An analysis on the tragic character in the Mayor of Casterbridge

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A Thesis

ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN

THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE

ANDRI HERMANSYAH 102026024515

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES

SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

JAKARTA

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APPROVEMENT

ANALYSIS ON TRAGIC CHARACTER IN THE MAYOR

OF CASTERBRIDGE

A Thesis

Submitted to the Faculty of Adab and Humanities In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Strata (S 1)

ANDRI HERMANSYAH 102026024515

Advisory:

INAYATUL CHUSNA, M.Hum. 150331233

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES

SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

JAKARTA

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ABSTRACT

Andri Hermansyah,Analysis on Tragic Character In The Mayor of Casterbridge. Thesis; English Letters Department, Faculty of Adab and Humanities, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 2009

The unit analysis of this study is Thomas Hardy’s novel. The objective of the study on this thesis is to find out how Henchard as tragic character is presented in the novel and how overwhelming pride leads to his downfall. The collected data is qualitatively analyzed using the theory of tragic character

After collecting and analyzing the data, the writer concludes that Thomas Hardy presents Henchard’s rise and fall. Hardy introduces Henchard as nobody. He undergoes a change from being nobody to become somebody because of his hard work, his success in persuading Farfrae to become his employee and his ability to abstain from drinking alcohol. Yet, Henchard’s success does not last long. He turns back from somebody to nobody because of his judgement errors and his poor personality that lead him to the fall.

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LEGALIZATION

This thesis entitled “Analysis On Tragic Character in The Mayor of Casterbridge” has been defended before the Letters and Humanities Faculty’s Examination Committee on July 14, 2009. The thesis has already accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for the strata one degree.

Jakarta, July , 2009

Examination Committee

Chair Person Secretary

Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd. Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd.

NIP: 150229480 NIP: 150261902

Members

Examiner I Examiner II

Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum.

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DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for award or any other degree or diploma of the University or other Institue of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.

Jakarta, July , 2009

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The writer would like to thank Allah the one for divine gift of grace. He alone we ask for help, for guidance and everything. He has given the writer many favors. He has allowed the writer to finish this thesis. It is a great pleasure for the writer. Praise and peace be upon the Master of The Messenger, the prophet Muhammad S A W. May we always he in straight way until the end of the world.

The writer also absulotely deserves to thank to his advisory, Mrs. Inayatul Chusna, M.Hum., who has guided him by counseling and advising until this thesis finished. Without her guidance, this thesis will never be completed.

The writer also wants to thank to:

1. Dr. Abdul Chair, M.A.. Dean of Faculty of Adab and Humanities. 2. Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.P.d. the Head of English Dapartment. 3. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.P.d. the Secretary of English Department.

4. His beloved parents. They have supported him much morally and materially, their merits and sacrifice will never be paid.

5. All of lecturers in English Department who have taught and educated him during his study at U.I.N.

6. All his classmates in the English Department, N’cal, Dauz, Gumelar, Yunus, Shuhada, Dhuha, U’ul, Dian, Atiq, Diah, Agay, Furqon, Romlih, and those whom cannot be mentioned one by one.

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Finally, the writer hopes that this thesis will be usesfull for the writer himself and for those who interested in literary research.

Jakarta, July , 2009

The Writer

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TABLE OF CONTENT

APPROVEMENT ... i

ABSTRACT ... ii

LEGALIZATION ... iii

DECLARATION ... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... v

TABLE OF CONTENT ... vii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ... 1

1. Background of the Research ... 1

2. Focus of the Study ... 3

3. The Research Questions ... 3

4. The Significance of the Research ... 3

5. The Methodology of Research... 4

5.1 The Objective of Research ... 4

5.2 The Method of Research ... 4

5.3 Data Analysis ... 4

5.4 Unit of Analysis ... 4

5.5 Instrument of the Research ... 5

5.6 Time and Place ... 5

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK... 6

1. Definition of Character ... 6

2. Kinds of Character ... 9

3. Tragic Character ... 10

4. Delineation of Character ... 12

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH FINDINGS... 14

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1.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character ... 14

1.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall... 15

1.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes ... 15

1.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death” ... 15

2. Data Analysis ... 23

2.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character ... 23

2.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall ... 27

2.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes ... 28

2.2.1.1 Henchard Fails to Keep His Wealth ... 28

2.2.1.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Social Life ... 30

2.2.1.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Those Who Care for Him... 31

2.2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Lucetta ... 31

2.2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Farfrae ... 32

2.2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Elizabeth-Jane ... 33

2.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death”... 36

CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 38

1. Conclusions ... 38

2. Suggestions ... 38

BIBLIOGRAPHY... 40

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Research

Most people are interested in other people. People meet someone for the first time and then they notice certain things: how the person looks, speaks, and acts, for example. People make judgements according to what they notice. Sometimes, as people get to know the person better, those evaluations are affirmed. Sometimes they are challenged. Interest in other people is more than just idle curiosity. People base their most important life decision-whom they will be friends with, whom they will live with – on observation, talking with, and interacting with.

It’s not surprising, then, people watch television programs, see movies, or read literature, most of them pay close attention to the people-the character-whose lives unfold before us. To stay interested in a film, a novel, a short story, or a play, they must find the characters interesting in some way.

Character refers to the people authors create to inhabit their stories.1Some characters fascinate readers by being very different- by living in a distant place or a time long past or by being wildly glamorous or consummately evil. Sometimes characterscan capture readers’minds and hearts because they are people readers can relate to. The characters may have similarities with those of readers or may

Gloria Mason Henderson.Literature and ourselves (New York : Pearson Education, Inc., 2003), p.9.

