HENCHARD AS A TRAGIC HERO

                 Introduction

Tragic hero refers to such a protagonist who continually suffers the tragic consequences despite of all his works, words or conducts pursued either for eliminating them or for some other reasons. Reason being somewhere down the line these actions and words backed up with some destiny or luck are responsible for these consequences to encounter with the protagonist. Henchard was hubris’ victim and as such it became the root cause of some of the tragedies to become part of Henchard’s biography. Besides there were other factors responsible for his life’s tragedies as well as under,

Tragic Beginning

The beginning of the novel itself sounds enough to demonstrate the tragedy that marked the beginning of Henchard’s career. Henchard in a downtrodden drunken state sells off his wife and daughter Susan and Elizabeth-Jane respectively to as sailor Newson for 5 Guineas. As it’s said the importance of air is felt in its absence only; he, by the time could realize his mistake a tragedy was encrypted to his biography with he left with no family.

Envied Friendship

After a tragic start Henchard becomes the mayor of a town named Casterbridge but being pretty unsuccessful in his business he hires an honourable Scotchman named Donald Farfrae as his manager who not just helps him boost his business but also becomes his close friend. But the growing fame of Farfrae and his negligence by the people of the town becomes a cause of jealously for Henchard and he begins despising his own manager and a dear friend thus yielding a tragic consequence of his firing Farfrae and not just losing a good manager and friend but also provoking another tragic incidence in his life; consequence of which he suffers later on in the form of Farfrae’s becoming his business rival with more better skills than himself.

Solitariness

Another tragedy surpasses Henchard in the form of death of his re-courted wife Susan whom he got back again after a long span. Moreover her letter provokes Henchard to add up another tragic incidence for himself. Susan leaves off a note revealing Elizabeth-Jane’s anagorisis of being Newson’s daughter. This revelation turns astound Henchard indignant towards Elizabeth-Jane thus making her and own self estranged and alone respectively.

Re-failure of love

To Henchard’s surprise Lucetta moves in to Casterbridge and solitary Henchard intends courting her, thus proposing her for marriage. Estranged Elizabeth-Jane coincidently meets her and finally moves in with her to her house. Thus solitude Henchard proposes Lucetta for marriage with the promise of returning back her love-letters. Hence here too he suffers the tragic incidence.

Superstition, the intruding tragedy

Henchard’s immense belief on superstition also turns out to be a great tragedy when, to know about the weather forecast he seeks the help of a soothsayer unlike Farfrae his arch competitor. This faith over superstition consequently delivered him the incorrect information pertaining to monsoon on which Henchard’s entire harvest relied upon, thus incurring enormous loss without having enough money to keep his clothes together i.e. no money to pay back to the creditors. Consequently after being declared bankrupt his entire property was sealed and used up against his debts with Henchard ending up as a labour in Farfrae’s farm who also bought most of his property.

Tragic Death

Henchard after his insolvency begins to live alone in small place; Elizabeth-Jane after Lucetta’s marriage leaves their house and Henchard reconciles her with both living up together. But again he’s overtaken by the tragedy in the form of Newson’s return and enquiring about Elizabeth-Jane whom he fibs/lies of being dead as well.

But ere Elizabeth’s marriage he turn up again asking her to meet him through anonymous letter. Realizing the truth contained in the future Henchard leaves her and the town. Later on he’s even despised off by her daughter who became well aware of the ultimate truth when he comes with a congratulatory present on her marriage with Farfrae. Traumatically distressed Henchard returns back and just before half an hour of Farfrae’s arrival he meets his tragic climax

Conclusion

Thus despite of all his temporary and fragile happiness Henchard receives ultimately leads him to add up to the previous mishap that occurred either of his misfortune or misdeeds. Throughout his life span, from his becoming mayor to his distressed decease, was the aftermath of his intimate and integral part of life called tragedy. Henceforth it can be fairly concluded that Henchard was a tragic hero.