Symbols in the Mayor of Casterbridge

AP English Literature and Composition Miss Hodge 19 March. 2013 Symbolism in The Mayor of Casterbridge A symbol is an object, person, or figure that is used to represent a concept in the story. Throughout the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, there are three key symbols. All three symbols Hardy uses are objects. These three objects all represent something about the main character, Henchard. One of the three symbols also pertains to Farfrae, another character in the novel. The three symbols are the collision of wagons, the bull, and the caged goldfinch.

All three of the symbols play a large part in this novel and further help the reader understand the concepts of the characters. The first of the symbols is the collision of wagons. The two wagons that collide are grain wagons; one owned by Henchard, and the other wagon owned by Farfrae. The wreck happens at night, and both of the wagons are filled to the brim with hay. One of the wagons gets stuck and has to be left overnight. The violent collision of the two wagons is more than just a wreck which Farfrae’s waggoner thinks “[he] must have done [that] a purpose” (Hardy 179).

This action symbolizes the ongoing struggle of Henchard and Farfrae’s relationship (college prep). In the beginning of their relationship, Henchard is very pleased with Farfrae, but as their lives go on together, Farfrae begins to become more well-liked by the townspeople than Henchard. After more time passes, Henchard grows very jealous of Farfrae and despises him. They are building up great tension between one another, and the collision just adds to it. The wagon collision also symbolizes the traditional ways in which Henchard does his business.

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These practices may be outdated and ineffective, but they are what Henchard stands for and values. On the other hand, Farfrae is very modern in his business, and therefore more effective. Farfrae and his modern attitude have caught the eye of townspeople, and they are intrigued by his way of business. The second symbol is the bull. The bull enters the novel when it chases down Lucetta and Elizabeth into a barn and onto the loft. As they try to get away, Henchard is there to save their lives, mainly Lucetta’s. He gets a old of the bull and guides it to the ground. The bull becomes paralyzed, and its nose begins bleeding. Lucetta is crying and feels blessed she was being saved, but Henchard more so because “[she] once saved [him]” (Hardy 193). Through this action, the reader may begin to feel more sympathetic towards Henchard in the showing of his strength and courage. The bull in the novel also symbolizes the brute forces in the world that threaten human life. Bent on destruction, it seems to embody the unnamed forces Henchard carries.

The third symbol is the caged goldfinch. This object is given to Elizabeth at her wedding, from Henchard. Henchard never actually gives the goldfinch straight to Elizabeth, but he leaves it there in the corner of the room. The bird is forgotten there after Elizabeth coldly greets Henchard, which he takes harshly. When the maid finds the goldfinch, Elizabeth then realizes she needs to set out and find Henchard, but she does not know Henchard is with Able being cared for at Able’s cottage.

The only reason for Able doing this is because; Henchard once cared for his mother. Able feels he needs to return the favor. When Elizabeth finally catches word of Henchard, he is already dead. Henchard “didn’t gain strength, for you see, ma’am, he couldn’t eat” (Hardy 304). The goldfinch symbolizes Henchard in his last days. Both Henchard and the goldfinch are not eating and starve themselves in their last days. Hardy ties Henchard’s fate and the goldfinch’s fate together. Both Henchard and the goldfinch live and die in a prison.

Though Henchard’s was not literal like the goldfinches, he was still imprisoned by his personality and his past. Henchard cannot escape what he has done in the past, and this is being shown with the symbol of the goldfinch. Even Though Elizabeth reaches out to Henchard in the end trying to weather the storm, Henchard still dies isolated and alone (Holtsberry). All three of the symbols play a large part in this novel and farther help the reader understand the concepts of the characters. Therefore the use of the symbols can be understood clearly.

All the symbols reflect an abstract concept. By using the collision of wagons it shows the concept of Henchard and Farfrae’s relationship, and how it takes a turn for the worst. When Hardy uses the bull as a symbol in the novel, it shows the strength and courage of Henchard. The bull also shows the brutal forces surrounding them in their lives. The last symbol is the caged goldfinch. This symbol shows how Henchard lives his life imprisoned in his own actions. Most of the choices Henchard makes that imprison him, he made in the past and when he was a young man.

Even though one of Henchards biggest mistakes he makes is while he is a wise old man. This mistake is when he lies to Elizabeth about being her father. By Hardy using the symbols in The Mayor of Casterbridge the uncommon moods of Henchard are accepted by the reader. Works Cited Hardy, Thomas. The Mayor of Casterbridge. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2004. Print. Holtsberry, Kevin. The Mayor of Casterbridge. Blogcritics. org. Technorati, Inc, 21 May. 2004. Web. 16 March. 2013. Literary Analysis Essay. Collegepreppappers. blogspot. com. 12 March. 2012. Web. 16 March. 2013.

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