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The Mayor of Casterbridge
is, from beginning to
end, the story of Michael Henchard, a skilled farm
laborer who, in a drunken rage, sells his young wife,
along with their infant child, to a passing sailor. Most
of the novel takes place eighteen to twenty years after
this event. When the sailor is reported lost at sea, the
cast-off wife and now-grown daughter set out to find
Michael, who has become an affluent businessman and the
mayor of Casterbridge. Michael’s success is temporary,
though, as circumstances and his own weaknesses of
character combine to bring about his downfall in spite
of his attempts to right the wrong he committed years
before.
Far from the Madding Crowd takes place in the
village of Weatherbury — unsophisticated compared to the
modern city — where the central character Bathsheba
Everdene is loved by three men: the shepherd Gabriel
Oak, Farmer Boldwood and Sergeant Troy. She marries the
last of these three first, but each represents a
different form of love. Troy is selfish and allows Fanny
Robin to die in a workhouse after a misunderstanding,
and at the same time becomes involved with Bathsheba.
But he treats her cruelly. The story tells of
Bathsheba’s life as Troy returns, and is shot by
Boldwood, who is then pronounced insane. Gabriel’s
simple and devoted love is finally appreciated.
Tess
is the daughter of the poor John Durbeyfield
who learns from the village parson that his family is
related to ancient nobility, being the last of the
D’Urbervilles. In trying to make use of this connection,
Joan — John’s wife — suggests that Tess pursue the son
of the local family of Mrs D’Urberville. As it turns
out, Mrs D’Urberville had merely taken the name for
convenience, but Tess becomes involved with her son
Alec. |
