Compare and contrast the importance of the description of the Amphitheatre in “The Mayor of Casterbridge” and the description of the death of Candy’s dog in “Of Mice and Men”. In particular deal with their implications as omens.

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OMENS IN THE NOVELS

"OF MICE AND MEN"

AND

"THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE

* Compare and contrast the importance of the description of the Amphitheatre in "The Mayor of Casterbridge" and the description of the death of Candy's dog in "Of Mice and Men". In particular deal with their implications as omens.

Throughout these two novels we come across certain parts of the book that almost give you an insight to the ending of the story. In the case of Mice and Men we come across the death of Candy's dog that marks a major omen in the story. In the case of the Mayor of Casterbridge we come across chapter eleven where Michael Henchard and Susan Henchard have secret meeting in the Amphitheatre, which again is another Omen. Although these two events are similar in that they both serve as bad omens, they each have a different meanings and importance for the characters in the books.

In the Mayor of Casterbridge, the author has his story based primarily upon the life of one character, Michael Henchard. We start the story off mainly with descriptions of Henchards actions, and from this we get an almost instant impression of him as being a bad person, when we find out that he sold his wife to a sailor while being drunk. As the story moves we start to have a change in his character. He strangely starts to become a more kind and wise person who strives to make amends of his past events and help the ones in need, and as a result he quickly becomes the Mayor of Casterbridge. His life seems to be stable and a success, but things slowly take a turn when three key characters enter his life. Donald Farfrae, Susan and Elizabeth Jane. Donald Farfrae, a clever Scotsman becomes Henchards companion after helping him with his crop problems; little realising that he would later bring him more trouble than success. Susan, his long lost wife, who was thought to be dead suddenly reappears with his mysterious daughter, Elizabeth Jane who has been kept in the dark for so long. These characters seem to build an unstable foundation for his life ahead, at first seeming innocent to him, later become somewhat of a threat to his integrity.
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The story moves on, but on chapter eleven we come across a key event in the book. In this chapter the author describes the Ring as a Roman amphitheatre in Casterbridge, a city that was built in the spirit of old Rome, it was bizarrely a meeting place for any other groups needing secrecy but never for lovers. Henchard chose this place because it would be improper to invite her to his house. Michael and Susan meet in the middle of the arena. He starts by saying that he no longer drinks; then he asks why she has ...

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