A Desire for Power

The desire for power is seen repetitively in literary works. A desire for power is truly what drives Michael Henchard to his misfortunes and what shapes The Mayor of Casterbridge. Henchard is driven by the want for power as a man, as a mayor, and as a father. Jealousy is fundamentally what costs Henchard his power and causes his pain and suffering. However, even loss of power does not weaken his thirst for it. In fact, it only strengthens his desire, adding more depth to the novel as a whole.

In the beginning of the novel, Henchard is traveling with his wife and infant daughter when they stop in Weydon-Priors for furmity. It is then that the reader becomes aware of Henchard’s drinking problem. He becomes so drunk that he is obnoxiously disrespectful to his wife. It is obvious, even through his drunken rage, that he wants to have power over his wife. In his mind, he is achieving this by humiliating her and making her feel inferior to him. He desires power as a superior man. It is in his rage that he sells his wife, Susan, along with their daughter. This is the first incidence in which a desire for power shifts the novel.

It is evident that he regrets treating his wife the way he did. Because of this incidence, he pledges to stay sober for twenty-one years and promises to remarry Susan if he ever found her. In the next eighteen years, he gains momentum and becomes the mayor of Casterbridge. He is quite a respected man in this town. However, his capability as a leader is questioned when the town undergoes a major crop failure. At this time, Susan and her daughter, Elizabeth-Jane find Henchard, and a newcomer, Farfrae, enters Casterbridge. Farfrae has the solution to the town’s troubles, and he quickly becomes famous in the town. Also, Henchard is reunited with his wife and daughter. All seems well, if only for a little while. When he realizes that Farfrae is now gaining the power that was once his, the monster in Henchard returns. His thirst to regain his power drives him to ruin Farfrae, but to no avail. In doing so, he only starts to turn Casterbridge against him, leaving him powerless.

It is also a drive for power that causes Henchard to deceive his daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. When he finds out that she is not his biological daughter, he becomes bitter towards her, even though she is left in the dark. He pushes her away from him, but layer realizes that he truly does love her. However, she and Farfrae become once again involved after the death of Lucetta. Consequently, Henchard tries to fight for power over Elizabeth-Jane. He still tries to hide the truth that Newson is her real father. When Newson, who was thought to be dead, comes to Casterbridge to see Elizabeth-Jane, Henchard tries to shield her from him, but to no avail. At this point, Henchard has burned all his bridges, and he dies a lonely and miserable man.

The Mayor of Casterbridge portrays both the benefits and disadvantages of having a desire for power. It is this desire that allowed Henchard to become the mayor and become a respected man. However, it is also what caused him to lose all of this and then some. Hardy puts emphasis on the evils of such a desire. The novel offers the insight that power can truly make or break a man.