Mayor Of Casterbridge

This novel too represents Thomas hardy's belief that destiny is more powerful than human efforts.In this novel portrayal of protagonist's destruction has been so effective that readers are shocked in the end.What is uncommon if Jude failed,there is always a chance of failure for a man choosing new path of life ? What if Guile's love was not reciprocated ,there is always a chance of it for silent love ? but Henchard fails because he was destined to die as a wretched ,poor,hopeless creature.Depiction of Henchrad's gradual destruction makes reader suffer with his sufferings.Everything goes against him ;first he is emotionally destitute person with the knowledge of Elizabeth not being his daughter then financial downfall with the bankruptcy and he had to work under his own erstwhile manager.Yet juggernaut of destiny does not stop here ,his destruction is yet to be completed with the end of all his hopes .One particular incident of his life and his affair with Lucetta come within public knowledge and ends all his popularity .In the end his last hope Jane also leaves him. Henchard's sufferings end only with his death. Is this Thomas Hardy's pessimism that there is no hope and forgiveness for humankind ? In real sense no ,Hardy was able to recognise what would be going through his reader's mind and everytime reverse happened .otherwise these stories would have been a simple optimistic stories lacking Hardy's all expertness.Men are always victims of fate ,is it punishment for going against morality or man-made laws ? In 'jude the obscure' Sue thinks this as the reason for the death of her children .Michael Henchard too is a sinner for selling his wife but I feel his punishment is much for his crime .Some people won't be agree with me .Anyway ,decide yourself by reading novel.Just one small advice that if you are an emotional person don't read this book for you'll be overwhelmed with the grief for many days.