The Mayor of Casterbridge - By reference to some half a dozen incidents, show the many different characteristics of Michael Henchard.

"Yet she knows I am not in my senses when I do that!...Seize her, why didn't she know better than bring me into this disgrace!...Tis like Susan to show some idiotic simplicity."

When Henchard fails to find them, he makes a vow to never drink alcohol for the next twenty-one years which shows his penitence. Henchard keeps his promise and this shows that he knew that he had done something wrong and he was punishing himself for it. This was not a light-hearted promise because he does not touch liquor for the next twenty-one years.

" I, Michael Henchard, on this morning of the sixteenth of September, do take an oath before God here in this solemn place that I will avoid all strong liquors for the space of twenty-one years to come,"

Nineteen years later, Susan and Elizabeth-Jane return to Casterbridge to find Henchard who was by now the Mayor of Casterbridge. Michael Henchard must have been hard-working, determined and ambitious to have reached the position of Mayor of Casterbridge and this is obviously the high point of his life in the novel.

When Henchard finds out that Susan and Elizabeth- Jane have returned, he gives Susan five guineas which was the amount Newson paid to buy them and symbolically Henchard buys them back. It is obvious that he still feels guilty when he pays Susan back and this gesture indicates that he knows that he did wrong by her. Henchard feels deeply for Elizabeth-Jane and he genuinely tries to make amends.

'He took her hand at parting, and held it so warmly that she, who had known so little friendship.'

Henchard is a lonely man and when he befriends Farfrae, he reveals his secrets to him. Henchard has an affair with a woman from Jersey but he leaves her to stay with Susan and Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard cares for Susan but he does not love her, but he leaves Lucetta because he wants to make amends with Susan and provide a home for Elizabeth-Jane and to also punish himself. Leaving Lucetta and taking responsibilities of marriage and Elizabeth-Jane is in a way punishment. This shows that Henchard is willing to take the responsibilities and consequences of his mistakes.

Henchard shows his impulsiveness again later on in the novel when the rivalry between himself and Farfrae intensified. Henchard is adamant to outwit Farfrae in business dealings and after seeking advice from a weather prophet, he buys a vast amount of grain, hoping to ruin Farfrae financially.

' The next Saturday Henchard bought grain to such an enormous extent that there was quite a talk about his purchases among his neighbours.'

But unfortunately for Henchard, the weather was fine and 'thus he lost heavily.' Henchard's rashness again causes trouble for him and leaves him financially ruined. In dealing with bankruptcy Henchard's behaviour is excellent. He shows integrity and honesty and the reader's sympathy is with Henchard.

' He took the watch to the maker's just opposite, sold it there and then for what the tradesman offered, and went with the proceeds to one among the smaller of his creditors.'

Throughout the novel we have seen that Michael Henchard can be kind, generous and honest. But he has many flaws in his character and he is impulsive, quick tempered and sometimes selfish. Henchard's impulsiveness and fate cause his downfall.