Narrative Technique in Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge

The most provocative and striking narrative technique of Hardy in The Mayor of Casterbride is the presentation of a shockingly curious and curiously shocking event in the very beginning of the novel. In the first chapter 'Auction' Hardy narrates the central crucial event about a drunkard husband selling his wife and children at the auction.


Thomas Hardy

While reading this event we feel shocked. We become so shocked that we could not help asking several questions - 'How can even a drunkard sell his wife in a mood of drinking? Is this event possible in real life? Poor woman' How can she manage to live after being sold by her husband? We doubt about the nature of this man- what kind of man Henchard is?

By presenting this shockingly arresting event in the very beginning of the novel Hardy wanted to occupy the foreground of the reader's attention. This technique proved to be super-effective. In this novel this technique of including a prologue-section serves the following purposes-

* To make the auction section stand out from the rest of the book.

* To shock the reader and capture their interest immediately.

* To draw the readers into the world of Wessex and separate the readers from their own time.

* To focus on the destructive nature of Henchard's character and his powerlessness to overcome his fate.

The equally effective technique of Hardy in The Mayor of Casterbridge is the technique of coincidences and foreshadowing. The sudden arrival of Farfrae, the sudden death of Susan Henchard, Henchard's celebration fiasco, the unexpected arrival of Elizabeth Jane's real lather - all these events are coincidence. They all came, all of a sudden. Apart from this technique of coincidence there is in use another technique of foreshadowing. Every symbolic use of language and things suggest the forthcoming tragic plight of the backsliding and falling protagonist Henchard. The falling rain at the moment of Hencard - Susan reunion foreshadows the forthcoming death of Susan.

Closely associated with the thematic structure is the technique of symbolism. At the time of selling his wife and daughter to a sailor around the furmity tent, Henchard happened to see a flying bird. This bird symbolizes the absolute freedom Henchard was going to achieve after selling his wife to a sailor. To bring into vivid prominence the tragic plight of Henchard, Hardy used the symbol of a, caged bird. To throw spotlight upon the downward movement of Henchared, Hardy used the images of hostile nature and rain. To dramatize the impulsive and instinctive nature of Henchard, Hardy describes him in term of beastly creature like a fangless lion and raging bull. Just as the technique of coincidence and foreshadowing adds vigor to the fatalistic nature of the plot, the technique of symbolism brings into life of Hardy's vision of Man's tragic position in the universe.

Hardy's next equally important technique is the technique of elevation. The inner tussle between Farfrae and Michael Henchard lies at the heart of the novel. To highlight this tussle Hardy has given a biblical dimension to them. The battle between Farfrae and Henchard is - extended to the biblical level of the battle between Saul and King David. Farfrae symbol of song and music, comes from a far land, befriends Henchard, eats Henchard's Salt and ultimately replaces Henchard exactly like Kind David seeks Saul's (an impulsive and angry man like Henchard) company and ultimately dethrones him. By describing the querulous and competitive battle between Henchard and Farfrae has brought into forefront the timeless theme of politeness and rational moderation becoming victorious over impetuosity and aggression.

The technique of juxtaposition is also thematically relevant. Henchard is represented as the dark forces of tradition and instinct whereas Farfrae is represented as light of rationality and practicality because both Henchard and Farfrae often enter into conflicting course of action, light and dark images are often combined to highlight the their conflicting ambitions and desires.

The last but not the least technique is the techniques of folklore. Like folklore, Hardy's novel presents a lost and sold wife reunited with her husband. Like a folklore his novel narrates about a lost father meeting his beloved daughter.