Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Evil Woman
Throughout the novel the furmity woman keeps reappearing in Henchard's life. Critics believe her reoccurance is interesting in that as a minor female character she leads Henchard toward his fate more directly than either Elizabeth Jane or Lucetta. In what ways does this poor, disaffected woman have more power over Henchard than his lover or daughter? Do you agree with the critics? Which woman do you believe has the greatest influence on Henchard's fate?
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I don't necessarily believe she has more power over Henchard than Lucy or EJ but she does help direct his fate. While he was presiding over the trial of the Furmity woman she did end up telling everyone about when Henchard sold his wife and daughter to the sailor for five guineas and no one believes her until Henchard confesses. Then as Lucy is walking toward the Town Hall there is a large crowd and she learns of what happened. She actually regrets areeing to marry him. If that lady just kept her mouth shut, or even if Henchard didn't go to that trial, perhaps that story could have remained under wraps for a while longer. I think EJ has the greatest influence, Henchard ends up changing plans around and about his life like 4 times to accomodate EJ... and not only for EJ, the things he is willing to do would only help benefit him in the long run.
I believe the furmity woman has power over Henchard because she knows the awful thing he did and has made him look bad because of it. I think Elizabeth Jane and Lucetta have the greates influence on him though because he is always looking out for them and doing things to benefit them. He saves them from the bull and tries to protect them from Farfrea because he doesn't trust him. He even gets jealous when he overhears Lucetta and Farfrea talking.
I believe that the Furmity women keeps reappearing in Henchred's life as a witness of what henchred did in his past. I think tha tby her knowing his secret of him selling his wife gives her leverage over Henchred. Even though no one seems to believe her. We as the readers know the truth about Henchred and time proves that Henchred gives under the pressure of the furmity women, when she persists on telling the story about henchred selling his wife over and over. This women deffinatly has some kind of hold on henchred just becuase of the fact that she could make or break his future with his lover lucy.
The furmity women does not have more power over henchred than Elizabeth Jane (EJ) or Lucy. EJ is by far the biggest influence over Henchred. Henchred makes all his decisions based on the well-being of EJ. Even though she is really not even his daughter, he still views her as his own and is willing to do anything for her and that is what makes her the biggest influence over Henchred's life.
I don't agree with the critics because EJ does play the biggest influence in his life becuase children always play the biggest role in their parents life. And Elizabeth Jane is by a long stretch the biggest inlfuence in Henchred's life.
I believe that the furmity woman has just as much power, if not more, than Lucetta and Elizabeth because she know's of Henchard's past. She uses this information as a sort of black mail against him. If it were not for her Lucetta and Henchard probably would have married.
The furmity women seems to be a character in the background, but her inconveint visits prove her to be more than a simple character. "...as a minor female character she leads Henchard toward his fate more directly than either Elizabeth Jane or Lucetta." This poor, woman has more power over Henchard than his lover or daughter. The furmity woman proves to have the greatest influence on Henchard's fate because of her non-expected visits, which always bring truth, but along with this truth something bad happends. We see this when she declares Henchard to have sold his wife at a fair some 21 years ago. Because Henchard is a man of character he does not deny this, even though he easily could dismiss this and protect himself, and his position as mayor is given up. Thus i believe that the furmity woman has the greatest influence on Henchard's fate.
The furmity women has more power than Lucetta or Elizabeth-Jane because she had got Henchard drunk leading to his selling of Susan and Elizabeth Jane, and her presense made him confess to what he did which led to his greater downfall, Henchard has control over Elizabeth Jane, and Lucetta but he has no argument or power against the furmity women.
As was common throughout Tess, fate is a reoccuring idea throughout Henchard's life. I don't think that the furmity woman had any affect on Henchard for like Henchard, she was doomed to her fate just like Henchard. I believe that the furmity woman was just a symbol of fate's ill will towards Henchard.
I agree with the critics somewhat. I agree that the Furmity women had alot of influence because she is the one in the begining who adds the rum to his furmity causing him to become drunk and out of his mind, which causes him to sell elizabeth jane and susan. I agree that her reoccurence is interesting. She is also the reason why susan and elizabeth jane get back to henchard. When susan asks the furmity women if she remembers when she was sold the women says yes and tells susan the message of henchard explaining the he has going to casterbridge and if anyone ever came looking for him that is where he would be. So once again the furmity women is causing the trouble and she is in control by telling susan where henchard resides. Once again she is seen in the book this time she is in court when henchard is in the honerable postion of judge. She explains to the court that their beloved mayor is really someone as low as herself. She explains that he sold his wife and daugther. In doing so henchard admitts his crime. so henchard sinks lower because of the furmity womens accusations. So the furmity women does have alot of influence over henchards life. I think of her to be the symbol of fate in the story whenever she is seen in a new scence henchards life is about to change drastically. Although i believe at the same time that elizabeth jane and lucetta both have a certain influence over henchard. Elizabeth janes influence being that of love for whom she believes to be her father and not allowing him to be lonely by wanting him to be a better man by making good choices. Also elizabeth jane is supportive of him no matter what making henchard want to return the favor in the end when elizabeth jane wants to be with farfrae. I also think that lucetta has her influence over him as well because when susan dies she demands to be his wife and for them to met and whatever she says at that time goes. Also in the end when she tells henchard that she wants back all evidence of their meeting henchard does not deny her and has the package delivered.
In conclusion i believe all the women in the story to have acertain influence in his life, helping him make certain decisions. But i agree with the critics in that the the furmity women is the biggest influence of all because all her decisions or apperances lead to a change in henchards life.
The furmity woman is a particularly powerful character because she represents the uncontrollable and irreversible past. Michael spent years rebuilding himself after the horrible things he had done earlier in his life. However, his past never disappeared. The furmity woman had witnessed the “old” Michael in action, and because she knew of his treacherous exploits, she had the power to control the outcome of his story. And that she did. The furmity woman is a controlling factor is the novel, and vital in progressing the story. For example, because Michael leaves a message concerning his whereabouts with the furmity woman, Susan and EJ are able to find him17 years later. This moves the story to Casterbridge, and where all the conflict begins. She reappears two years later and reveals to the entire town that Michael had auctioned off his family. This revelation completes his downfall and drives Lucetta into a quick marriage with Farfrae.
The furmity woman may be a “poor, disaffected woman” but her knowledge and actions dramatically impacted not only Michael, but all the main characters. Because of this, I believe that she is certainly one of the most powerful woman in the novel.
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