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act in ways that make them feel as though readers are looking in a mirror. Frequently a character intrigues them by displaying a special quality or style: a unique sense of humor, a gift for the absurd, or a profoundly wise way of looking at the world.

Much of interest in a novel lays in the characters whose world the readers enter and in whose live the readers share. The reader usually responds to them first as people. The readers can analyze their personalities, trace how they are affected by events and empathize or disprove of them. Therefore, the character is very important aspect in the novel.

In literary work character can be used to create an event and determine the plot of story. Character is a person or a fictitious creation which is created by the author to represent what the author wants to tell to the readers in a novel. Character has an important role because through a character people can know the totality of the story.2

Without character there would be no plot and hence no story. For most readers of fiction the primary attraction lies in the characters. It is an inevitable fact that character is a vital and necessary element in literary work.

The novel The Mayor of Casterbridge written by Thomas Hardy exposes a character which starts his life as a poor journeyman hay-trusser. He rises above his humble beginnings to become successful businessman and is respected by townpeople of Casterbridge for his work etnic and his position as Mayor of Casterbridge. However his success doesn’t last long because of his fool decisions

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and deeds. In the end, he becomes a poorman. He’s not only lost all his materials but also people he beloved evenworse he dies alone in the countryside.

This drastic changes becomes the reason why I am interested in analyzing the main character by applying character theory. It will reveal how the tragic character is presented in the novel. Therefore the writer would like to know how the the tragic character is presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge.

2. Focus of the Research

The research will be focused to see and explore how the tragic character is presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge.

3. The Research Questions

To make more convenient and simply in analyzing the novel, the writer focuses on the content of the novel which deals with the tragic character and then construct it into the following questions:

1. How is the tragic character presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge?

2. How does overwhelming pride lead to the downfall of Henchard in the novel?

4. The Significance of The Research

The writer expects the research findings will uncover the tragic character’s life, efforts and also obstacles that lead to the downfall.

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5. The Methodology of The Research 5.1 The Objectives of Research

The research is conducted to achieve purposes as the following:

1) Knowing how the tragic character presented in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge.

2) Knowing how overwhelming pride leads to the downfall of Henchard in the novel.

5.2 The Method of Research

The method of this research is descriptive-qualitative. It describes how the tragic character presented in the novel.

5.3 Data Analysis

The writer attempts to analyze The Mayor of Casterbridge with the following steps; 1) the writer reads the novel accurately 2) noting the contents of the novel that deal with the research data 3) concerning to the contents of the novel that become core of the data 4) the data are analyzed by tragic character theories.

5.4 Unit of Analysis

The unit analysis of the research is The Mayor of Casterbridge published by London Penguin Books1994 which is written by Thomas Hardy

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5.5 Instrument of the Research

Instrument of the research is the writer himself. The writer in finding data uses himself and correlates them with research object as well as the tragic character theories.

5.6 Place and Time

This research is accomplished in July 2009 in Adab and Humanities Faculty of Syarif Hidayatullah, State Islamic University, Jakarta.

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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

1. Definition of Character

Character is an essential element in a literary work. It makes story happen and support string of the events as well as help people who read it to know the whole of story.

Stories happen to people. If there is ever a story chiefly concerned with a tree, or a stone, or an ape the story will exist only because these things will be treated as if they were human rather than as what people know they are in nature.3 Something such as tree, box or son that can speak out and act like human being in a story is considered as character since character refers to people. People or characters play the most essential role in forming a story. It can be said no character no story.

Many writers insist that character is the single most important element in the short story. Theme may be misinterpreted, plot may seem disjointed, setting may be superficial, but the author who depicts intriguing characters is successful on mayor level.4 It will be a big problem if there is no an intriguing character in the story but if the author makes a wrong move in determining theme or making an irreguler plot it will not be a big one. The intriguing character will support or spur them to begin making a fantastic story and help establish a string of other

Robert W.Baynton.Introduction to the short story(New Jersey : Hayden Book Company, Inc.,1972), p. 26.

Larry M. Sutton. Journey:An introduction to literature(Boston : Holbrook Press, Inc., 1971) , pp. 4-5.

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elements. It will also prompt readers to follow the story till the end. The different attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters can greatly influence the other major elements in a literary work, such as theme, setting, and tone. With this understanding of the character, a reader can become more aware of other aspects of literature, such as symbolism, giving the reader a more complete understanding of the work. For those, the authors make intriguing character as a top priorty of other elements to be achieved.

Character creates an individual who is involved in the events of story.5 Characters that inhabit in the story support the string of events in that story through what they say, do, think and so on.

Character is a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood. The character is one of the most important tools available to the author.

There are some definitions about character. The following definitions of character are used in literary work as directed below:

1. Character is of interest for very personal reason that people want to see how other people live, how they make decisions and react to responsibility, how they persue their goal.6Many reasons why readers want to know character in the story. One of them is they can obtain

Panuti Sudjiman.Memahami Cerita Rekaan (Jakarta : Pustaka Jaya, 1988), p.65. 6

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lesson on how to cope with difficult circumstances in life without get through it.

2. A character is someone in a literary work that has some sort of identity, it doesn’t have to be strong, an identity which is made up by appearance, conversation, action, name and (possibly) thoughts going in the head.7Thus character is someone stays in the story eventhough his role just supporting main character. People can disclose or know his character through conversation,deeds and so forth.

3. Character is the term for the people in fiction, the heroes and villains, allies and enemies, love interest and comic reliefs.8 Character is imaginary person in the story and each character has its own role in the story

From all definitions above, the writer has a conclusion that character is a person that inhabits in a story which is not only create the plot of story but also helps the reader know the totality of story.

