The Mayor Of Casterbridge Essay -- essays research papers

LiteratureThe Mayor of CasterbridgeCan it be said that Henchards downfall is all due to some great computer error? Some may believe that it is a penance for selling Susan, but this would be to take Newson out of the equation, who, it must be said, is just as iniquitous of this act as Henchard. I believe that Henchard is totally blameless for his downfall, to use a bad pun that will become apparent later, it is in his nature. It is my whim that Henchard is a personification of nature. It is obvious that his life has completed a revolution but when you look closely, you can see that Henchards life resembles the seasons.Our first image of Henchard is one of winter, his clothing is described as &8230a short jacket of brown corduroy&8230white horn buttons&8230and a straw hat overlaid with black glaze canvas. Black, brown and white conjure images of the countryside in the heart of winter for me. Hechards life is in a rather bad point but things start facial expression up when he sell s Susan, it is at this point that he moves into spring. We are told little of what happens between Susans sale and when she comes looking for him but I would say that during this period Henchard passes by spring as he gives up liquor and moves into summer when he becomes mayor. When we next see Henchard he is on the brink of autumn, his progression down by dint of the social strata is very autumnal as his creeps, inch by inch, t...