This characteristic allowed him to be reliable, something that greatly assisted him to being respected in the town. However, if he would have not been so honourable and turned Susan away, it may have all worked out better. I can speculate, he could have married Lucetta and her money would have been a great asset to him and his business, not to mention depriving Farfrae of the money. This is an example of how Henchard’s passions obstructs his goals.
There is also evidence to suggest Henchard is impulsive: for example, Henchard, without taking the time to consider his decision, dismisses Farfrae after the party. Hardy is saying this is something Henchard couldn’t control. This played a huge part in his downfall. A quality in all great leaders is that they are able to make quick decisions. Here we again see the different sides to the same quality in Henchard having good and bad effects on his life.
We see the same series of events reoccur with Henchard’s swift temper. His temper clearly made him feared in Casterbridge: the fear Able Whittle had of Henchard expressed in confrountation over Abel’s dismissal.
The fear the townsfolk felt of Henchard changed to respect and was key to his power. We later see his temper in action when he attempts to blackmail Luccetta much to his advantage. It is this Henchards passion that makes him a worthy hero. His feeling of duty and compassion made him: “Henchards had kept Abel’s old mother in coal and snuff all the previous winter” showing compassion.
All this seems to have played a huge part in Henchards downfall. However, was there a greater force in play in Henchards downfall? Fate.
Many events in the novel seem to have been due to the fate. Farfrae coming into Casterbridge, arguably the biggest factor in Henchards downfall was due to fate. The fair lady fate played over and over again in novel: Henchard’s party being ruined, even Newson arriving at the furmity sellers tent and Henchard being drunk. Ironically Henchard finding out Elizabeth-jane is not his daughter the same day he tells her she is, is down again to fate. Farfrae finding Lucetta and not Elizabeth-Jane is again down to fate. It seems virtually impossible to see all of the parts that fate played during the novel.
Although we accredit fate for these two events the prime culprit is still Henchard. For example Henchard as an experienced city official should have had the foresight not to hold his party outdoors and Henchard’s gamble on the prediction of “the weather prophet” all appeared to be as a result of the way Henchard reacts to fate.
In conclusion, the notion that fate or Henchard was fully responsible for Henchards downfall are both incorrect. Situations brought about by fate AND the way Henchard reacts to them was responsible for his downfall. Either force; fate or Henchard could have prevented the outcome of the story.