Discussion Topic
Lucetta Templeman's Character Traits and Contrasts in "The Mayor of Casterbridge"
Summary:
Lucetta Templeman in The Mayor of Casterbridge is characterized by her charm, beauty, and impulsiveness. She contrasts with other characters through her passionate and spontaneous nature, which often leads her into complicated situations. Unlike the more pragmatic and reserved Elizabeth-Jane, Lucetta's decisions are driven by emotion, making her a dynamic but occasionally reckless figure in the narrative.
How does the character of Lucetta Templeman contrast with others in The Mayor of Casterbridge?
One of Lucetta Templeman's most prominent character traits is opportunism. Having once been Henchard's mistress, she comes to Casterbridge after she hears that his wife has died with the plan to marry him. She writes to him of this plan:
I have come here in consequence of hearing of the death of your wife—whom you used to think of as dead so many years before! . . . As soon as I knew she was no more, it was brought home to me very forcibly by my conscience that I ought to endeavour to disperse the shade which my etourderie flung over my name, by asking you to carry out your promise to me.
However, as soon as she meets the younger, more handsome Farfae, she becomes interested in him. She has become self-sufficient after inheriting some money, but she remains interested in having a wealthy husband. As she is...
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somewhat older than he is, Farfae is likewise interested in her wealth. Once she decides to pursue him, she forgets her old lover.
Lucetta had come to Casterbridge to quicken Henchard's feelings with regard to her. She had quickened them, and now she was indifferent to the achievement.
Lucetta, showing no scruples about breaking up Farfae and Elizabeth-Jane Henchard, marries Farfae. However, she is disgraced when her past indiscretions come to light, and she soon dies during a miscarriage.
Her character best serves as a foil to that of Elizabeth-Jane, who is pure and blameless and shows devotion both to Henchard, even when it turns out he is not her father, and to Farfae, ultimately accepting him after Lucette’s death.
References
What are the character traits of Lucetta in "The Mayor of Casterbridge"?
Three traits that underlie Lucetta's character, seen in chapters 18 and 22, and that provide many of her motivations are that she is fond of scheming, she is a fraud, and she is self-serving.
Fond of Scheming: Hardy shows Lucetta to be scheming (given to plotting devious plans) in the letters she sends in chapters 18 and 22. In these, she reveals her different schemes for reintroducing herself to Henchard. Her letter in chapter 22 states that her scheme for first seeing him once she was settled in Casterbridge was to arrange a chance encounter with him in the streets and let her presence be a surprise. Not being endowed with patience, she changed her scheme and wrote the letter instead. "My first intention [scheme] was to keep you in ignorance...till [meeting] in the street; but I have thought better of this."
A Fraud: A fraud is someone who pretends that they are what they are not. She pretends to be a "Templeman," but she is a "Le Sueur." She pretends to be a lady of social position, but she only newly inherited her wealth. She pretends to be purely English, but she is very much French. "[My] ancestors in Jersey were as good as anybody in England.... [I] am quite an English person in my feelings and tastes."
Self-Serving: To be self-serving is to put personal needs ahead of others', as Lucetta quite clearly does with Elizabeth. A self-serving person expresses deepest emotion for their own struggles even in the face of greater suffering. In chapter 22, when Lucetta learns the depth of the breach between Elizabeth and Henchard, the hysteria she descends to illustrates her self-serving quality: "Lucetta looked blank...and burst into hysterical sobs. Here was a disaster—her ingenious scheme completely stultified."
References