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Review of Literature: The Mayor of Casterbridge--Part 5
The criticism written about The Mayor of Casterbridge has been the most interesting so far, and it has also been the most likely to deal with the issue of male homosocial desire. There are love triangles in this novel, but they are not presented with as much sexuality as in the other novels. Also, the plot very clearly focuses on one man. I believe this will make The Mayor of Casterbridge an interesting work to compare to the others. The most useful criticism I have found so far is “The Unmanning of the Mayor of Casterbridge” by Elaine Showalter. She argues that feminist critics must look at the male characters in order to properly understand Hardy. Men like Henchard “grow only once they have identified with women” (55). Henchard, she argues, abandons all his feeling (and feeling is feminine) except when it comes to his relationship with Farfrae, another man. This relationship falls apart, and when Farfrae won’t give in at the wrestling match, Henchard is defeated. After this, he and Elizabeth-Jane exchange roles as she takes care of the business and he grows more thoughtful and sensitive. Showalter concludes by arguing that the end of the novel is positive for Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae because they will lead the town together. While most of Showalter’s arguments are compelling, I believe the ending for Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae is not so clear.
Finally, Tod E. Jones’ “Michael Henchard: Hardy’s Male Homosexual” argues that Henchard is, at the very least, insecure about his masculinity. Jones feels Henchard may be an example of the gender-intansitive male homosexual: “an ultra-masculine embodiment of male centered desire” (10). Because Henchard will not acknowledge his desires, he “loses his sense of self . . . and [this] will ultimately result in his premature loss of life” (12). I don’t believe that there is enough evidence in the text to say whether or not Henchard is gay, but Jones still has some valid points about Henchard’s relationship with Farfrae, and the close readings he gives of certain passages are certainly thought-provoking.