On Binary Oppositions In The Mayor Of Casterbridge

Thomas Hardy is a most prominent novelist and poet in the later part of the Victorian Age. His works have a great influence on the world literature. As one of his"Character and Environment"novels, The Mayor of Casterbridge has been a controversial novel since its publication. Critics home and aboard have done lots of research work in revealing its very theme, analyzing its characters and exploring its narrative techniques. The multiple facets which are worthy of heated discussion fully reflect the great significance and high artistic value of the novel.Binary opposition is abundant in literary works and has become a significant means in literature criticism. There exist several pairs of binary oppositions in The Mayor of Casterbridge. Based on the researches done by previous scholars, the thesis is intended to use the core of the structuralism --- binary opposition--- to analyze the novel and disclose how the employment of binary oppositions successfully discloses the theme, describes the characters and reinforces the tragedy.The thesis consists of three parts.Part one is the introduction, briefly introducing the writer, the critical responses to the novel and the concept of binary opposition.Part two, the body of the thesis, is composed of three chapters. Chapter one focus on binary oppositions in theme. Two pairs of binary oppositions --- man and fate, tradition and modernization--- are depicted in this chapter. The characters in the novel keep struggling against fate, but meantime the wicked destiny ruthlessly plays tricks on them. As a result, they can't escape being destroyed by the malicious fate ultimately. Such arrangement fully reflects Hardy's pessimism. The contrasts between Henchard and Farfrae dramatize the contrasts between tradition and modernization. It is inevitable that Henchard, a representative of the old world, is finally replaced by Farfrae who stands for the new force. Chapter two mainly deals with the binary oppositions in characterization. Three pairs of binary oppositions are mentioned in this part, that is, virtues and vices, rationality and sensibility, rigidity and flexibility. In Henchard's character, ruthlessness and consciousness co-exist from the very beginning. Soon after he does a ruthless deed, his conscience awakes and saves him from being moral degeneration. Ultimately Henchard becomes a conscious man and achieves his moral perfection. On the contrary, Farfrae appears sincere in the beginning; however, with the development of the plot, he becomes a hypocritical businessman. Henchard's character is in sharp contrast with Farfrae's. There is no doubt that impulsive and rigid Henchard will be overwhelmed by rational and flexible Farfrae. Lucetta's character is similar to Henchard's, while Elizabeth's character is similar to Farfrae's. The contrasts between the two young ladies also prove"character is fate". Chapter three discusses the binary oppositions in settings. By analyzing the contrasts in buildings, clothing, accessory and natural environment, this chapter further explores how the employment of binary oppositions in settings successfully uncovers the theme and intensifies the tragedy.Part three is the conclusion part. After reviewing each part of the thesis, the author draws the conclusion that in The Mayor of Casterbridge Hardy employs several pairs of binary oppositions to depict the characters, deepen the theme and enhance the novel's artistic values. In addition, the author points out the employment of binary oppositions in other novels of Hardy and restates the values of binarism in literary appreciation.