Essay/Term paper: Mayor of casterbridge

Essay, term paper, research paper:  English Literature Essays

Mayor Of Casterbridge

Chapter 2

Henchard made his way into the town of Casterbridge, penniless, depressed,
and entirely ignorant of what he might do to sustain himself. He didn't much
care for himself now, knowing the deed he had done. It was out of season for
hay-trussing, and he had not been able to find work at that task even when it
was at the height of its demand. He was faced with finding another occupation.
But what can a man who has no skills other than hay trussing do? He
walked down the main street of the town, stopping at every shop and inn to offer
his services. As each establishment turned him away, quoting no need for
general labor, especially from a migrant like him, something altogether strange
happened in Henchard. Rather than becoming more depressed, he became more
determined. He resolved that he would find work in this town, simply to spite
the people who had turned him away. He also felt he owed it to himself to try
and pick up the pieces of his shattered life in case Susan should ever find him
again, despite the slim chance of that ever happening. Though he had his faults,
Henchard was strong-minded when he decided to be.
At the next several doors, Henchard was very stubborn. When he would at
first be refused, he would insist upon a chance to prove his worthiness by
performing some task for the shopkeeper. Most simply refused, but at some
places it got him in the door to speak as best he could on his own behalf. It
was near the end of the street that one shopkeeper agreed to take on Henchard's
services, but only after he had insisted on delivering a package for the man to
a customer across town. When he returned, the shopkeeper offered to pay him for
his general labor, but at a rate that was far below anything necessary to
subsist upon. Henchard, though disappointed, argued the value of his ability to
work with a determination he had never known before. He argued long and hard,
with smart and clever thought and speech, managing to gain many concessions from
the man. He failed, however, to gain much overall in the way of salary from
the shopkeeper in this negotiation, for the man simply had nothing more to give.
He managed to negotiate a salary that would allow him to survive, but barely.
It was as Henchard moved to shake on the deal when a patron of the shop spoke up.
"Wait," he said, "I can see you are worth much more than that to me. I am
in need of one who can act as a salesman, and you have just proven your ability
to sell yourself. Come to work for me." The man was a businessman of the
highest repute in Casterbridge, and had no son to succeed him in his business.
As he grew old, he had begun to look for one whom he could take under his wing,
and Henchard's determination and negotiating skill that had caught his eye.
So Henchard agreed, and the man taught him the ways of business, sending
Henchard on the road to success.