2. Kinds of Character

In life, all people grow and change every day. They often do not notice day-to-day changes because they are so small, but if they have not seen someone for a while- for a year or two or even a few months-, they usually notice differences, both in physical appearances and in the way the person thinks, speaks,

Richard Gill.Mastering English Literature (London: Mc Millan Master Series, 1995), p.127. 8

Thomas M.Laughlin.Literature the power of language(USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1989), p.375.

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and acts. To observe changes accurately and to speculate on what brought about those changes, people have to know a person fairly well.

Characters are often described as being flat or round, static or dynamic. A flat character is not fully developed. People see only one aspect of their personalities because presumably, the author does not need to reveal more about them for the purposes of the story. It plays a supporting role to the main character. On the other hand, round character is a very complex individual, more like someone in real life with several facets to his personality. A static character is one who does not really change in the progress of the story; he is the same person at the end as he was in the beginning. But a dynamic character does change, psychologically, physically, or otherwise.9

Because flat character is not fully developed, most minor characters are flat. Flat character is defined by a single quality without much individualizing detail or one who is minimally described, stereotypical or who has only one purpose.

In reading literature, there are two other important terms to keep in mind for describing people: protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is the mayor character with whom readers generally sympathize, while the antagonist is the character with whom the protagonist is in conflict. The antagonist is generally not sympathetic.10

Larry M Sutton, op.cit,p.5. 10

Judith A. Stanford.Responding to Literature (New york: MacGraw Hill Companies,Inc.,2003 fourth edition), p.37.

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The protagonist is the main character, who is not necessarily a hero or a heroine. People can assume that not all protagonists are heroic. The antagonist is the opponent or a character (or sometimes a thing) in conflict with the main character or protagonist.

3. Tragic Character

Tragic hero should be neither better nor worse morally than normal people. In order to allow the audience to identify with him, this also introduces pity which is crucial in tragedy, for if the hero were perfect the audience either be outraged with his fate or not especially care due to his ideological superiority. If the character were evil, then the audience would feel that he had gotten what he deserved. It is important to strike a balance in the heroes character.

Tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the main character, protagonist, is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. People can say that tragedy is typically describing the development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny, circumstance, or society) and reaches a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion.

According to Aristotle, a tragedy must contain of tragic hero: “a leader in his society who mistakenly brings about his own downfall because of some errors

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in a judgement or innate flaw.”11 Tragedy depicts serious incidents in which protagonists undergo a change from happiness to suffering, often involving the death of others as well as the main characters because of either a mistake in the character’s actions or in his personality that leads to a downfall. Tragic character records his rise and fall. When his position at the height of prosperity and resides at the top of fortune’s wheel is quite enough for his fall to be considered tragic.

A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. 12 Meanwhile tragedy in Shakespeare’s conception is described as a strong of suffering and calamity unexpectedly befalling a person in high estate and leading to his death. A tragic character must be faced with a very serious decision and he usually fights to the death for what he believes in. Tragic character suffers through more than one death in the novel. Long before his physical death, tragic character loses reputation and public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his glorious time ends

Arthur Miller stated, “tragedy, then, is the consequence of man’s total compulsion to evaluate himself.”13 Tragic characters have to carry out for their past choices and actions that contribute to the downfall.

Thomas HowardBanks. “Introduction.”Three Theban Plays: Sopholacles’ Antigone, Oedipus

the King and Oedipus at Colonus by Sopholes(New York: Oxford,1956), p. ix.

Noah Webster.Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English(USA: Williams Collins, 1978),p.2432.

Michael Steppat. The Critical Reception Of Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra from 1607 to 1905(Amsterdam: Verlag B.R. Gruner, 1980), p. 152.

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From all definitions above, the writer has a conclusion that tragedy is not just a sad story but tragedy is when a character creates his personal and moral downfall that result from a mistake in the character’s decisions, actions or in his personality that based on impulsive what he believe in.

4. The Delineation of Character

In the delineation of character, the author has certain methods at his disposal. He can describe his character physically: age, height, weight, and so forth. He can develop a character through action: what he does in different situations, how he reacts to problems. The writer can also depict character through dialogue: how character talks, what he says. Sometimes the author tells you what the character is thinking.14Authours may reveal characters in variety of ways: by telling about them directly, by letting their actions and speech reveal their personalities, or having others characters tell about them. This is also familiar with a term of characterization. Although techniques of characterization are complex, writers typically reveal characters through their speech, dress, manner, and actions. It is the way or the means by which writers present and reveal character.

A character is often revealed through his or her action, which provide readers with clues about the character’s personality, motives and expectation.15 Readers can track from attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters

Larry M.Sutton, loc.cit, p.5. 15

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to disclose a character.

As whole, evidences and explanations are related to the character, the writer has a conclusion that character is a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his/her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood. The character is one of the most important tools available to the author.

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CHAPTER III

RESEARCH FINDINGS

The previous chapter has explicated about the theoretical framework which is going to be used to analyze in this chapter. In this case, it’s needed to be confirmed that theoretical framework is only a tool not the main purpose. Chapter III will provide the data description and the data analysis.

