[T]hey laid a slippery pole, with a live
pig . . . tied at the other end, to become the property of the man
who could walk over and get it.
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Summary: Chapter XV
Henchard and Farfrae have a quarrel over the treatment
of Abel Whittle, a man who is consistently late for his job in Henchard’s hay-yard.
When Whittle is late for work the day after Henchard reprimands
him for his tardiness, Henchard goes to his house, drags him out
of bed, and sends him to work without his breeches. When Farfrae
sees Whittle, who claims that he will later kill himself rather than
bear this humiliation, he tells him to go home and dress properly.
Henchard and Farfrae confront each other, and Farfrae threatens
to leave. The two men reconcile, but Henchard, upset by Farfrae’s
insubordination, thinks on him with “dim dread” and regrets having
“confided to him the secrets of his life.”
Summary: Chapter XVI
A festival day in celebration of a national event is suggested
to the country at large, but Casterbridge is slow to make plans.
One day, Farfrae asks Henchard if he can borrow some waterproof
cloths to organize a celebration. Henchard tells him he can have
as many cloths as he wants. Henchard is inspired to plan events
for the holiday and begins to organize a grand entertainment on
an elevated green close to the town. When the day of the festival
arrives, the weather is overcast, and it rains by midday. Henchard’s
celebration is ruined, but Farfrae’s, which takes place under a
tent he has ingeniously constructed, goes off without a hitch.
Henchard sees Farfrae at the center of a great ball, dancing with
Elizabeth-Jane. Prominent townspeople tease Henchard, remarking
that Farfrae will soon surpass his master. Henchard replies that
no such thing will happen, stating that Farfrae will shortly be
leaving the business.
Summary: Chapter XVII
Elizabeth-Jane regrets that she has upset Henchard by
dancing with Farfrae. She leaves the tent and stands thinking. After
a short time, Farfrae joins her to say that, were circumstances
different, he would have asked her something that night. He tells
her that he is thinking of leaving Casterbridge, and she says that
she wishes he would stay. Later, she is relieved to hear that Farfrae
has purchased a small corn and hay business of his own in Casterbridge.
Upset by what he takes to be Farfrae’s coup, Henchard requests that
Elizabeth-Jane break all ties with Farfrae and sends a letter to
Farfrae asking the same from him. Elizabeth-Jane dutifully obeys
Henchard and engages in no further contact with Farfrae. As Farfrae’s
new business grows, Henchard becomes increasingly embittered.
Summary: Chapter XVIII
Susan falls ill. Henchard receives a letter from Lucetta
Templeman, the woman from Jersey with whom he was having an affair.
In it she says that she honors his decision to remarry his first
wife and understands the impossibility of any further communication
between them. She also requests that he return to her the love letters
she has written him. She suggests that he do her this favor in person
and announces that she will be on a coach passing through Casterbridge.
Henchard goes to meet the coach, but Lucetta is not there.
Meanwhile, Susan has gotten worse. One night, she asks Elizabeth-Jane
to bring her a pen and paper. She writes a letter, which she seals
and marks, “Mr. Michael Henchard. Not to be opened till Elizabeth-Jane’s
wedding-day.” Susan also admits to Elizabeth-Jane that it was she
who wrote the notes that caused Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae to meet
at the farm, hoping that the two would fall in love and marry.
Soon thereafter, Susan dies. Farfrae hears some of the
old inhabitants of the village discussing her death. One villager,
Mother Cuxsom, relates that Susan had laid out all the necessary
preparations for her burial, including four pennies for weighing
down her eyes. After Susan is buried, Christopher Coney, a poor
townsman, digs up her body to retrieve the pennies, arguing that
death should not rob life of fourpence.
