IT GETS WORSE!

Faith Schaffer, Dom Rende, Caroline Caldwell, & Joe Laspragota

Day one:  Chapter 1-5 (Joe)

-Discussion on the tone

-Slow pace of the novel

-Henchard auctions off his wife and daughter at a fair (while drunk)

-After sobering up, Henchard feels regret and travels to find his family.   He also swears an oath to not drink for 21 years

-Predictions on the how the book will progress

-Discussion on the imagery so far

Day two:  Chapter 6-19 (Caroline)

-How are the landlady of the Three Mariners and the woman of the furmity tent similar?

-Elizabeth's lighter hair as a hint that something is amiss

-Chapter 15:  conflict between Henchard and Farfrae begins

-The festival in Casterbridge:  Henchard is the mayor, yet Farfrae appears to be showing him up (the tent and the weather)

-Discussion on the exumation of Susan

-Irony:  After the death of Susan, Henchard decides to tell Elizabeth-Jane the truth about her family's past.  He tells her he is her father and the he wants her to take his name.  He then opens a letter from Susan that says Elizabeth is actually Newson's daughter and that the real Elizabeth-Jane died shortly after the fair.

-Timing in the book is terrible.  Elizabeth begins to show affection toward Henchard as he becomes distant because of the letter.  When Elizabeth leaves for High Place Hall, to live with Lucetta, Henchard asks her to stay because he realizes that his reaction has been despicable.

Day three:  Chapter 20-30 (Dom)

-Is it a fair reaction for Henchard to be distant toward Elizabeth-Jane?

-With the news that Henchard's mayoral term is up and that he will not be an aldermen, is there evidence that Farfrae will step in?

-Discussion on Henchard's luck with love

-Was Lucetta serious about having a relationship with Henchard or was it a game?

-Henchard's jealousy is turning to vengeance

-Discussion:  the return of the furmity hag and break of the "scandal"

After the bull incident, Henchard and Lucetta walk home while Farfrae and Elizabeth-Jane drive home.  Is there symbolism that Henchard represents the old and Farfrae the new?

     -Henchard criticized the new agricultural equipment

-Irony: Henchard tried to get rid of Farfrae to keep him from Elizabeth-Jane (unknown to him that Susan wished to see them marry).  Henchard then courts Lucetta, his love from Jersey before reuniting with Susan, only to discover that Farfrae has married her secretly.  Henchard drives love away and although he seems to get a second chance, he looses it. {Susan died, Elizabeth-Jane I died, Elizabeth II moved out, Lucetta married the friend who became a rival}

-The irony of the corn:  Henchard thought he was prepared for a bad harvest but lost money.  Farfrae did the same thing but later which gave him an advantage when the harvest actually was bad.

Day four:  Chapter 31-35 (Faith)

-Farfrae is steeling the show.  Henchard convinced him to stay and in the end the two men appear to swap roles.

-Discussion on the power of reputation

     -Furmity woman destroys Henchard as Henchard's relationship with Lucetta destroyed her life in Jersey.

-Major theme:  everything comes full circle

     -Henchard becomes a hay-trusser again

-Discussion on Henchard and alcohol

-Farfrae is naive in the sense that he is flabbergasted that Henchard dislikes him

Day five:  Chapter 36-40

-Lucetta dies, Henchard distraught.

-Jopp plays a bigger role than expected

-Irony:  Henchard refused to reveal his past with Lucetta yet those not scorned (such as Jopp) take it upon themselves to perform the skimmity-ride

     -Kills Lucetta (seizure)

     -Saves Henchard (reflection at the bridge)

-The little boy who cried wolf relation (sort of):  Henchard knew Farfrae was headed to Weatherbury but no one would believe him

Day six:  Chapter 41-45 (Caroline)

-Fear of loosing Elizabeth-Jane leads to actions that alienate her (hiding the return of Newson)

-Discussed end of book

-Questions left unanswered. How did Henchard die? Why did Elizabeth choose to respect his wishes?

-Newson comes back, he's not really dead. He lives with his daughter.

-Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae are married

-Discussion: the development of the relationship between Henchard and Farfrae

-Talked about overall feelings toward the book. Group consensus, we did not enjoy it due to vapid, drawn-out storyline and irrational characters.

     -(The plot is not bad but the writing, except the dialogue, is dull)

-Discussed how we intend to present book to class

_{The novel comes full circle like a soap opera}