# XXXIV explained — The Mayor of Casterbridge

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

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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