The Mayor of Casterbridge: Chapter 37 Summary & Analysis

A royal personage plans to pass through Casterbridge on his way West and to change horses at the Golden Crown. The town decides to make a fine and welcoming affair of the event, as this royal personage has worked to promote the science of farming on a national level. The town prepares an address, and the council meets to discuss the proceedings. At this meeting, Henchard appears and asks to be able to walk with the rest of the council.

Farfrae is now the young Mayor of the town, and, in this position on the council, he is the one who must refuse Henchard’s request. Henchard’s interest in walking with the council to greet the royal personage was only a passing fancy, but the opposition, particularly from Farfrae, makes him determined to welcome the visitor.

The celebratory day arrives and all the villagers appear at their best to welcome the visitor. Henchard sees Elizabeth-Jane in the street after he has primed himself with a glass of rum. He tells her that it’s lucky his drinking days have returned or else he would not have the courage to carry out his plan. Elizabeth-Jane is concerned and asks him about his plan, but he says only that he will welcome the royal personage.

Elizabeth-Jane sees Henchard go into a store and reappear with a small union jack flag and a large rosette. She surveys the scene, noting Lucetta seated at the front of the chairs set up for ladies. Lucetta is watching her husband, as he stands with his friends. Henchard stands near her as well, but her eyes pass over him, and her behavior indicates that she will not acknowledge him in public any more.

As the royal carriage arrives, a walking procession of the council is formed around it. Suddenly Henchard appears among them and steps directly up to the carriage, reaching out his hand to shake the hand of the royal personage inside. Farfrae, with the mayor’s authority, grabs Henchard and drags him away from the carriage. For a moment Henchard holds his ground before giving way.

Mrs. Blowbody, a lady sitting next to Lucetta, asks whether Henchard wasn’t once Farfrae’s patron when he first arrived in Casterbridge. Lucetta exclaims that Farfrae could have found his footing in any town without a patron. The townspeople, including Longways, Coney, and Buzzford, recall Farfrae’s humble beginnings, however, and say how greatly he has changed since he sang that night at The King of Prussia. The rest of the royal personage’s visit happens smoothly and after the address and greeting Farfrae and Lucetta, he continues onward.

The townsfolk disperse after the event. Longways, Coney, and Buzzford remain in the street, while many others walked back toward their homes in Mixen Lane. Buzzford mentions the skimmington-ride, which is being planned in Mixen Lane. As Farfrae has risen to such a prominent position in town as the mayor and a man of money, he no longer inspires the interest and sympathy of men like Buzzford, Longways, and Coney, as he once did when he sang at The King of Prussia. These three are less inclined to help Farfrae, but agree to make an inquiry into the matter.

Longways, Coney, and Buzzford would have been surprised to learn of the imminent nature of the plan for a skimmington-ride. At Peter’s Finger, Jopp says to the company that the event will occur that very night, so as to stand in sharp contrast to Farfrae and Lucetta’s prominence that day. For Jopp, the plan is not a joke, but his means of revenge on both the mayor and his wife.