1. Data Description

1.1 Henchard as a tragic character

After doing deeply research, the writer finds some research findings. They show Henchard undergoes a change from nobody becomes somebody. The change process of Henchard’s life happens by the age twenty-one years old until thirty-nine years old. And by this span of his life, there is no detail explanation given by Hardy about the way Henchard raises his social status. Thomas Hardy misses the change process of Henchard’s life from zero to zillionaire. At the beginning of chapter three Hardy introduces readers to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown probably twenty-one years old and Henchard who then becomes mayor of Casterbridge and a businessman. Meanwhile at the end of the chapter two of the novel, Hardy tells of Henchard who takes an oath before God that he stops drinking liquor after Henchard sells his wife ang baby, Elizabeth-Jane. Meanwhile Hardy in more detail tells about the process of Henchard’s fall. Turns points of

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Henchard’s life is starting from thirty-nine till fourty-three years old. Then Henchard’s fall will be futher discussed.

1.2 Henchard’s tragic fall

Here, the writer will classify the analysis into two sections of description. First description is Henchard’s mistakes and second description is about Henchard suffering more than one death.

1.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes

Henchard’s judgement error and his poor personality play a significant role in leading him to the fall. His failure to keep his wealth, his social life and his relationship with those who care for him are mostly caused by these both. In taking actions and making decisions, Henchard comes up with his excessive pride rather than uses his brain. His poor personality prompts him to do some mistakes. Here are Henchard’s mistakes that lead him to the fall.

1.2.2 HenchardSuffers Through More Than One “Death”

Long before his physical death, Henchard loses reputation and public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends. Henchard loses reputation and public esteem when his scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local people.

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NO INDICATION EXPLANATION CORPUS DATA

1 Henchard As a Tragic Character

The change process of Henchard’s life happens by the age twenty-one years old until thirty-nine years old. And by this span of his life, there is no detail explanation given by Hardy about the way Henchard raises his social status. Thomas Hardy misses the change process of Henchard’s life from zero to zillionaire. At the beginning of chapter three Hardy introduces readers to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown probably twenty-one years old and Henchard who then becomes mayor of Casterbridge and a businessman.

Meanwhile at the last chapter two of the novel, Hardy tells Henchard who takes an oath before God that he avoid all strong liquors after Henchard sells his family. Hardy is seemingly in more detail tells about the process of Henchard’s fall. Turns points of Henchard’s life is

‘I, Michael Henchard, on this morning of the sixteenth of September, do take an oath before God here in this solemn place that I will avoid all strong liquors for the space of twenty-one years to come, being a year for every year that I have lived. And this I swear upon the book before me; and may I be strook dumb, blind, and helpless, if I break this my oath!’ (Hardy, 1994: 18).

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starting from thirty-nine till fourty-three years old. Then Henchard’ fall will be futher discussed.

her skin had undergone a textural change; and though her hair had not lost colour it was considerably thinner than heretofore. She was dressed in the mourning clothes of a widow. Her companion, also in black, appeared as well-formed young woman about eighteen, completely possessed of that ephemeral precious essence youth, which is itself beauty, irrespective of complexion or contour. A glance was sufficient to inform the eye that this was Susan Henchard’s grown-up daughter (Hardy, 1994: 20).

‘Well, ye must be a stranger sure,’ said the old man, without taking his eyes from the the window. ‘Why, ‘tis a great public dinner of the gentle-people and such likeleading Volk-wi’ the Mayor in the chair. Aswe pliner fellows bain’t invited, they leave the winder-shutters open that we may get jist a sense o’t out here. If you mount the steps you can see ‘em. That’s Mr. Henchard, the

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2 Henchard’s Tragic Fall:

2.1Henchard’s Mistakes:

2.1.1 Henchard Fails to Keep His Wealth

Farfrae is on the cutting edge of agricultural science. He is a pivotal

figure behind

Henchard’s success. Henchard’s excessive pride cannot accept the fact that Farfrae becomes more popular than him among the

townspeople of

Casterbridge. He fires Farfrae to show what people think that Farfrae is better than him in running the business is wrong.

Mayor, at the end of the table, a facing ye; and that’s the Council men right and left……… Ah, lots of them when they begun life were no more than I be now!’

‘Henchard!’ said Elizabeth-Jane, surprised, but by no maens suspecting the whole force of the revelation (Hardy, 1994: 35-36).

But he had to enter the Casterbridge Bank that day for reasons which had never sent him there- and to sit a long time in the partnerss’ room with a constrained bearing. It was rumoured soon after that much real property as well as vast stores of produce, which has stood in Henchard’s name in the town and neigbourhood, was actually the possession of his bankers (Hardy, 1994: 216).

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2.12 Henchard Fails to

Maintain His

Social Life

One day Elizabeth-Jane was passing the king’s Arms when she saw people blusting in and out more than usual when there was no market. A bystander informed her, with some surprise at her ignorance, that it was a meeting of the Commissioners under Mr. Henchard’s bankruptcy (Hardy, 1994: 252).

On that day-almost at that minute-he passed the ridge of prosperity and honour, and began to descend rapidly on the other side. It was strange how soon he sank in esteem. Socially he had received a statling fillip downwards; and having already lost commercial buoyancy from rash transactions, the velocity of his descent in both aspects became acceletaed every hour (Hardy, 1994: 251).

He now gazed more at the pavements and less at the house-fronts when he walked about; more at the feet and leggings of men, and less into the pupils of

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2.1.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain

HisRelationship with Those Who Care for Him :

2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails to

Maintain His

Relationship with Lucetta

Henchard’s scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, makes Lucetta no longer love, respect and admire him. Lucetta will marry Farfrae, his business rival, instead.

their eyes with blazzing regard which formerly had made them blink (Hardy, 1994: 251-252).

.‘I cannot!’ she insisted desperately.

‘Why? When I have only within these few minutes released you from promise to do the thing offhand.’ ‘Because- he was a witness!’

‘Witness?Of what?’

‘If I must tell you-. Don’t, don’t upraid me!’

