The Mayor of Casterbridge · Chapter
XXVII explained
Henchard pressures Lucetta into agreeing to marry him, while Elizabeth-Jane witnesses the coercion.
What happens
Henchard pressures Lucetta into agreeing to marry him, while Elizabeth-Jane witnesses the coercion. A wagon accident involving Henchard's and Farfrae's men leads to a public altercation, and Lucetta and Elizabeth-Jane side with Farfrae's man. Henchard observes Lucetta secretly meeting Farfrae at night. Meanwhile, Farfrae's successful grain trading contrasts with Henchard's losses, and Henchard grows superstitious and paranoid.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this passage, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Henchard, having just witnessed Lucetta’s de…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Pride and Fall
Henchard's pride leads him to force a marriage promise from Lucetta and to blame others for his misfortunes, while Farfrae's rise contrasts with Henchard's decline.
- Deception and Truth
Lucetta hides her true feelings and secret meeting with Farfrae; Henchard's superstitious suspicions reflect his self-deception about his own failures.
- Social Class and Reputation
The wagon accident reveals public siding with Farfrae over Henchard, and Henchard's loss of status is underscored by his man's crude remarks about Farfrae's appeal.
Characters to notice
- Michael Henchard
Forces Lucetta to promise marriage; intervenes in a wagon fight; spies on Lucetta and Farfrae; broods over his financial losses and suspects supernatural interference.
- Lucetta Templeman
Agrees to marry Henchard under duress; witnesses the wagon accident and defends Farfrae's man; secretly meets Farfrae at night.
- Elizabeth-Jane Newson
Comforts Lucetta after Henchard's demand; also witnesses the wagon accident and sides with Farfrae's man; observes Lucetta's secret meeting.
- Donald Farfrae
Prospering in business while Henchard declines; his man is involved in the wagon collision; meets Lucetta secretly at night.
- Stubberd
The old constable who reports a case to Henchard and is told to guard the overturned hay wagon.
Key passages
“I have, I have,” groaned Lucetta, her limbs hanging like fluid, from very misery and faintness. “Michael, please don’t argue it any more!””
Lucetta, in a state of utter misery and weakness, agrees to Henchard's demand and begs him to stop arguing.
Lucetta's reluctant consent to marry Henchard under duress.
“I wonder if it can be that somebody has been roasting a waxen image of me, or stirring an unholy brew to confound me!”
Henchard wonders if someone is using witchcraft against him to cause his misfortunes.
Henchard's superstitious turn of mind in his depression.
