Modassar Warsi

MA Eng, 2nd Sem.

Prof. Rajashekhar

Date: April 20, 2011

The Play of Chance in The Mayor of Casterbridge

One’s life is always marked by things that just happen unplanned and unexpected.

These are the events about which we don’t reason but attribute the same to chance or a rather

powerful force of Fate. While reading the novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge one comes

across the protagonist who meets his fate which could be owing to two possibilities. The first

will establish Michael Henchard as a tragic hero who reached his doom because of a tragic

flaw that was there in his character. The other is how everything has been fatalistic and the

chain of events cannot he helped as they are predestined and Henchard was to fall because it

was a decision of certain supernatural power. It has been termed “chance” and “fate” in the

novel. This paper will try to analyze how Thomas Hardy has been successful in incorporating

the dramatic turn to weave a successful plot that has been termed amongst one of the classical

novels. The paper will also highlight that how the chain of events were not allowed to take

their natural turn and were bend the way it would have resulted in the most unpredictable

manner.

It is in the beginning of the novel itself that the author has made clear that what the

readers should expect to find in the later pages is nothing but chance has been left unchecked

to have its free run. The narrator mentions that the potency of chance is even accepted by the

characters in the story. Mrs. Henchard knows that “anything [is] possible at the hands of

Time and Chance except, perhaps, fair play. The first phase was the work of Nature, the
second probably of civilization.” (2) It is but obvious to the readers that a novel can hardly be

about fair play for that cannot have an element of excitement that generally draws the

attention of the readers. So, in this novel, instead of the character taking the story forward, the

series of coincidences takes the plot ahead. This, at times appears as an intruding into the life

of the characters because the events that takes place more than often are the least expected

ones. This gives an impression of some power that works on the sequence of events, which

has further a controlling effect on the characters, from beyond the precept of the story. It

might be considered that it is the author who overpowers his characters and acts like god to

them by introducing moments that were but fantastic in factual life.

A critic, Karl has suggested that what Hardy has been attempting in his novel was to

adhere to the principles followed by the Greek Tragedies. What has been termed Fate in the

tragedy seems to be a mere play of chance in the novel. The reason is a palpable difference in

the genre for the novel is not such a heightened from of art as tragedy has been. Besides, the

character formation of the tragic hero, Michael Henchard is not done brilliantly for his

introduction to the reader is in the most inappropriate fashion. The first event that takes place

in the story is anything but bizarre. The Hay-trusser sells away of his wife in the most

unexpected way possible for the meager sum of five guineas. Such a character, although

whatever he did was under the fits of drinks he drank, could hardly be forgiven by the

readers. It is only when he finds his way up as Mayor of Casterbridge, he starts gaining

repute, in society as well as with his readers because of his renewed intimacy for his wife and

daughter. This, finally gave way to the playing of chance into his life that finally spoiled his

repute and he is stooped down to the lowest level in the end, dying without reconciling with

her only love interest alive, his daughter Elizabeth-Jane.

 Beginning from the first event where chance is playing but in a concealed fashion is

how Henchard get onto auction his wife. It is made aware by the omniscient narrator that

such event has happened previously also but at this moment the husband has unconscious

with the drinks that has been provided with the furmity. It also cannot be overlooked that

Susan wanted the contrary when she was the one who chose the inn they were to enter

between the two options laid in front of them. The necessity to take refuge in the inn owes to

the fact that the family reached the village of Weydon-Priors at evening when the main

events of the fair has got over, it is a time for frivolous indulgences. The period was of

revelry after a tired day for the villagers as well as Henchard’s family who have had a tiring

day. Although he has repeated the mock-auctioning of her wife quite many a time, it is only

this fated day he went beyond his limits and extends his drama. Everyone around was

considering it as a big joke but then emerges from nowhere this sailor without any address,

Newson. Without anyone actually realizing it, the huge joke has been turned into reality with

no one doing anything regarding it, and Henchard finding everything happening at such a

pace that he is helpless to stop his wife and child, who followed the sailor out of the inn and

were out of sight.

It is owing to the inaccessibility of the sailor that even when Henchard was sober the

next day and spent sundry days in searching his wife and daughter to make right what he has

spoilt in the state of unconsciousness. There is also some shyness in the protagonist while he

enquires because of the heinous circumstances through which he lost his family members. He

even takes a vow to not touch any kind of liquor for twenty one years. As could be discerned

from the fact, he failed to reach those he lost out of his absurdity. It is then that he turned to

this city of Casterbridge where the next phase of his life began. He starts anew. The whole

event that would have revealed about his social climbing during the period close to twenty

years is just not revealed to the readers. There is a condensing of time. Maybe during this gap
Chance favored Henchard and therefore there is nothing so important to mention to the

readers. It remains upon the later events and reader’s anticipation to formulate the interim

events. One could easily characterize this progress to Chance that selected Henchard

randomly. He is Mayor now and is better positioned to receive his wife and daughter though

again it is later that he gets to know that Elizabeth-Jane is not his child. It is also owing to his

advanced status in the society that his life has been looked into by all the other inhabitants of

the city.

