quotes moc Flashcards
The ruin of
good men by bad wives,
She started the pen
in an elephantine march across the sheet. It was a splendid round, bold hand of her own conception, a style that would have stamped a woman as Minerva’s own in more recent days.
he would learn all by
inquiries in the town; and return to curse him, and carry his last treasure away!
How terrible a contingency
for a woman who should commit herself to his care.
Lucetta’s tongue had for a moment
outrun her discretion.
She had arrived at Casterbridge as
a Bath lady, and there were obvious reasons why Jersey should drop out of her life
With strong social reasons on her side why
their marriage should take place, there had ceased to be any worldly reason on his why it should be postponed, since she had succeeded to fortune
Character is Fate, said Novalis, and
Farfrae’s character was just the reverse of Henchard’s, who might not inaptly be described as Faust has been described- as a vehement gloomy being, who had quitted the ways of vulgar men, without light to guide him on a better way
Susan’s face often has
“the hard, half-apathetic expression”
henchard is of
“of fine figure, swarthy and stern in aspect,”
why might susan not be so meek and naive
she tells michael if he persists, she will take the child and go with the highest bidder.
how do the physical surroundings of wedon priors emphasise the events that take place
The road toward Weydon-Priors is barren, the leaves on the trees are dull green, and powdered dust covers the road and shrubbery. There is no employment in this village, and, as Michael and Susan learn from a passing stranger, “Pulling down is more the nater of Weydon . . .”
what shows the unpleasant relationship with henchard and susan
“atmosphere of stale familiarity.”
why does susan go with newton
unpleasant relationship
women had no means of supporting themself
emotional justification that michael has disclaimed all responsibility
reaction of henchard ot the selling of susan
“in silent thought” walks away from the village into the country. At first he wonders if his name is known.
the first 2 chapters
are like a prologue to a greek drama, along with the mention of minerva
Elizabeth-Jane says to her mother: “Don’t speak to her — it isn’t respectable!” when Susan approaches the furmity woman, Mrs. Goodenough. This would indicate that
Elizabeth-Jane might be excessively concerned about propriety.
The Three Mariners is lovingly described, illustrating
Hardy’s recurrent fascination with the old, quaint, “native” aspects of Wessex.
fate in chapter 6
It is interesting because a number of chance happenings occur which create the initial impetus of the events to follow:
By chance a handsome Scotsman passes by the hotel and hears the discussion concerning corn;
Elizabeth-Jane has traveled a great distance to listen to the same discussion and by chance to notice the young Scotsman;
the three strangers go to the same inn, and Henchard, leaving the dinner-party to seek out the young Scotsman, by chance just misses his wife and Elizabeth-Jane. If Henchard had come upon Susan five minutes earlier, he might never have gone to the Three Mariners and the story would have been drastically altered. But this is only one of many chance “if’s” the reader will encounter within the movement of the plot.
what does farfrae say that suggests he does not want to stay in weydon
“I wish I could stay — sincerely I would like to,” he replied. “But no — it cannet be! . . . I want to see the warrld.”
casterbridge on market day
“differing from the many manufacturing towns which are as foreign bodies set down . . . in a green world with which they have nothing in common.”
describe henchard and jopps first meeting
“his mouth twitched with anger, and
and bitter disappointment . . . written in his face everywhere.”
Joshua Jopp, the applicant for the position of manager of the corn department, arrives as Henchard enters the room. Henchard informs him abruptly that the position is filled and dismisses him. Jopp leaves
why do people fo to the old roman ampitheatre
“appointments of a furtive kind.”
what indicates henchards desire to be not judged by his past.
“Judge me by my future works”
mercurial, volatile, capricious, tempramental, exciteable
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
confidentiality and secrets
dont end well
henchard confides in farfrae
lucetta confides in ej
the former two both die
what does henchard do for susan and ej
give them a cottage that is well furnished and with a servant
what is susan nicknamed by the townspeople
“the ghost”
initally, ej does not let newfound finances change her
Moreover, she still has “that field-mouse fear of the coulter of destiny,” believing it would be “tempting Providence” if she were “too gay.” As times passes, she begins to develop into a physically mature and beautiful young lady.
what happens between farfrae and ej in chapter 14
One day Elizabeth-Jane receives a note requesting her to come immediately to a granary on Durnover Hill. She goes there and, as she is waiting, Donald Farfrae arrives. Too shy to meet him there alone, Elizabeth-Jane hides. As the rain falls, Donald waits patiently until Elizabeth-Jane reveals her presence by accidentally dislodging some wheat husks. After Donald acknowledges her presence, they both realize that someone else has sent them the identical letter. Donald believes that someone has played a trick upon them and that Elizabeth-Jane should not mention it in the future. He helps her remove the wheat husks from her clothing before she departs. It is obvious that he is affected by her beauty.
what hints are given that something unexpected may occur
Henchard distinctly remembers that Elizabeth-Jane’s hair promised to be black when she was a child. Susan, of course, informs him that it is natural for the color to change with maturity. Susan is also reluctant to agree to Henchard’s request that Elizabeth-Jane change her name to his. Furthermore, we find that Henchard is growing ever more fond of Elizabeth-Jane. With the trick played on Donald and Elizabeth-Jane — which results in Donald’s acquiring an added interest in Elizabeth-Jane — it becomes obvious that fate, or someone, wants to bring them together.
