Michael Henchard’s life is a series Essay

Michael Henchards keep is a series of unnameable happenings, which leads to self destruction. However, deciding whether Michael Henchard is amenable for his own downfall and to what extent is something which inescapably a lot of deliberation before sitting an answer. There ar different factors which need to be looked at before deciding this, lots(prenominal) as whether it was Henchards deformity, or whether he could have stopped the disaster from happening. The only way to determine whether or non Henchard is totally responsible for his own downfall is to look at each disaster which occurs in the unexampled and therefore see whether he could have prevented it or not. bring outset directly from the initiation, the invention begins with Michael Henchard travelling with his married woman and daughter and then fish fillet at a furmity tent for some food. Michael nifty away pertinacious that he lacked some rum in his furmity. He winked to her, and passed up his basin i n reply to her nod when she took a bottle from chthonian the table, slily measu expiration out a quantity of its contents, and tipped the same into the globes furmity. The liquor poured in was rum. He soon got drunk afterwards several helpings of it and when his wife tried to quieten him a little.He then began to ramble about how better off he would be without her. I married at eighteen, like the fool that I was and this is the consequence ot. It is clear to the audition that Henchard is a rude and careless character. Henchards locating and behaviour is influenced by alcohol, and it appears to the audience that his wife, Susan is aware of this. his wife, who seemed accustomed to such remarks, acted as if she did not hear them The scene is set for a foreboding novel when portly expresses his musical noteings about nature and mankind in the first severalise of the novel. He compares nature and mankind.In contrast with the harshness of the act alone ended within the tent w as the sight of several horses crossing necks and friction each new(prenominal) lovingly, as they waited in patience to be harness After Michael spending his evening absorbing rum, he began auctioning his wife to some(prenominal)body who would deprave her. A sailor offered Michael Henchard 5 guineas for both hi wife and daughter. Michael would not sell them for any less. Susan gave Henchard one last chance to say he didnt mean it before she left with the sailor as it wasnt a joke no more(prenominal). A joke? Of course it is not a joke Shouted her husband.With this his wife and daughter left with the prospered bidder. Michael Henchard losing his wife and child was the first disaster. This disaster was without a doubt Michaels fault. He had decided to have rum with his furmity, even though he had had it before, knowing that he makes him drunk, and he knew he had tried to sell his wife before. He should have known not to have too much, if any liquor, and because he chose to do so in the knowledge that he has a sharpness of a drinking problem, this makes the integral disaster hid fault. I do not think that any blame can be passed onto his wife.Susan felt the contempt that Michael had for her. Henchard shows he has integrity once sober, when he posterior declension selling his wife and daughter and goes to search for her. Well I moldiness walk about till I find her This shows a imperious view to Henchard, for taking the time to recover the mis crawfish he made. He also made an oath not to drink for 21 years, payable to his hideous behaviour the previous night. In contrast to this, he new-fangledr blames Susan for his atrocious attitude and behaviour and appears actually angry at her. hold her, why didnt she know better than being me into this disgrace He roared out. In the next part of the novel, Susan finds Henchard as a sure-fire man of affairs as mayor of a small town called Castorbridge. Mr. Henchard- now dress no presbyopicer as a gr eat personage, but as a thriving business man. Henchard has worked hard and had a lot of function to get to where he is now. He needs to continue being successful and hard working in order to prevent his own downfall, as Henchard has much more to lose now. Henchard meets a Scottish man called Donald Farfrae by accident but takes a liking to him and employs him in order to sum up his wealth.Farfrae has inventive machines which are useful to flock. it is true that I am in the corn trade I have some inventions useful to the trade Farfrae appears to be a helpful, kind, gentleman, who is willing to help and is a good citizen. Hardy describes how the town of Castorbridge have already taken a liking to Farfrae. The audience can view Henchards jealousy of Farfrae. By this time he had on the whole taken possession of the hearts of the Three Mariners inmates. After 19 years Henchards daughter, Elizabeth-Jane returns with a cognitive content from his wife Susan.Henchard is over-whelme d to see EJ again. He shows her around his beautiful home and makes her feel very wel summate. He is highly surprised to hear that his wife whom he had sold many years ago remains subsisting. Oh Susan is still a get going? He asked with difficulty. By Hardy expressing how Henchard speaks about Susan reflects his true feelings for her. Henchard doesnt necessarily love Susan still, but he does show contempt for her towards EJ. Henchard informs Farfrae of his disastrous olden when he sold his wife and child EJ. Well, I woolly my wife nineteen years ago or so -by my own fault By Henchard admitting to doing something wrong shows he has integrity again. By Henchard being completely honest with his business partner, the audience see the corroboratory side to him come out again. Henchards downfall continues from his relationship with Farfrae. Hardy describes the liking Henchard has for Farfrae. This is use to make Henchards downfall look bigger than if Henchard wasnt so involved and cl ose to Farfrae.Henchard and Susan are not lovers anymore and Susan meets him at the palisade, an amphitheatre near Castorbridge which Hardy describes as, seldom had place in the amphitheatre, that of bright lovers. Even though Susan and Henchard are not close