The new times bring to fore another episode where Henchard finds himself toppled

once again by Fate. He realizes himself being enmeshed between two women. The entry of

Susan Henchard is at such a times when he was about to marry a young lady. The intimacy

developed between them; Henchard and Lucetta. The intimacy grew between them when

there was always a fear of his wife’s return. When the probabilities of such an event are

minimized owing to a long duration of his wife’s absence they decided to marry. It is also via

mysterious ways, provided by coincidence, that Susan is able to find her parted husband. It is

at this time only that she appeared on the scene. Her return to the same village of Weydon-

Priors, meeting the same old furmity-lady and Henchard having informed the old lady about

his whereabouts could all be reasoned in no other way but leaving them onto the play of

Chance. The irony is that she appears as a widow of sailor. This get together of the family

members does not proceed in a normal fashion. It again is due to the secret that they have

never thought of good enough to be revealed, not even to their daughter. It is thus required of

the couple to carry the secret further, and so they keep on acting as if they are only distantly

related.

The re-marriage of Michael and Susan would have made their life back to normalcy

but in its stead, the chance gets its free play in the field of business. Henchard starts his
journey downwards from here when his good self is foreshadowed by the envy that takes its

permanent stand in his abode. This might be called his tragic flaw but one finds often enough

that this is not the case because in the course of the novel one finds Henchard to be able to be

altruistically good. Donald Farfrae emerges as an only friend he had in years. It owes to the

luck that he carries on his back. It is also worth noticing how both gentlemen came together.

The closeness soon gave way to jealousy because it soon transpired that it was but obvious

that citizens compared them.

But most probably luck had little to do with it. Character is Fate, said

Novalis, and Farfrae's character was just the reverse of Henchard's, who might

not inaptly be described as Faust has been described--as a vehement gloomy

being who had quitted the ways of vulgar men without light to guide him on a

better way. (113)

Henchard began losing on many accounts. This led to an ongoing cold war between

the two, which later got heated up, and seriously affected the protagonist’s life gravely, for

worse. The one thing that Henchard lamented the most was that in passion he revealed his

greatest secret to his buddy friend who soon turned into a lifelong enemy and gave him

reasons to be fearful of Farfrae. The weather also play spoil play in his downfall because it

turned out to be just opposite to what he has expected.

Henchard is never relieved from this when he finds his wife nearing death. He is left

only with his daughter as companion with his wife’s death. This led to another passionate

revelation of the truth that he and his wife have been keeping from Elizabeth-Jane. He told

her all that happened around a score year ago and that he is father to her by blood. He wanted

to substantiate his argument which led him to read the letter written by Susan on her death

bed ignoring the instruction to be read after Elizabeth-Jane’s marriage. There comes a
revelation for him also that whom he considered to be his daughter was actually Newson’s,

his having died soon after he parted with her. This alienated him to the young girl. Henchard

could find his last hopes getting shattered. However, he finds it a good opportunity to pay for

the generosity shown to him by Lucetta for he could only have paid her by marrying. The

chance of the same has been favored by Susan’s death. This started another struggle of the

main character with the happenings being a result of chance. Lucetta has established herself

in Casterbridge under a pseudonym of Ms. Templeman. She, a rich lady now, ensured that

their courtship should appear natural. Thus, she engaged Henchard’s daughter at her mansion

which would have made Henchard’s visits at her place appear normal. This however took an

altogether different turn, quite unexpectedly, even to the readers. Coincidence is what could

be the only appetizing reason for what happened.

Although there has been working of Chance when considering Farfrae and Elizabeth

for it is coincidence that they met the way they did and the intimacy in their companionship

also increased fueled through something beyond natural happenings. Although Henchard has

put a stop to this closeness, later when it dawned onto him that Elizabeth is not her real

daughter, he decided to act contrary. He allows the couple to meet and take their intimacy to

new level. It would have worked but somehow by chance Farfrae gets introduced to Lucetta

(Ms. Templeman). This brings out another facet of both and it was no amazement that soon

they fell for each other. This ruptured what Henchard has planned. He tried for the

matrimony by force but that did not help for at that time his secret is revealed in the whole

city, again in the most coincidental way possible. This led Lucetta to decide not to marry him

when she was in a fix about her own decision regarding marriage. He lost, not only his step-

daughter but also her prospective wife, who broke her vows as could be deciphered in

obvious terms. Although Henchard tried to intrude into this newly emerged relationship the

couple managed to marry and this only adds to his irritability.