‘Well! Let’s hear what you mean?’

‘Witness of my marriage-Mr. Grower was!’

‘Marriage?’

‘Yes. With Mr. Farfrae. O Michael! I am already his wife. We were married this week at PortBready (Hardy, 1994: 242-243).

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2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails to

Maintain His

Relationship with Farfrae

2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails to

Maintain His

Relationship with Elizabeth-Jane

Henchard’s failure in the trade and love competition with Farfrae deepens his dislike to the latter. Henchard goes wild.

He makes

confrontation with Farfrae. Henchard challenges him in wrestling. Quarrel is unevitable.

For his excessive pride, Henchard cannot accept the fact that Elizabeth Jane is not his biological daughter. Henchard’s treatment of Elizabeth-Jane changes dramatically. He becomes very mean and cold toward her.

Yet Henchard

completely fails to

maintain his

relationship with Jane when he lies to Newson about Elizabeth-Jane death. His deception of

Newson betrays

Elizabeth-Jane trust and ultimately destroy their relationship. His untruth brings about to suffer from a loss someone he loves very

Farfrae, however, did distrust him utterly (Hardy, 1994: 330).

Farfrae would never recognize him more than superciliously; his poverty ensured that, no less than his past conduct (Hardy, 1994: 353).

She flushed up, and gently drew her hand away; ‘I could love you always—I would have, gladly, said she. ‘But how can I know you have deceived me so-so bitterly deceived me! You persuaded me that my father was not my father-allowed me to live on in ignorance of the truth for years; and then when he; my warm-hearted real father, came to find me, cruelly sent him away with a wicked invention of my death, which nearly broke his heart. O how can I once did a man who has served us like this!’ (Hardy, 1994: 376).

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2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death”

much.

Henchard dies in reputation and public esteem when his scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local people.

Waiving, therefore, his privilege of self-defence, he regarded only discomposure. ‘Don’t ye distress your self on my account,’ he said, with proud superiority. ‘I would not wish it-at such a time, too, as this. I have done wrong in coming to ‘ee- I see my error. But it is only for once, so forgive it. I’ll never trouble ‘ee again, Elizabeth-Jane – no, not to my dying day! Good night . Good-bye!’ (Hardy, 1994: 377).

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2. Data Analysis

2.1 Henchard As a Tragic Character

Henchard is a powerful man and having height more than six feet tall. He is twenty-one years old at the beginning of the story as a married man and a young hay-trusser. At the end of the story he dies at forty- three years old. The novel described him as being dark-haired. His wife is Susan Henchard and his baby daughter is Elizabeth-Jane. They live in poverty.

One evening of late summer, before the nineteenth century had reached one-third of its span, a young man and woman, the latter carrying a child, were approaching the large village of Weydon-Priors, in Upper Wessex, on foot. They were plainly but not ill clad, though the thick hoar of dust which had accumulated on their shoes and garments from an obviously long journey lent a disadvantageous shabbiness to their appearance just now.

The man was of fine figure, swarthy, and stern in aspect; and he showed in profile a facial angle so slightly inclined as to be almost perpendicular. He wore a short jacket of brown corduroy, newer than the remainder of his suit, which was a fustian waistcoat with whine horn buttons, breeches of the same, tanned leggings, and a straw had overlaid with black glazed canvas. At his back he carried by looped strap a rush basket, from which protruded at one end the crutch of a hay-knife, a wimble for hay-bonds being also visible in aperture (Hardy 1994: 1)

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Henchard goes to Weydon-Priors looks for better life. After long journey, they stop at furmity stall. Michael Henchard overindulges in rum-laced furmity. Spurred by alcohol, he decides to auction off his wife and baby daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, to a sailor, Mr. Newson, for five guineas. Once sober the next day, he realizes that his wife and daughter are gone, he pledges not to drink alcohol for twenty-one years, the same number of years that he has been alive.

Henchard is very impulsive. He always has a way to rationalize his impulsive decision making. He has no problem leaving other people to pay for the consequences of his bad decision making. He makes no great effort to find his wife after selling her because he is interested in hiding his role in what happened than in mounting an effective search.

Henchard is a risk-taker type person. Such as he buys a large quantity of corn which he believes that the upcoming crop will be bad because of bad weather but the weather is fine and the crop is good so he loses money. He takes too many risks, gambling too aggressively which cause him to looses his credit, his business and most of his fortune.

Michael Henchard is poorly educated although he can read, he is not good at math and is not up to date in the scientific or record-keeping aspect of his business. Yet, his hard work, his success in persuading Farfrae to becomes his employee and his ability to abstain from liquor make him become successful businessman, mayor of Casterbridge and magistrate. Henchard is respected in Casterbridge for his hard work and current position as mayor of Casterbridge. He

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lives in wealth and receives the privileges because of his role as mayor of Casterbridge.

In the novel Mayor of Casterbridge, Henchard undergoes a change from nobody becomes somebody. The change process of Henchard’s life happens by the age twenty-one years old until thirty-nine years old. And by this span of his life, there is no detail explanation given by Hardy about the way Henchard raises his social status. Thomas Hardy misses the change process of Henchard’s life from zero to zillionaire. Yet, at the beginning of chapter three Hardy introduces readers to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown probably twenty-one years old and Henchard who then becomes mayor of Casterbridge and a businessman. Meanwhile at the last chapter two of the novel, Hardy tells Henchard who takes an oath before God that he avoid all strong liquors after Henchard sells his family.

Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Henchard takes an oath before God not to drink alcohol.

Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Elizabeth-Jane who is fully grown

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The scene in its broad aspect had so much of its previous character, even to the voices and rattle from neighbouring village down, that it might for that matter have been the afternoon following the previously recorded episode. Change was only to be observed in details; but here it was obvious that a long procession of years had passed by. One of the two walked the road was she who had figured as the young wife of Henchard on the previous occasion; now her face had lost much of its rotundity; her skin had undergone a textural change; and though her hair had not lost colour it was considerably thinner than heretofore. She was dressed in the mourning clothes of a widow. Her companion, also in black, appeared as well-formed young woman about eighteen, completely possessed of that ephemeral precious essence youth, which is itself beauty, irrespective of complexion or contour.

A glance was sufficient to inform the eye that this was Susan Henchard’s grown-up daughter (Hardy 1994: 20).

Here is a quotation from the novel referring to Michael Henchard who becomes mayor of Casterbridge.

‘Well, ye must be a stranger sure,’ said the old man, without taking his eyes from the the window. ‘Why, ‘tis a great public dinner of the gentle-people and such likeleading Volk-wi’ the Mayor in the chair. As we pliner fellows bain’t invited, they leave the winder-shutters open that we may get jist a sense o’t out here. If you mount the steps you can see ‘em. That’s Mr. Henchard, the Mayor, at the end of the table, a facing ye; and that’s the Council men right and left……… Ah, lots of them when they begun life were no more than I be now!’

‘Henchard!’ said Elizabeth-Jane, surprised, but by no maens suspecting the whole force of the revelation (Hardy 1994: 35-36).

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Meanwhile Hardy in more detail tells about the process of Henchard’s fall. Turns points of Henchard’s fall is starting from thirty-nine till fourty-three years old. Then Henchard’s fall will be futher discussed.

2.2 Henchard’s Tragic Downfall

As defined by Aristotle in The Poetics, a hero fall in the world and endures suffering as the result of an error judgement.16 In the modern tragedy, hero bears all this alone from deliberate willed decision. This description is more or less suitable with Henchard character. Henchard suffers through more than one death in the novel. Long before his physical death, Henchard dies in reputation and public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends. The moment of his final suffering, however, occurs after he experiences the loss of his step-daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. Thus Henchard is to be considered as tragic character because of either a mistake in the character’s actions or in his personality that leads to a downfall.

Here, the writer will classify the analysis into two sections of description. First description is Henchard’s mistakes and second description is about Henchard suffering more than one death.

1616

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2.2.1 Henchard’s Mistakes

Through the novel, Henchard makes many mistakes: He fails to maintain his wealth, his social and his relationship with those who care for him.

2.2.1.1 Henchard Fails to Keep His Wealth

Henchard’s decision to dismisses Farfrae and challenges him in a reckless attempt to win commercial battle with him in running a hay and corn business lead him to bankruptcy. He fires Farfrae to show what people think that Farfrae is better than him in running the business is wrong. Henchard’s excessive pride cannot accept the fact that Farfrae becomes more popular than him among the townspeople of Casterbridge.

‘Where would his business be if it were not for this young fellow? ‘Twas verily Fortune sent him to Henchard. His accounts were like a bramblewood when Mr. Farfrae came. He used to reckon his sacks by chalk strokes all in a row like garden-palings, measure his ricks by stretching with his arms, weigh his trusses by a lift, judge his hay by a chaw, and settle the price with a curse. But now this accomplished young man does it all by ciphering and measuration. Then the weath-that sometimes used to taste so strong o’mice made into bread that people could fairly tell the breed-Farfrae has a plan for purifying, so that nobody would dream the smallest four-legged beast had walked over it once. O yes, everybody if full o him, and the care Mr. Henchard has to keep him, to be sure!’ concluded this gentleman.

‘But he won’t do it for long good-now,’ said the other.

‘No!’ said Henchard to himself behind the tree. ‘Or if he do, he’ll be honeycombed clean out of all the character and standing that he’s built up in these eighteen year! (Hardy 1994: 122).

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‘No,’ said Henchard gloomily. ‘He won’t be that, because he’s shortly going to leave.’ He looked towards Donald, who had again come near. ‘Mr. Farfrae’s time as manager is drawing to close-isn’t it Farfrae (Hardy 1994: 123).

Farfrae is on the cutting edge of agricultural science. He helps Henchard out of a bad financial situation by giving him timely advice. Without Farfrae as a pivotal figure behind his success, Henchard makes a blunder in thriving his business by believing in prophet weather’s prediction that the upcoming crop will be bad because of bad weather, instead of his experience as a wizard merchant. Henchard buys grain to such an enormous extent.

Yet, it’s the opposite of forecaster’s prediction as the wheather is fine. Henchard lost heavily.

But he had to enter the Casterbridge Bank that day for reasons which had never sent him there-and to sit a long time in the partnerss’ room with a constrained bearing. It was rumoured soon after that much real property as well as vast stores of produce, which has stood in Henchard’s name in the town and neigbourhood, was actually the possession of his bankers (Hardy 1994: 216).

Henchard’s property and stores are under the possession of his creditor or bank. Everything that Henchard has owned is tickted by creditors. And the little

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money Henchard has will just keep body and soul together for few weeks and no more. Henchard has no house and furniture. This condition forces Henchard to lodge in Job’s cottage, his ex-employee.

2.2.1.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Social Life

Henchard has to pay for the consequences of selling his wife and son in the past. His scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local people when a furmity woman exposes it in a courts which Henchard presided over. Those attending the court were shocked and mocked Henchard after he admitted to the truth of her revelation. They feel embarrassed because of the fact that the town is led by such a bad guy as Henchard.

