Lucetta's journey in The Mayor of Casterbridge illustrates that the tragic elements of the narrative prevent characters from escaping the impact of their pasts. Almost every critic agrees that a sense of determinism is woven throughout Hardy's novels, with many readers feeling this theme is fundamental to all of Hardy's poetry and prose. The key takeaway, as seen through Lucetta's story, is that our liberty and moral value are defined by how we face our fates.