 The secret of the protagonist is revealed in a most unexpected way possible. The Fate

has left no stone unturned to destroy this man. An old woman has been brought before law

for her blasphemy and it is then she points towards this man, who was presiding over the

proceedings only by the virtue of the absence of the actual Mayor. She turns out to be that

same old furmity-lady from the tragic village. The fall of Henchard is somewhat complete as

soon as Farfrae is elected a Mayor against his will. He lost everyone of his family besides

losing everything he possessed so as to pay the debts. His house is occupied by his archrival

and his wife, Lucetta. This also has an adverse effect on him. He has nothing to rely upon. It

could not have been worse for Henchard has to accept a position under Farfrae. He worked

where he has been a master in the past. “And thus the once flourishing merchant and Mayor

and what not stood as a day-labourer in the barns and granaries he formerly had owned.”

(229) This is a complete reversal of fortune. This highlights how Chance has everyone’s

reigns in its hands and it could by a little pulling or loosening turn the table. The condition in

which Henchard finds himself could be well understood by how he state to himself, always

trying to escape the ignominy of his downfall by taking a repose at the other end of the city

over a bridge. He mused over his condition once:

“I wonder,” he asked himself with eerie misgiving; “I wonder if it can

be that somebody has been roasting a waxen image of me, or stirring an

unholy brew to confound me! I don't believe in such power; and yet-what if

they should ha' been doing it!” Even he could not admit that the perpetrator, if

any, might be Farfrae. These isolated hours of superstition came to Henchard

in time of moody depression, when all his practical largeness of view had

oozed out of him. (191)

There is another important event that has to take place. Lucetta’s ignorance about the

rendering hands of Henchard in making a successful man of Farfrae revived the sense of
revenge in the fallen man. His plan to reveal the letters written by her former beloved did not

materialized owing to his own changed mind to which he himself was unable to attach any of

his known intention. However, chance had another way of the exposure of the scandalous

letters. It is once more a coincidence which led Henchard to send the parcel of Lucetta’s

letters that was not sealed properly through Jopp without realizing the enmity that he has

recently developed against Mrs. Farfrae. This led to a procession of vagrants that proved to be

fatal for this lady who feared having her husband to know her secrets. Chance had its little run

when Farfrae was needed instantaneously and although Henchard tries to tell people about his

actual location. Nobody believed him and when he reached the desired man himself, he also

was skeptical enough not to take heed of his words. This delay in the meeting of the couple

must have enhanced Lucetta’s death. However, one finds that like the previous death in the

novel this also provides some new hope for the protagonist.

Henchard finds that this death has once again given him chance to come closer to the

only relation of his, his step-daughter. The ignorance on part of her about her genealogy adds

to the easiness of the relation to develop once more. It is when things would have somewhat

reverted back to normalcy, enters Newson, thought dead long ago. There is an attempt by

Henchard to don’t let go off the person which he considered to be one who would form the

basis of his existence for the rest of his life. He lied to the sailor and it worked for the time

being. Nevertheless, he knew the outcome of the same in recent future when his lie will be

caught. The chain of events are again disrupted by Chance meeting of Newson with Farfrae

that blurted out the falsity of Henchard’s claim and he sees the last ray of hope for him dying

into darkness. He is not at all amazed by this for he has already started believing in some

extra-territorial power drawing him towards his doom. He is overshadowed by supernatural

beholding his effigy in the river. Although the truth comes out as soon as Elizabeth made it

clear to him, the thought was still persistent in his mind.

 Despite this natural solution of the mystery Henchard no less regarded

it as an intervention that the figure should have been floating there. Elizabeth-

Jane heard him say, "Who is such a reprobate as I! And yet it seems that even I

be in Somebody's hand!" (300)

Arrival of Newson led Henchard to leave the town for he thought that to be better

compared to shame he would have to face in meeting his daughter. The marriage of Elizabeth

and Farfrae has to be driven by chance since they first met at Three Mariner’s Lodger.

Nonetheless the chance played upon their relation in a very mild proportion. The last attempt

to reconcile with his daughter on the eve of her marriage failed. The end is also heartbreaking

when once again Chance has displayed itself to be better than anything else. Elizabeth

realized the mistake in turning down her father’s wishes a little too late. It happened, again by

coincidence when the birds that Henchard was carrying while he visited his daughter died and

the housekeeper remembered the owner of the birdcage. He died the same day she meets Abel

Whittle, who in a way looked after the old broken man. The contempt and his insatiate self is

finally revealed in his will which has a tinge of bitterness in it, having to do with a person

who never had his life he would have wanted, always being amazed and perplexed by Chance

playing upon his patience. It would be a nice practice to conclude this play of Chance and this

paper with his Will:

“That Elizabeth-Jane Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve

on account of me
& that I be not bury'd in consecrated ground.
& that no sexton be asked to toll the bell.
& that nobody is wished to see my dead body
& that no murners walk behind me at my funeral.
& that no flours be planted on my grave
& that no man remember me
To this I put my name.
MICHAEL HENCHARD.” (334)