n. He is an embarrassment to himself and all that know him. This quote is from the visitation of the Royal Personage. Farfrae had set up a reception for the royal guest. Henchard's presence at the arrival of the guest was denied by the council. So, he decided, After this incident Lucetta refused to acknowledge who he was or that he was ever her husband's patron. Through the lack of control and anger, Henchard has a vague idea of what is right and wrong. He is very hard on himself. Henchard can also be very stern with others. It is the self punishment, however, that most affects his fate. When he sobered up after selling Susan, he knew what he had done, was wrong. That is why he took that oath with the curse at the end of it, . He also wanders the country side in search of the family he has destroyed. If he had not of taken that oath, he probably would still be a lowly hay trusser. At the end of the story, when Henchard dies, he dies under the care of Abel Whittle. Even in death he could not escape himself, He punishes himself after death by what he asks for in his will. In his will he asks that: his daughter not be told of his passing; he not be buried in consecrated ground; no one be asked to toll the bell; nobody see his dead body; there be no mourners at his funeral; no flowers be planted at his grave; and that no one remember him. He thought he had a lot of sins to pay for when he asked all this. Hardy has taken common character traits and used them to determine the character's fate. Through the use of his characters, Hardy shows how someone can determine their own fate. Even though in most cases they don't know it. ...