- trick between ej and farfrae
- susan reluctant to change ej’s name to henchard
- susan says that ej’s hair has naturally changed since birth
what does henchard do during/following farfraes party
says his term as manager is drawing to a close. goes to bed satisfied but wake sup regretful. farfrae intends to “take him at his word”
Donald’s business prospers, and though he had not attempted to come into competition with Henchard, he is forced to
“to close with Henchard in mortal commercial combat” when Henchard begins a price war.
“character is fate, said novalis”
one of the most widely discussed comments Hardy ever made in his novels. It appears to conflict with Hardy’s emphasis on chance and impersonal forces as factors in man’s fate, but it is certainly consistent with the character of Henchard throughout.
chapter 18
susan dies and lucetta sends henchard a letter
henchard searches to proof to show ej that he is her father and finds
susans letter stating ej is in fact newsons daughter
fate
Character is Fate, said Novalis, and Farfrae’s character was just the
reverse of Henchard’s, who might not inaptly be described as Faust has been described- as a vehement gloomy being, who had quitted the ways of vulgar men, without light to guide him on a better way
“Pulling down is
more the nater of Weydon.”
“Its squareness was, indeed, the characteristic which most struck the eye” in this antiquated borough, the borough of Casterbridge-
at that time, recent as it was, untouched by the faintest sprinkle of modernism. It was compact as a box of dominoes. It had no suburbs- in the ordinary sense. “Country and town met at a mathematical line” “
Casterbridge is an
old, hoary place o’ wickedness, by all account.
Casterbridge was the
complement of the rural life around; not its urban opposite
ej rationality
“in for a penny, out for a pound; she
she bought the sunshade, and the whole structure was at least complete”
When she had a bonnet that would go with the gloves she had no dress that would go with the bonnet. It was now absolutely necessary to finish; she ordered the requisite article, and found that she had no sunshade to go with the dress. “In for a penny in for a pound; she bought the sunshade, and the whole structure was at least complete”
ej eager to please
“I’ll run back,” said Elizabeth-Jane. “I don’t mind it at all, as I am not tired as you are.” She thereupon hastened down again to the barn, the others pursuing their way.
ej eager for validation
“I would do anything to be independent; for then perhaps my father might get to love me.
ej and farfrae
“the changes of the figure made them the
partners of a moment, their emotions breathed a much subtler essence than at other times.”
However, young people could not be
quite old people, he concluded, and custom was omnipotent.
well-formed young woman of eighteen, completely
possessed of that ephemeral precious essence youth, which is itself beauty, irrespective of complexion or contour
I won’t be a
slave to the pastI’ll love where I choose!
to heighten her
natural attractions had hitherto been the unvarying endeavour of her adult life, and one in which she was no novice
The chief- almost the only- attraction of the young woman’s face was its
mobility. When she looked down sideways to the girl she became pretty, and even handsome, particularly that in the action her features caught slantwise the rays of the strongly coloured sun, which made transparencies of her eyelids and nostrils, and set fire on her lips.
she had the hard, half-apathetic expression of one who deems
anything possible at the hands of Time and Chance, except, perhaps, fair play.
The first phase was the work of Nature, the second probably of civilization.
Meek- that meekness has
done me more harm than the bitterest temper!
newson on susan
“She was a warm-hearted, home-spun woman. She was not what they call shrewd or sharp at all- better she had been.” “She was not[AC(1] .” “As you in all likelihood know, she was simple-minded enough to think that the sale was in a way binding.
His measured, springless walk was the walk of the
the skilled countryman as distinct from the desultory shamble of the general labourer;
while in the turn and plant of each foot there was, further, a dogged and cynical indifference, personal to himself, showing its presence even in the regularly interchanging fustian folds, now in the left leg, now in the right, as he paced along.
“Don’t take against me- though I was
a drinking man once, and used your mother roughly- I’ll be kinder to you than, he was! I’ll do anything, if you will only look upon me as your father
“And unless you give me your promise this very night to be my wife, before a witness, I’ll
reveal our intimacy- in common fairness to other men!”
Yet he was not only the same man, but
that man, with his sinister qualities, formerly latent, quickened into life by his buffetings.
(ending) Henchard had been seen…
walking steadily along the Melchester highway eastward, at twelve o’clock at night- in other words, retracing his steps on the road by which he had come
Friendship between man and man;
what a rugged strength there was in it, as evinced by these two.
He was years younger than
the Mayor of Casterbridge; fair, fresh, and slenderly handsome.
