The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

As the story begins, the reader is introduced to Michael and Susan Henchard who, along with their baby, are traveling to Upper Wessex. The couple is described as poor but not destitute, and Hardy notes that Michael walks like a country dweller rather than a city laborer. Michael is a hay trusser (a person who packs and loads bails of hay) who hopes to find work in Weydon Priors. As they travel, they meet a farmer (a "turnip hoer") who tells Michael there are no jobs available for a hay trusser.

Michael and Susan learn that there is a fair in Weydon Priors so they stop to enjoy it. They go to the refreshment tent, where Michael begins drinking punch laced with rum (served by the "furmity" woman). After a few drinks and some prodding by Susan to leave and find a place to stay Michael begins talking loudly about how young men ruin their lives by marrying. A man suggests that men should auction their wives off to the highest bidder, and Michael agrees. He offers Susan to anyone and asks an auctioneer to take bids. Susan gets mad at him and tells the crowd that she will go with anyone who pays Michael.

A young sailor named Newson buys Susan and the baby (a daughter named Elizabeth-Jane). They leave together, with Susan throwing her wedding ring at the drunk and sleeping Michael in contempt. The furmity woman leaves the sleeping Michael as the chapter ends.