Explore the ways in which Hardy uses the past in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge

The battle of tradition versus modernization is shown through Henchard and Farfrae's contrasting approaches to business, their contrasting attitudes toward modernization and their changing roles in Casterbridge. “ I am bad at science Farfrae…bad at figures”. Henchard’s attitude towards business tends to be old fashioned; he is unable to write properly and as a result his financial records are poorly kept and unorganized. Most of his business records are kept in his head. Farfrae, however, is a young man who is considered to be “ the man of science”. He approaches business with a modern attitude. Farfrae keeps the business account books in perfect order, not hesitating to work late doing it.

Hardy uses the physical and behavioral differences between Henchard and Farfrae to illustrate his preference of the past. Chapter 6 opens with a description of the young Scotsman, who is "ruddy and of a fair countenance, bright-eyed, and slight in build." Compare this description to that of Michael from Chapter 5 "a man... of heavy frame, large features... his general build being rather coarse than compact." The two men are complete opposites in physical appearance.

Henchard is rooted in the heart of Casterbridge, the old world. Where as Farfrae is from Scotland and has been around the world, we associate him with the ‘new world’. Henchard’s way of working is old and crude, “ill do it”, and that would be the deal with Henchard, it would be done without complication. However with Farfrae he needed letters and figures for deals. Farfrae is everything Henchard would love to be, and loves to pretend that he is. This initially causes Henchard to admire and like Farfrae, but it eventually leads to jealousy and resentment.

Across the whole novel the new tends to replace the old. ‘ as in all such cases of advance, the rugged picture quinces of the old method disappeared with its inconsistencies’. This quote represents Farfrae taking over the business. Elizabeth-Jane says in chapter 24 that “ the romance of the sower is gone for good…How things change”, this tells us that old traditional way of life has been changed into the new way of living. We are lead to believe that progress and change are inevitable.

‘Character is Fate, said Novalis, and Farfrae's character is just the reverse of Henchard's, who might not inaptly be described as Faust has been described—as a vehement gloomy being who had quitted the ways of vulgar men without light to guide him on a better way.’ This passage from Chapter 17 relates to Farfrae's huge business success after Henchard asks that he leave his employment and stop luring Elizabeth-Jane. The phrase “Character is Fate,” from Novalis , offers us a background for understanding much of Henchard's later struggles. Farffrae was destined to lure Elizabeth-Jane from the moment they met, because his character was irresistible to her, it was fate, and there was nothing Henchard could have done about it. Henchard blames much of the suffering he braves on cruel forces that are bent on human downfalls.

Farefrae replaces Henchard in basically every major aspect.  Farfrae's careful approach to life wins him all that was once Henchard's. Firstly Farfrae manages to save Henchards crisis of saving the grain. Farfrae had a method for turning the bad grain into usable grain, and he gives it to Henchard freely. Henchard is so pleased that he offers Farfrae the position of general manager, but Farfrae declines. At Henchard's bankruptcy sale, Farfrae buys his business, home, and furniture. Furthermore he marries Henchards earlier lover and after she dies, he marries Elizabeth-Jane, which Henchard had originally informed Farfrae to keep away.  , Farfrae even becomes the well liked and respected mayor of Casterbridge. This is the final confirmation that all from the past has been renewed through Farfrae.

After Susan dies, Lucetta inherits wealth, and Henchard refreshes his interest in her. Lucetta is more interested in Farfrae, though, and ends up marrying him. When Lucetta's old letters to Henchard become public, the shame of their affair returns to haunt them both, and Lucetta is so distressed by this that she suffers a seizure and dies. Lucettas past ultimately kills her.

Lastly the setting of Casterbridge ( where all the main action happens) tends to be very old fashioned, like the past is still clutching onto the town and wont let go. The first time Elizabeth-Jane sees Casterbridge she says “what an old fashioned place it seems to be”, this suggests that Casterbridge is different to any other towns in the country. I think Hardy intended the novel to be only set in old traditional times, as he said “at that time…untouched by the fainted sprinkle of modernism”, this tells us that Hardy really wanted to include the setting of a past town that was not in the slightest bit modern. The over all setting was  described as“ the complement of the rural life around, not its urban opposite”. The houses in Casterbridge were said to have “old fashioned fronts” and that they are “ older than old fashioned backs”. The physical appearance of Casterbridge is presented as unchanging, unlike the relationships within the town. Some things don’t change, and maybe Hardy finds it comforting.

Hardy uses many different techniques to convey the use of the past in the novel. He uses past to show how characters change during the novel. The past in the Mayor of Casterbridge can give certain places a character. Through his knowledge of architecture the past gives a sense of realism and distinguishes plause in the novel. The past creates many different ideas, such as irony, shape to current events, appropriate setting and atmosphere for key moments in the novel. Hardy uses all of these techniques appropriately to create an outstanding novel.