The Mayor of Casterbridge: Chapter 38 Summary & Analysis

After Henchard’s failed greeting of the royal personage, he stood behind the stand where the ladies sat. He overheard Lucetta deny to Mrs. Blowbody that he had ever helped Farfrae. Returning home, he meets Jopp. Jopp says that he too has been snubbed by Lucetta, and recounts his story of his request that she put in a good word for him about working with her husband. Henchard is unable to focus on anyone’s plight, but his own.

Henchard, without forethought and bent on taking drastic measures, goes looking for Farfrae after supper. Henchard walks to Farfrae’s house where he knocks and leaves the message that he would like to see his employer in the granaries as soon as possible. He goes to the corn stores, which are empty, as no one is working on this celebratory day. He says aloud that he is stronger than Farfrae, and so he takes a rope and ties one of his own arms down to his side. He ascends to the loft, where there is a drop from the edge of thirty or forty feet—the very spot where Elizabeth-Jane once saw him lift his arm, as if to push Farfrae over.

Farfrae arrives, singing the old tune he had once sung at The King of Prussia. Henchard is moved by the song and draws back saying, “No, I can’t do!” Eventually, Farfrae is quiet and Henchard calls for him to come up into the loft. Farfrae does, and asks Henchard what’s wrong and why he isn’t celebrating like everyone else. Henchard says that now Farfrae’s money and his wife cannot lift him above Henchard, as the two face each other man to man.

Henchard says that Farfrae should not have insulted him as he did by bodily dragging him away from the royal personage. Farfrae becomes irritated at this, saying that Henchard had no right to be there and do what he did. Henchard says that they will fight in the loft, and one of them will fall through the door, while the master remains. Immediately, he attacks Farfrae who can only "respond in kind." The wrestling match brings Farfrae close to the door, but Henchard’s tied arm hampers him.

Eventually, Henchard pins Farfrae at the edge, the young man’s head and arm dangling out the door. Henchard gasps that Farfrae’s life is in his hands, and Farfrae responds that he ought to just take it, as he has clearly wished to do for so long. Henchard is moved and exclaims that this is not true, and that he has never cared for any other friend, as he once cared for Farfrae. He says that although he came there to kill Farfrae, he finds he cannot do it, and he releases the younger man.

Farfrae leaves and Henchard sits in the loft for a long time, filled with self-reproach. He says aloud that Farfrae once liked him, but that now he is certain to hate him. He wishes to see Farfrae again that night, but, as he sat in the loft, he heard Farfrae come into the yard for his horse and gig. Abel Whittle brought him a letter and he told Abel that instead of heading to Budmouth, as he had planned, he had been summoned to Weatherby. Realizing that Farfrae won’t return until late, Henchard decides to wait for him. As he waits, he hears a confusion of rhythmic noises, like a band, but his humiliation is too great for anything else to catch his interest.