Response to Review of The Mayor of Casterbridge

Alden, H. M. "Review of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge." Harper's New Monthly Magazine 73.438 (Nov. 1886): 961-962.

H.M. Alden, wrote a glowing review of The Mayor of Casterbridge in the Harper's New Monthly Magazine in the November issue of 1886. I agree with his review on most aspects, especially what he writes about the characters of Henchard and Lucetta.

Alden says of Henchard, "The wrong he has done cannot be repaired, because it cannot, to his mistaken thinking, be owned; and in the tragedy of its expiation your pity is more for him than for all the others." I agree that I pity Henchard, but I also realize he is the only one who caused himself the misery he goes through. If he didn't sell his wife and daughter, was revengeful and deceiving, and pushed away everyone he cared about, maybe he wouldn't have died alone.

Alden describes Lucetta as "only too captivating in that combination of shrewdness and blind imprudence, of fickleness and tender-heartedness, of fascinating grace and helplessness." I also really enjoyed the character of Lucetta because she seemed like the most interesting character beside Henchard with a unique personality. She could be kind or mean whenever she wanted. He also says "Nothing is better in the book than Lucetta's dropping Henchard, and her conquest of the young Scotchman, whom she wins away from Henchard's putative daughter, Elizabeth Jane. . ." She got exactly what she wanted, because she fought for it. Love is highest on her priorities before revenge, which is opposite of Henchard's.