# Chapter XXXIX explained — The Mayor of Casterbridge

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

## What happens

Farfrae, recovering from his struggle with Henchard, sets out on a journey after receiving an anonymous letter. Meanwhile, a skimmington ride procession parades effigies of Lucetta and Henchard through the streets, causing Lucetta to suffer an epileptic seizure. Elizabeth-Jane tries to help, but Lucetta's condition worsens. The authorities investigate the disturbance but find no clear evidence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Truth

The anonymous letter deceives Farfrae to protect him from the skimmington ride, while the public spectacle reveals the truth of Lucetta's past.

### Social Class and Reputation

Lucetta's reputation is publicly destroyed by the skimmington ride, highlighting the fragility of social standing in Casterbridge.

## Character check-ins

### Donald Farfrae

Recovers from his encounter with Henchard and sets out on a journey after receiving an anonymous letter.

### Lucetta Templeman

Sits alone in the drawing-room, becomes distressed upon witnessing the skimmington ride, and suffers an epileptic seizure.

### Elizabeth-Jane Newson

Arrives at Lucetta's house, attempts to close the shutters, and helps Lucetta after her seizure.

### Abel Whittle

Delivers the anonymous letter to Farfrae.

### Solomon Longways

Implied to be involved in the anonymous letter scheme to get Farfrae out of the way.

## Key lines

> When Farfrae descended out of the loft breathless from his encounter with Henchard, he paused at the bottom to recover himself.

After his physical struggle with Henchard, Farfrae took a moment to catch his breath at the bottom of the loft stairs.

_Farfrae's recovery from the confrontation._

> The anonymous letter was a well-intentioned but clumsy contrivance of Longways and other of Farfrae's men, to get him out of the way for the evening, in order that the satirical mummery should fall flat, if it were attempted.

Longways and some of Farfrae's workers sent an unsigned letter to trick Farfrae into leaving town, hoping to prevent the skimmington ride from having its intended effect.

_Explanation of the anonymous letter's purpose._

> She's me—she's me—even to the parasol—my green parasol!

Lucetta realizes the effigy is meant to represent her, down to the detail of her green parasol.

_Lucetta's horrified recognition of the effigy._

## Links

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