He now gazed more at the pavements and less at the house-fronts when he walked about; more at the feet and leggings of men, and less into the pupils of their eyes with blazzing regard which formerly had made them blink (Hardy 1994: 251-252).

Henchard’s dignity turns upside down before townspeople of Casterbridge.They used to picture Henchard as a good man who deserved to be followed and admired, especially for his hard work and ability to abstain from liquor but now they condemn and despise him. They don’t need to bow their head and give a salute when Henchard walks. They stare Henchard as a criminal who should be taken to justice while Henchard considers himself as useless.

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The furmity woman’s revelation seems to taint his good name, threatens his present position as mayor of Casterbridge and plays a vital role in speeding up Henchard’s decline of popularity and result in Henchard’s social ruin or social outcast.

2.2.1.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Those Who Care for Him:

2.2.1.3.1 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Lucetta

Lucetta is a woman once Henchard deeply loved. He falls in love with Lucetta when he is traveling to Jersey on business. They are not only spending time together but also having sexual relationship. They pledge to love each other. But Henchard has to bury his hope to marry Lucetta. She will marry Farfrae, his business rival, instead.

‘I cannot!’ sheinsisted desperately.

‘Why? When I have only within these few minutes released you from promise to do the thing offhand.’

‘Because-he was a witness!’ ‘Witness?Of what?’

‘If I must tell you-. Don’t, don’t upraid me!’ ‘Well! Let’s hear what you mean?’

‘Witness of my marriage-Mr. Grower was!’ ‘Marriage?’

‘Yes. With Mr. Farfrae. O Michael! I am already his wife. We were married this week at PortBready (Hardy 1994: 242-243).

Lucetta’s decision to marry Farfrae is a disappointment for Henchard. He attempts to destroy her marriage with Farfrae. He threatens to tell the local people about their past love affair. Worried that Henchard will make good on this threat,

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she decides to keep an eye on him and keep distance away from him. Everytime Lucetta meets him Henchard always speaks to her with bitter sarcasm and treats her so poorly. So Lucetta would rather have died than the risk of encountering Henchard.

Henchard’s failure to marry her is actually triggered by Henchard’s unfair decision toward Lucetta. His unfair decision are as he abandons her with no regret and fails to keep promise to marry her when his lost-long wife return to Casterbridge. Besides of those, Henchard’s scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, makes Lucetta no longer respect and admire him. Henchard get punished for what he did in the past.

2.2.1.3.2 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Farfrae

Henchard lets his secret, which is concerned with his relationship with his lover and lost-family story be shared with Farfrae. Two men should meet as they done on purely business ground but Henchard speaks to Farfrae on a family matter. This thing indicates that their relationship is not just between employee and employer but between friend. Henchard makes Farfrae a close friend. Yet, Henchard’s excessive pride is seemingly more important than losing his best friend, Farfrae.

An arrogant Henchard cannot accept when people begin to respect Farfrae more than they respect him. He wants to prove his capability to local people in handling his own business without Farfrae’s help. Henchard fires Farfrae.

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Henchard’s failure in the trade and love competition with Farfrae deepens his dislike to the latter. Henchard goes wild. He makes confrontation with Farfrae. Henchard challenges him in wrestling. Quarrel is unevitable.

Farfrae, however, did distrust him utterly (Hardy 1994: 330).

Farfrae would never recognize him more than superciliously; his poverty ensured that, no less than his past conduct (Hardy 1994: 353). Henchard informs Farfrae’s men that Mr.Farfrae is in Weatherbury town not in Butmouth town. Yet,no one believes him. They insist on going to Butmouth town in searching Farfrae. Knowing Farfrae’s men go to wrong direction to find Farfrae when they want to notify that his wife sick, Henchard decides to search Farfrae by himself. Finally Henchard comes upon Farfrae and ask him to visit his wife immediately. But Farfrae ignores his suggestion. He does not believe in Henchard’s good intention after Henchard entices him into deadly wrestle four hours ago. Farfrae regards Henchard as a man with full of motives to destroy him. Farfrae will never see him more than snobbish. Henchard looses Farfrae’s respect and trust.

2.2.1.3.3 Henchard Fails to Maintain His Relationship with Elizabeth-Jane For his excessive pride, Henchard cannot accept the fact that Elizabeth Jane is not his biological daughter.

MY DEAR MICHAEL,- For the good of all three of us I have kept one thing a secret from you till now. I hope you will understand why; I think you will; though perhaps you may not forgive me. But, dear Michael, I have done it for the best. I shall be in my grave when you read this, and Elizabeth-Jane will have a home. Don’t curse me, Mike- hink o how I

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was situated. I can hardly write it, but here it is. Elizabeth-Jane is not your Elizabeth-Jane- the child who was in my arms when you sold me. No; she died three months after that, and this living one is my other husband’s. I christened her by the same name we had given to the first, and she filled up the ache I felt at the other’s loss. Michael, I am dying, and I might have held my tongue; but I could not. Tell her husband of this or not, as you may judge; and forgive, if you can, a woman you once deeply wronged, as she forgives you.

SUSAN HENCHARD (Hardy 1994:143). Henchard’s treatment of Elizabeth-Jane changes dramatically. He becomes very mean and cold toward her. Henchard always criticizes her mother tongue and manner. Elizabeth-Jane cannot stand to live in one roof with Henchard. So She prefers leaving to staying with him. But Elizabeth-Jane returns to Henchard after learning he falls sick. She takes care of him. Elizabeth’s assistance heals not only his health but also pain of loneliness. For the first time Henchard have a faint dream that he may get like her as own child.