anymore, Henchard shows sensitivity towards Susan and begins their conversation in a peculiar way. I dont drink anymore. This is Henchard asking to prove a point to Susan that he regrets what he did, by telling her that he now feels responsible for his actions shows a collateral side to Henchard. Susan and EJ see a lot more of Henchard and after a while EJ becomes closer to Michael and spends more time with him than she does her mother.As the bond grows between the two, Henchard requests for EJs name to be changed to Miss. Henchard in its place of Miss. Newson. Now, Susan, I want to have her called Miss. Henchard- not Miss. Newson it is her legal name-so it may as well be made her usual name- I dont like tother name at al l for my own flesh and simple eye. She wont object. No. O no. But- Well, then, I shall do it, said he, peremptorily. The audience see a stubborn and self-centred side to Michael here. In contrast to this the audience can also see how much Henchard wants EJ to become part of his family again by name.This again shows that he is dirty for what he done. Michael seems rather pushy towards Susan. Susan is slightly hesitant about the whole situation. Taking a situation like this upon himself, without his wife actually agreeing is very selfish of Henchard. The audience notices Susans hesitance and begin to champion an accounting for this. Hardy includes another character Abel Whittle in order to represent the variation in character between Henchard and Farfrae. Abel is employed by Henchard and when Abel is late Henchard uses an insensitive approach on Whittle.Quite the reverse to this Farfrae shows a more kind and gentle approach towards him. This sparks jealousy of Henchard on Farfrae . A sense of disruption in their relationship occurs and the audience can see the beginning of Henchards downfall. Henchard also becomes jealous of Farfrae when he begins to bond with EJ. Henchard doesnt want to run the risk of losing EJ therefore dispenses with Farfrae. Mr. Farfraes time as my handler is drawing to a close- isnt it Farfrae? He did this because he loves EJ, but he also wants to book his good name and does not wish for Farfrae to take over everything.Hardy is clever, in the way he creates the characters Henchard and Farfrae. He makes Henchards character the complete opposite to that of Farfrae. This gives the audience a great arrangement and knowledge of each character therefore theyre able to call in what will occur after each turning point to each character. Henchard realises he is in yet another disaster. Michael had not too long before his wife and daughter had found him, spent the night with a woman called Lucetta. He had then promised to marry her so she c an keep her virtue. He did this thinking that Susan and EJ had died.This of course means he cannot marry Lucetta. Susan becomes to under the weather to leave her bed, therefore Henchard and EJ are expected to look after her. In the mean time Lucetta tells Henchard she wants her letters back, and that she wishes to meet him at the antelope hotel. I shall be in the coach, which changes horses at the antelope hotel at half past five on Wednesday evening I shall be wearing a Paisley shawl with a red centre, and this may be easily found. I should prefer this plan of receiving them to having them send. I remain still, yours ever. LUCETTA .Hardy includes a lot of specific description in Lucettas letter, which shows a strong character to Lucetta. Thomas Hardy has a strong point of putting across the personalities of characters to the audience. Michael is in a bit of a tricky situation here, with Susan too ill to get out of bed, and Lucetta requesting to see him. Henchard has put himself in this mess in the first place, by assuming that Susan and EJ were dead. On the other hand Henchard shows positive again by being honest with Lucetta, informing her of the unexpected arrival of his who he idea was dead wife and child.When the traumatic death of Mrs. Henchard occurs, the lonely sad life of Michael Henchard appears. The only person he now cares about and has got left is Elizabeth Jane. EJ has lost her mother and Henchard wants EJ to know who her father is. EJ is originally shocked at what she has on the button heard but then settles nicely and begins called him dad. The next catastrophe which happens, Henchard walks straight into himself. Susan left a letter in an envelope for Henchard stating Not to be rotateed until the wedding of EJ.The audience immediately know that Henchard will open the letter by the anxious character which Hardy has created. EJ isnt real Henchards daughter. Henchard feels that fate is against him and he begins to feel separated from EJ. Wi thout Henchards ardor and self-concerned attitude towards everything, Henchard would be able to continue his happy life with his daughter, absent-minded to the fact that she isnt his own. Hardys efforts to put across the disposition of Michael Henchard at the beginning of the novel are very successful. Throughout the novel Henchards downfall has just increased by the day.The language utilize at the beginning of the novel is exceptionally descriptive. First impressions of Henchard are positive from reading the first page. The negative side begins to show when he reaches the furmity tent. By chapter 31 Hardy shows that Henchard has sunk socially and financially. He has to go and live with Joshua Jopp and refuses to see anyone. Socially he had received a startling fillip downwards and, having already lost commercial buoyancy from rash transactions, the velocity of his descent in both aspects became accelerated every hour. Farfrae and EJ decide to get married. Henchard shows integr ity by attending but EJ just cant forgive Henchard for what he did and walks away form him. He bought a golden warbler as a wedding present, which Hardy uses as a symbolism of Henchards life. Some people may have different opinions on why Henchard went downhill. Some people may put it down to fate. Others may think that Henchard is entirely responsible for all that happened. Hardy leaves this decision quite an widely open. Henchards character has an extreme effect on other people and how their lives are lived, especially EJs.