Now this was not strictly true; but that something about the young man- “that
hyperborean crispness, stringency, and charm, as of a well-braced musical instrument,” which had awakened the interest of Henchard,
what country dialect does ej exhibit
bold handwriting
kindness to servants
describe how ej feel sin chapter 20 when henchard distances himself from her
“a dumb, deep-feeling, great-eyed creature,”
inital impression of lucetta from elizabeth jane
“her anxiety not to…
The listener is kind, but “her anxiety not to condemn Henchard while siding with Elizabeth” is “curious.”
describe lucettas house
access possible from many directions
has a room overlooking the market
lucetta’s feelings at meeting donald
“Her emotions rose, fell, undulated, filled her with wild surmise at their suddenness.”
lucetta gets a new dress in chapter 24
“of a deep cherry colour”
when does henchard propose marriage to lucetta
after she has become inaccessible due to relationship with farfrae
why is jopp fired
for not advising against the speculation
henchard and farfraes visits to the soothsayer chapter 26
The great difference between Henchard and Farfrae is thrown into bold relief when Henchard visits the soothsayer for a prediction. It becomes clear that Henchard lives in the past and Donald is the man of the future.
what happens with an accident under lucettas window
An accident occurs beneath Lucetta’s window, involving Henchard’s and Donald’s hay wagons. Lucetta and Elizabeth-Jane both side with Donald’s driver. Henchard is brought to the scene where he gives instructions to Constable Stubberd. The constable tells him that there is only one case pending in the town court, that of a disorderly old woman. Henchard tells him that he will hear the case in the absence from town of Mayor Chalkfield.
whend oes lucetta find out about the wifesale
chapter 28
Elizabeth-Jane is a stickler for propriety, is,
“indeed, almost vicious” in her condemnation of any form of waywardness.
Henchard at his lowest point in chapter 31
“The black hair and whiskers were
the same as ever, but a film of ash was over the rest.”
cyclical parallism between henchard and farfrae, chapter 32
when farfrae asks henchard to stay in casterbridge just like when henchard once asked him
in chater 32 henchard takes a lot of notice of
Henchard begins to haunt one of the town’s bridges which has become known for its attraction to failures and suicides
when does henchard start drinking again
chapter 32 after his jealousies of farfrae return
what happens in chapter 33
henchard convinces the choir to sing a song called ill got riches to target farfrae and lucetta
henchard pitied by able whittle
henchard receives a compromising letter from lucetta
ej tries to keep him away from drink by bringing him tea.
she sees him make a furtive gesture as if he intended to push donal out the opening to his death on the top floor of the corn building. shes so scared she informs donald.
when does farfrae become mayor
chapter 33
who acts “Imprudence incarnate,”
lucetta in sending the comprimising letter in chapter 32
chapter 32 farfrae and henchard parallism
With his election as Mayor of Casterbridge, Farfrae now owns everything Henchard had owned when they met.
how do the letters become public knowledge
While on his way to deliver the package, Jopp encounters Mother Cuxsom and Nance Mockridge, who invite him to an inn called Peter’s Finger in Mixen Lane, a place of evil repute near Casterbridge. At the gathering, when the furmity woman asks Jopp what the parcel contains, his bitterness at Lucetta comes out and he reveals the contents. Jopp proceeds to read the letters to the assembled company.
when henchard decides not to kill farfrae
The “womanliness” of his posture “sat tragically on the figure of so stern a piece of virility.”
in chapter 40 henchard scolds himself as a
“like a less scrupulous Job.”
when newson introduces himself
“Henchard’s face and eyes seemed to die.”
why des henchard not kill himself in chapter 41
He goes to Ten Hatches — the name of the junction where the river runs deep — and contemplates suicide. Suddenly he sees his exact image floating in the water. He has a superstitious change of heart and returns home to find Elizabeth-Jane awaiting him.
when does ej turn against hechard again
chapter 43 after discovering newson
henchards death
Abel Whittle shows Elizabeth-Jane Henchard’s crudely written but deeply moving will. Michael Henchard’s last requests are that no formal ceremonies accompany his burial and that Elizabeth-Jane not be informed of his death. Though Elizabeth-Jane now feels deep sorrow at having been unkind to Michael, she nevertheless respects his strong determination and abides by the rude testament. She devotes the rest of her life to her husband and to the needs of the less fortunate.
analysis of henchards death
This chapter shows Michael Henchard as a tragic figure. The reader understands that all Michael’s sins have been expiated, not by his death, but through his suffering. His suffering, of course, is the direct result of his rash behavior as a young man. Yet there is an ennobling quality about his last actions, since they are motivated by love of another human being. His love and kindness toward Elizabeth-Jane are mirrored in Abel Whittle’s tender care and devotion.
The symbolism of the starved goldfinch is quite effective since Henchard, himself, becomes sick and is unable to take nourishment. Furthermore, an added subtextual symbol is evident in the fact that Henchard, too, is starved to death for want of Elizabeth-Jane’s love.
“its squareness was
indeed the characteristic which msot strukck the eye”
“country and town
met at a mathematical line”
“untouched by the
faintest sprinkle of modernisation”
