further deceit.
Pride and Fall
Henchard's pride is wounded by his reduced circumstances and perceived betrayal, fueling his hatred; Farfrae's rise contrasts with Henchard's fall.
Social Class and Reputation
The characters' actions are driven by concerns over social standing, as seen in Farfrae's mayoral offer and Henchard's public slander.
Characters to notice
- Elizabeth-Jane Newson
Rises early to warn Farfrae about Henchard's potential hostility, feeling her warning is ineffective.
- Donald Farfrae
Initially dismisses Elizabeth-Jane's warning, but later reconsiders; learns of Henchard's public hatred; reluctantly abandons plan to set Henchard up in a shop; is offered the mayoralty.
- Michael Henchard
Hates Farfrae and speaks against him publicly; visits Farfrae to retrieve letters, reading Lucetta's passionate letters aloud but withholding her name.
- Lucetta Templeman
Anxious about Henchard's hatred; urges Farfrae to leave Casterbridge; her past letters are read by Henchard in front of Farfrae.
- Joshua Jopp
Mentioned indirectly as the occupier of the shop who informs Henchard of Farfrae's withdrawal.
Key passages
“But I cannet discharge a man who was once a good friend to me. How can I forget that when I came here 'twas he enabled me to make a footing for mysel'?”
Farfrae refuses to fire Henchard out of gratitude for past help.
Shows Farfrae's loyalty and conflict between gratitude and self-preservation.
“Such a wrecking of hearts appalled even him. His quality was such that he could have annihilated them both in the heat of action; but to accomplish the deed by oral poison was beyond the nerve of his enmity.”
Henchard cannot bring himself to reveal Lucetta's name aloud, despite his hatred.
Highlights Henchard's internal moral limits and the complexity of his vengefulness.