The Mayor of Casterbridge

"The Mayor of Casterbridge"

In The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, a person's future lies in the hands of his or her past actions. The intelligent or ignorant decision that they make places an immediate or long-term effect on the rest of person's life. Michael Henchard, whose interactions with the people of Casterbridge lead to his demise, is only one of the people who decide their own destiny through their actions. The decisions that the residents of Casterbridge make affect the rest of their lives. The good and evil characteristics which society possesses determine their fate.

The good qualities which a human holds leads to their future happiness. Initially, a person who understands their natural area results in a happy lifestyle for them. Farfrae, "determined to take him(Henchard) at his word," (105) illustrates his understanding attitude by showing no signs of anger or bitterness when Henchard fires him, and eventually Farfrae lives happily ever after with Elizabeth-Jane. Refusing to hold a grudge with Henchard for lying to him, Newson exhibits his worthy personality which gives Newson a prosperous life as the recognized father of Elizabeth-Jane. Appropriately, honesty provides for a life of pleasure. When Newson admits his plan of letting everyone think that he was lost at sea, it shows he is honest allowing him to live a successful life,. After Farfrae's dismissal, Farfrae remains loyal to Henchard in that he promises not to detract from Henchard's business which is inevitable; however, because of Farfrae's sincerity, Farfrae leads a successful life. Farfrae's superior reasoning skills and wit in his grain business and in his life deliver a most luxurious future. A person's intellect basically results in an enjoyable life and future. Newson makes up a plan that if Susan "thinks me dead she'll go back to him, and the child will have a home" (285), this shows his love for Elizabeth-Jane and in turn guarantee him a good life. Yet as the positive qualities of humans determine people's destiny, the negative attributes of people decide their own fate.

As the good brings success, the evil characteristics of mankind insure a life of unhappiness and suffering. People's natural desire to seek revenge causes their own demise. Jopp's obsession to force Farfrae out of business was so strong that Jopp "was as unsafe a