Free Essays on The Mayor Of Casterbridge

In the Mayor the Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy presents Michael Henchard as a dynamic character, who, over the course of the novel, slowly changes from a selfish prideful young man into a downtrodden poor old man. This metamorphosis can be seen in myriad instances throughout the novel. It is through these instances that we can make the judgement whether Henchard is a dynamic character. Early on in the novel, Henchards exhibits his dynamic nature. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Henchard sells his wife and child, Susan and Elizabeth Jane, to a sailor named Newson, for five guineas, â€Å"I’ve lived with thee a couple of years, and nothing but temper! Now I’m no more to ‘ee; I’ll try my luck elsewhere. ‘Twill be better for me and Elizabeth Jane, both. So, good bye!† (pg 10-11). Later on in the novel, when Henchard and his estranged family reunite for the first time in eighteen years, Henchard sends Susan and Elizabeth Jane a letter with five guineas contained within (pg 65). In effect, Henchard is buying his family back again. This act cements Henchard as a dynamic character, for though the actions are very similar, he does them for completely opposite reasons. In the first instance, Henchard uses the five guineas to sell his family, while in the second he uses the money to persuade his family to rejoin him. In th is way, Henchard can be seen as a dynamic character, for he has changed from a man concerned only about his own comfort to a man who cares about others. Secondly, Henchard finally confesses to his past, an act that a static character would find impossible. Throughout his solitary life in Casterbridge, Henchard is quite unforthcoming about his life’s history. It is only until the furmity woman makes an appearance in Casterbridge that some of Henchard’s past history is finally uncovered (pg 212). Through the unveiling of his past deeds, Henchard once again is able to be classified as a dynamic chara... Free Essays on The Mayor Of Casterbridge Free Essays on The Mayor Of Casterbridge In the Mayor the Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy presents Michael Henchard as a dynamic character, who, over the course of the novel, slowly changes from a selfish prideful young man into a downtrodden poor old man. This metamorphosis can be seen in myriad instances throughout the novel. It is through these instances that we can make the judgement whether Henchard is a dynamic character. Early on in the novel, Henchards exhibits his dynamic nature. For example, in the beginning of the novel, Henchard sells his wife and child, Susan and Elizabeth Jane, to a sailor named Newson, for five guineas, â€Å"I’ve lived with thee a couple of years, and nothing but temper! Now I’m no more to ‘ee; I’ll try my luck elsewhere. ‘Twill be better for me and Elizabeth Jane, both. So, good bye!† (pg 10-11). Later on in the novel, when Henchard and his estranged family reunite for the first time in eighteen years, Henchard sends Susan and Elizabeth Jane a letter with five guineas contained within (pg 65). In effect, Henchard is buying his family back again. This act cements Henchard as a dynamic character, for though the actions are very similar, he does them for completely opposite reasons. In the first instance, Henchard uses the five guineas to sell his family, while in the second he uses the money to persuade his family to rejoin him. In th is way, Henchard can be seen as a dynamic character, for he has changed from a man concerned only about his own comfort to a man who cares about others. Secondly, Henchard finally confesses to his past, an act that a static character would find impossible. Throughout his solitary life in Casterbridge, Henchard is quite unforthcoming about his life’s history. It is only until the furmity woman makes an appearance in Casterbridge that some of Henchard’s past history is finally uncovered (pg 212). Through the unveiling of his past deeds, Henchard once again is able to be classified as a dynamic chara... Free Essays on The Mayor Of Casterbridge In Thomas Hardy’s novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, the fruit of cruelty and insensitivity appear throughout the novel. Hardy portrays this fact through most of his characters, including the novel’s protagonist, Michael Henchard. Henchard displays his insensitivity when he shuns Elizabeth-Jane Newsome; he discovers that she is not his biological daughter. In addition to the cruelty and insensitivity of the novel’s protagonist, Hardy’s portrayal of Joshua Jopp, the townspeople, and Elizabeth-Jane, show signs of cruelty and insensitivity at times. Joshua Jopp, a corn-factor in Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge, shows his ability to be cruel and insensitive in the novel. Jopp first show signs of cruelty and insensitivity when he joins Michael Henchard, the Mayor, in a plot to cripple Donald Farfrae’s business. Donald Farfrae, who wins the love of the people because of his ability to work the agricultural resources, takes Jopp’s position a s the town’s corn-factor earlier in the novel. Jopp, obviously still upset about past events, gladly conspires to take him down. He and Henchard make a plan, which involves a weather prophet, who prophesizes that the weather would be bad for corn-growth in Casterbridge. Upon the hearing of this news, Henchard, with Jopp’s consultant, decides to store up all the corn. After the plan fails (the weather was good and Farfrae’s crop prospers) however, Henchard, of course fires Jopp. Jopp vows to get Henchard back and gets his chance when the ex-mayor has to live with him. Henchard asks Jopp to deliver a package, which contains the secrets of Henchard’s past relationship with Lucetta Templeman, wife of Donald Farfrae. Jopp, who is unaware of the contents of the package, decides to look in the package, and when he does, decides to be cruel and insensitive for the final time. He takes the contents of the package, which were love letters written form Lucetta to He nchard, and reads them to the ...