The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Quiz

Answer: Michael Henchard--twice

Susan and Michael marry for the first time when they are about 18. Susan lives with Newson and bears his child, but she never marries him. Then she marries Henchard again when the two are middle-aged.

Answer: Susan Henchard and Mr. Newson

The first little Elizabeth Jane, Michael's daughter, dies after Susan goes off with Mr. Newson. When Susan and Newson have their own little daughter, Susan names this child Elizabeth Jane, as well.

Answer: Her husband sells her to Newson

Michael Henchard gets drunk at a country fair and offers his wife for sale to whoever will offer him five pounds. Mr. Newson happens to come along and offer this sum. Susan, who is fed up (and naive enough to think her husband may lawfully sell her), goes with the man who has "bought" her. Luckily, he turns out to be very kind.

Answer: They are searching for Michael Henchard

After Mr. Newson is lost at sea, Susan decides to search for her lawful husband, even though he treated her so poorly long ago. She and her daughter have very little money, and Susan hopes that Henchard can help to support them.

Answer: refrain from drinking alcohol

Henchard believes that strong drink led him to wrong his wife and child.

Answer: Mr. Farfrae

Before Henchard's wife returns, Lucetta falls in love with him while nursing the man through an illness. Henchard breaks his engagement to Lucetta after Susan reappears. After Susan's death, Lucetta happens to meet and fall for Farfrae when she moves to Casterbridge in hopes of finally getting Henchard to marry her.

Answer: pretty, highly-strung, loving

Lucetta takes Elizabeth Jane's beau, but the older woman does not know that Elizabeth loves Farfrae. Lucetta deeply loves Donald and will do anything to keep him from finding out that she had a bad reputation in her former home, Jersey. After the skimmington reveals Lucetta's former connection with Henchard, the woman dies of shock (plus, she is pregnant).

Answer: pretty, long-suffering, smart

She does not get her just reward until the very end of the novel: finally, Donald marries her as he had meant to do before Lucetta appeared on the scene. At first I liked Elizabeth far better than Lucetta, but by the end of the book I was not so sure: E. is just a little too much of a martyr and a goody two shoes (like Fanny Price in "Mansfield Park").

Answer: He is deeply flawed but the reader feels sorry for him

Henchard keeps making grave errors due to his impulsiveness, his hot temper, his distrust of others, and his addiction to drink. However, he often repents of his misdeeds and tries very hard to make up for them. Penniless and friendless, he dies a sad death. The novel is a typical Hardy-esque tragedy.

Answer: that no one should mourn for or remember him

His will is all about what NOT to do for him after he dies. The short document ends: "...and that no man remember me. To this I put my name. MICHAEL HENCHARD."