MovieChat Forums > The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003) Discussion > Why did Farfrae come to Lucetta's home?

Why did Farfrae come to Lucetta's home?


It wasn't clear to me why Donald Farfrae came to Lucetta's house that time? Was he there to pick up Elizabeth-Jane? Didn't we just see her down in the square, though, walking around, passing by her father?

And if he was there to see Elizabeth-Jane, why so overtly flirt with Lucetta? At first I didn't catch on to what was happening, then I couldn't believe my eyes/ears!!

thanks for any information!

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In the novel, Farfrae came to Lucetta's because he received a letter from Henchard that Henchard wouldn't object if Farfrae wanted to court E-J again. So he called on her at Henchard's house, but learned that she wasn't living there anymore so he went to Lucetta's to see E-J. But before you go thinking that Farfrae is totally in love with E-J, you should know that his feelings in the novel aren't that romantic! He's more interested in marrying her for "practical" reasons.

E-J wasn't home that morning because Lucetta had sent her out; E-J had told Lucetta that Henchard would not call on her because they were not getting along very well. So Lucetta believed that Henchard was staying away because of E-J, so she sent E-J out so Henchard would come over. She sent Henchard a note telling him E-J would be out that morning.

By the time Farfrae leaves Lucetta's, he's already losing interest in courting E-J.

You can read about it in chapters 22-24 of the novel (link)
http://pd.sparknotes.com/lit/casterbridge/section22.html

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