Tragedy Strikes. Review on Mayor of Casterbridge, The - Thomas Hardy

The mayor of Casterbridge was published in 1886 and one of the best works of Thomas Hardy. The book caught my attention because of the front cover where a picture of Thomas Hardy is placed and it seems as if it depicts the emotions portrayed in the novel. A man of dignity, power and wealth who dies tragically in a hut without any money or dignity to save him.

The story is about Michael Henchard who gets drunk and auctions off his wife and daughter to a sailor. When he realised his mistake he took a vow for not touching liquor for twenty years. Then he becomes the mayor of Casterbridge and becomes rich and powerful but his fate changes when his wife and daughter comes back to him. He remarries his wife so as to avoid any scandal and lives normal life till he hires a new person called Newson who becomes his rival after sometime. Then his wife dies and the mayor starts drinking again after completion of the vow. Meanwhile Newson marries Lucetta who was Henchard’s love once and this triggers the rivalry to new heights. The story then revolves around Henchard’s misery and in the end Newson marries Henchard’s daughter after Lucetta dies and Henchard drinks a lot and dies in desolation and loneliness.

The story tells about the price Henchard paid for being proud to admit his love towards Lucetta, his foolishness for making that sale, his ego which converted a valuable and trustworthy employee into a rival, his struggle and his not clearing the misunderstandings sooner. The story is very well narrated and even though I told most of the story, you would have got the same idea by reading the back cover (so I don’t feel guilty). Read the story to sink into the tragedy and learn the valuable lesson of patching up things when its time otherwise your deeds will make you pay for it sooner or later. It is a must read for all those who likes reading and want a change from normal fiction or romance.