Yet Henchard completely fails to maintain his relationship with Jane when he lies to Newson about Elizabeth-Jane death. Richard Newson’s appearance in Casterbridge destroys any hope Henchard has of a possible future with Elizabeth-Jane. He is trying to avoid losing her for the second times. Sadly, his deception of Newson betrays Elizabeth-Jane trust and ultimately destroy their relationship. His untruth brings about to suffer from a loss someone he loves very much.

She flushed up, and gently drew her hand away; ‘I could love you always—I would have, gladly, said she. ‘But how can I know you have deceived me so-so bitterly deceived me! You persuaded me that my father was not my father- allowed me to live on in ignorance of the truth for years; and then when he; my warm-hearted real father, came to find me, cruelly sent him away with a wicked invention of my

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death, which nearly broke his heart. O how can I once did a man who has served us like this!’ (Hardy1994:376).

Waiving, therefore, his privilege of self-defence, he regarded only discomposure. ‘Don’t ye distress your self on my account,’ he said, with proud superiority. ‘I would not wish it-at such a time, too, as this. I have done wrong in coming to ‘ee- I see my error. But it is only for once, so forgive it. I’ll never trouble ‘ee again, Elizabeth-Jane–no, not to my dying day! Good night . Good-bye!’ (Hardy 1994: 377).

For his deception, Henchard must bear apart from her. Elizabeth-Jane does not want to see Henchard again. Henchard goes to nowhere. He has no friend and family to be visited. He apparently sinks into the earth on leaving Elizabeth-Jane.

There will remain nobody for him to be proud of, no body to fortify him. Susan, Farfrae, Lucetta, Elizabeth-all has gone from him, one after one, either by his fault or by his misfortunes. Henchard suffers from loneliness. He sees no reason to continue living; he has lost the last person who loved him and whom he beloved in return.

His loneliness prompts/spurs him to write tragic wills before he is about to die. Here are Micheal Henchard’s tragic wills:

1.That Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae be not told of my death, or made to grieve on account of me.

2. That I be not bury’d in consecrated ground. 3. That no sexton be asked to toll the bell. 4. That nobody wished to see my dead body. 5. that no murners walk behind me at my funeral. 6. that no flours be planted on my grave.

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It seem Henchard does not care any more about his name. Those requests are very tragic, especially when one considers how important his name has been to him during his lifetime. Actually local people those who received Henchard’s paper on his last wishes determine to carry out his dying wishes as best as they can.

2.2.2 Henchard Suffers Through More Than One “Death”

Long before his physical death, Henchard loses reputation and public esteem, no longer a man of wealth and power when his time as mayor ends.

Henchard loses reputation and public esteem when his scandal, which centers on the sale of his wife and son by Henchard, was uncovered by local people. The retort of the furmity-woman before the magistrate had spread; and in four-and- twenty hours there was not a person in Casterbridge who remainded unacquainted with the story of Henchard’s mad freak at Weydon-Priors Fair, long years before.

Eventhough townspeople of Casterbridge wonder and regret his fall but they still condemn what he did in the past. Even they soon forget how admirable Henchard is when he starts his career from hay-trusser and then becomes a

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successful businessman. Most townpeople seems to isolate Henchard except those who care for him Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae, although they actually admire his ability to abstain from liquor.

Henchard fully recognizes the loss of his status. He can no longer identify himself as the mayor of Casterbridge, nor can he expect to receive the same privileges that he once enjoyed. With this realization, Henchard finally acknowledges the overthrow of his own reign as the mayor of Casterbridge.

Henchard suffers from poverty, finds himself back at he bottom of the fortunes’s wheel, while Farfrae now occupies a position at the top, as a newmayor and successful businessman. This circumstance hurts Henchard who once enjoyed his wealth and power as mayor of Casterbridge. Nothing left from Henchard’s glory now except for his little money that enough just to fulfill his needs for couple days. Even he must spare his supper for his breakfast. No horse to take him to some place but he must go on foot for miles to reach his direction.

He turns back as hay-trusser to earn some money. He has to lodgein Jop’s cottage, his ex-employee. Henchard’s excessive pride cause everything he had gone. As already mentioned, his jealousy of Farfrae leads him to lose a faithful employee and friend and also leads to his financial downfall. His excessive pride also causes him alienate Elizabeth Jane. When he finds out she is not his real daughter, Henchard becomes cruel towards her. Finally he loses a valuable companion, Elizabeth Jane. Henchard pride not only ruins him financially, but it also ruins his relationships with all who would love him.

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CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

A. Conclusions

In the novel Mayor of Casterbridge, the writer sees that Henchard undergoes a change from nobody becomes somebody and turns back as nobody. Henchard’s hard work and cleverness in persuading Farfrae to be become his employee makes him as a successful businessman and mayor of Casterbridge. Yet, his glory as number one person in Casterbridge ends to suffering, loneliness even death because of either a mistakes in his deeds and personality.

Henchard’s judgement error and his poor personality play a significant role in leading him to the fall rather than his misfortunes. His failure to keep his wealth, his social life and his relationship with those who care for him are mostly caused by these both. In taking actions and making decisions, Henchard comes up with his excessive pride rather than uses his brain. This excessive pride, then, led to the tragic downfall of the character. As a conclusion from this novel, we may take lesson that excessive pride can lead someone to zero point.

B. Suggestions

Through this paper, the writer suggests that we can learn the character, Henchard, to compare his with us. The people who still have bad characters as his can motivate themselves to change in good one. However good or bad our

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characters are the destiny of our life. We still have time to look back ourselves and turns around to become good person.

By learning other character, the writer hopes everyone who read this novel takes the great lesson to understand others better and also makes his life better.

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APPENDICES