The Sale of a Wife
A hay-trusser of fine figure and stern aspect, Henchard is drunk and cynical, offering his wife for sale at the furmity tent.
Chapter II
Awakens to the reality of selling his wife, takes an oath of sobriety, and searches for his family before settling in Casterbridge.
III
Mentioned as the man who sold his wife at the fair eighteen years ago and left word he was going to Casterbridge.
IV
Mentioned by passersby in Casterbridge, confirming he is still alive and in the area.
V
Presides as Mayor at the dinner, defends himself against criticism over bad bread, and announces he is seeking a manager.
Chapter VI
Receives Farfrae's note, becomes thoughtful, and later leaves the King's Arms to head toward the Three Mariners.
Chapter VII
Meets Farfrae at the inn, offers him a manager position, reveals his past vow of temperance and regret over a past deed.
VIII
Pauses outside the inn, drawn by Farfrae's singing, and reflects on his loneliness and desire to keep Farfrae in Casterbridge.
IX
Persuades Farfrae to stay in Casterbridge and work for him, showing strong impulsive attachment.
The Return of Susan and Elizabeth-Jane
Shocked and emotional upon learning Susan is alive; writes a secret note and gives money, showing both guilt and a desire to control the situation.
XI
Arranges a secret meeting with Susan at the Amphitheatre, proposes a plan to remarry her while concealing their past, and asserts he has stopped drinking.
XII
Reveals his past to Farfrae, including the sale of his wife and his oath; struggles with the moral dilemma of choosing between Susan and the Jersey woman.
XIII
Henchard remarries Susan, driven by duty and a desire to make amends, despite the social cost and lack of romantic passion.
XIV
Shows kindness to his wife and Elizabeth-Jane, paints the house, and enjoys Farfrae's company, though with a tendency to domineer.
Chapter XV
Displays authoritarian and harsh behavior toward Abel Whittle, while also feeling a dim dread and regret regarding his friendship with Farfrae.
XVI
Mayor and corn-factor; grows reserved and jealous of Farfrae, organizes a grand public festival, but is humiliated when Farfrae's rival event draws the crowd; in a jealous outburst, he tells Farfrae his employment is ending.
Chapter XVII
Dismisses Farfrae, forbids Elizabeth-Jane from seeing him, writes a stern letter, and begins a bitter commercial rivalry with Farfrae.
XVIII
Receives a letter from Lucetta, arranges to meet her but she does not appear; treats Susan kindly but is irritable; is left a widower.
XIX
Reveals his paternity to Elizabeth-Jane, then discovers from Susan's letter that she is not his biological daughter; struggles with disappointment and decides to keep the secret.
Chapter XX
Angry over not being elected alderman and Elizabeth-Jane's perceived social missteps; writes to Farfrae withdrawing his objection to courtship.
Chapter XXI
Surprised by Elizabeth-Jane's immediate departure; tries to persuade her to stay but fails; his coldness toward her is evident.
XXII
Receives letters from Lucetta, feels emotional void after learning Elizabeth-Jane is not his daughter, becomes interested in renewing their relationship, attempts to visit but is refused.
XXIII
Attempts to visit Lucetta but is turned away; his neglect and past compromise of Lucetta are recalled.
Chapter XXIV
Appears at the market, greets Elizabeth-Jane and Lucetta dryly, ridicules the new drill, and seems to reproach Lucetta with the words 'You refused to see me!'
XXV
Calls on Lucetta and awkwardly proposes marriage, but is rebuffed; his smoldering passion for her grows.
XXVI
Henchard confronts Farfrae about a past woman, grows suspicious of Farfrae's relationship with Lucetta, and hires Jopp to undermine Farfrae's business.
XXVII
Forces Lucetta to promise marriage; intervenes in a wagon fight; spies on Lucetta and Farfrae; broods over his financial losses and suspects supernatural interference.
XXVIII
Presides as magistrate, hears the old woman's accusation, and admits the truth of selling his wife.
Chapter XXIX
Rescues Lucetta from the bull, proposes a false engagement to secure credit from Grower, and later threatens Lucetta after her marriage.
Chapter XXX: The Revelation of Lucetta's Marriage
Referenced as the man Lucetta was bound to by promise; Elizabeth-Jane insists she should marry him or no one.
XXXI
Henchard's past is exposed, leading to his social and financial ruin; he offers his possessions to creditors and later sells his watch to help a small creditor.
Chapter XXXII
Fallen from mayor to day-labourer, Henchard works for Farfrae, lives in a cottage, and bitterly counts down the days until his sobriety oath ends.
Chapter XXXIII
Now a journeyman hay-trusser in Farfrae's yard, Henchard is consumed by bitterness, sarcastically humiliates Lucetta, nearly pushes Farfrae from a high floor, forces a choir to sing a vengeful Psalm, and bends a poker in a show of suppressed strength.
XXXIV
Hates Farfrae and speaks against him publicly; visits Farfrae to retrieve letters, reading Lucetta's passionate letters aloud but withholding her name.
XXXV
Reads Lucetta's letters to Farfrae, then meets Lucetta at the Ring where her resemblance to his late wife softens his heart; he agrees to return the letters and keep her secret.
Chapter XXXVI
Gives Jopp a sealed package of Lucetta's letters to deliver, avoiding being seen at her house.
Chapter XXXVII
Henchard, in worn garments, publicly approaches the royal carriage with a homemade flag, is dragged back by Farfrae, and then withdraws.
Chapter XXXVIII
Plans and nearly executes a murderous revenge on Farfrae, but stops himself out of lingering affection and remorse.
Chapter XL
Desperate and repentant, Henchard pursues Farfrae to warn him of Lucetta's illness, but is mistrusted. He later paces the streets in anguish and finds solace only in Elizabeth-Jane.
XLI
Henchard is in deep despair, contemplates suicide, and later deceives Newson to keep Elizabeth-Jane.
Chapter XLII
Struggles with jealousy over Farfrae's attention to Elizabeth-Jane, fights his possessive instincts, and contemplates revealing her true parentage.
XLIII
Leaves Casterbridge alone, reverting to working clothes, after confessing to Elizabeth-Jane and giving his blessing to her marriage.
XLIV
Travels eastward in despair, revisits Weydon Priors, reflects on selling his wife, feels guilt and love for Elizabeth-Jane, returns to Casterbridge on her wedding day, enters the house through the kitchen.
XLV
Has disappeared after leaving the Farfraes' door; he left a birdcage as a wedding gift for Elizabeth-Jane, but is now a changed man, wandering alone.
