Modern Technology Has Made Our Lives More Complicated

Hardys Mayor of Casterbridge is a novel that revolves around the concealment and divulging of secrets. Henchard, Susan, Newson and Lucetta all(a) keep secrets, which are breached through step to the fore the course of the novel. Although Susan is a minor reference work, she plays a major role in the novel through the concealment of her secret. She hides her fille Elizabeth Janes true identity from Henchard, thus allowing him to think she is his daughter. She also keeps the information about her prior relationship with Henchard from Elizabeth Jane, as well as the fact that she had a half-sister that died.The escape of information strangles the relationship between Henchard and Elizabeth Jane. Although Susan keeps these secrets to protect her daughter, her lack of layaboutdor results in the consequences she fears most her daughters emotional upheaval. While Susan herself does not reveal the secret, it is expose through a letter before the planned time, thus causing Elizabeth Jan es alienation from Henchard. The reader is oblivious to Susans secret until it is revealed in her letter to Henchard.Susan chooses to keep Elizabeth Janes identity a secret because she is afraid of disappointing Henchard. A quiet, unassuming woman, Susan is scared of disappointing others and how they will react when she upsets them. She believes that in order to restore order between her and Henchard she must conceal the legality about Elizabeth Jane. It is hard enough for her to reunite with Henchard and when she is alone in the ring with him, she admits meekly, I am quite in your hands, Michaelif you tell me to leave again to-morrow morning, and never come near you more(prenominal), I am content to go (63).Susans rescue is reflective of her timid and submissive personality. In addition, when Henchard asks Susan if she forgives him, she murmured something unless seemed to find it difficult to frame her answer (64). Susan is unable to show her true feelings because she is afraid of Henchards chemical reaction. and then she finds it necessary to keep Elizabeth Janes birth a secret because she is scared of upsetting Henchard. At the same time that she conceals the identity of Elizabeth Janes father from Henchard, she hides her company with Henchard from Elizabeth Jane.Although many times she had been upon the point of telling her daughter Elizabeth-Jane the true story of her life in the end she had restrained (20). Susans choice to leave her daughter in the dark allows Elizabeth Jane to enjoy an innocent childhood, and she is blissfully unaware of her mothers troubles. Susan is afraid of disrupting Elizabeth Janes equilibrium and cannot bring herself to tell the truth. The risk of endangering a childs strong affection by disturbing ideas which had grown with her growth was to Mrs. Henchard too fearful a thing to contemplate (20).The words endangering and disturbing highlight Susans main goal in hiding her secret from Elizabeth Jane and reflect her entire p urpose in life. Because Susan is meek and easily controlled, she is afraid to cause a reaction that she cannot control. She is fearful of anything beyond the ordinary, including unexpected reactions. This character trait is evident when she first meets Henchard and is surprised by his appearance as mayor. I dont think I can ever meet Mr. Henchard, she says in shock. He is not how I thought he would behe overpowers meI dont wish to see him any more (29). The sentiments she expresses in this statement illustrate her fear of the unknown, and her easily manipulated nature. Susan uses the word overpowers to demonstrate the lack of control she feels in her life and her tendency to be dominated by a superior. In Elizabeth Janes case, as in her relationship with Henchard, she prefers secrecy over openness because of her fear of upsetting others. Susans secrets are unexpectedly disclosed to twain parties, when she is no longer alive to view the reaction.Their revelation results in the oppos ite effect, harming both Henchard and Elizabeth Jane. Susans greatest desire is to shield her daughter from trouble, but her fear of dealing with the truth ends up bringing on what she dreads most. Susan is overly concerned with appearances and manners, and she fusses about what others will think and say. Susans letter exhibits her tendency to debar disappointing and shocking others. Even in her writing one can sense her fright at revealing the news to her husband.She begins her letter by prefacing I hope you will understand why (108). Later on she begs, Dont curse me, Mike. Although she is only writing and not speaking, she finds it hard to let out her secret, explaining I can hardly write it. However, despite all of Susans reservations and hesitations, and intentions to protect her daughter, she ends up harming her. Her worst fears are confirmed when Henchard begins to treat Elizabeth Jane coldly and Elizabeth Jane lived on, a dumb, deep-feeling, great-eyed creature (115).Inste ad of showering her with warmth and love, Henchard sharply reprimands her when she uses incorrect grammar. Are you only fit to carry wash to a pig trough, (114) he yells, degrading Elizabeth Jane and humble her. Susans secret keeping leaves Elizabeth Jane worse off. Her lack of confidence ends up bringing on what she fears most. Hardy uses secrets in The Mayor of Casterbridge to highlight Susans character flaw and demonstrate that the situations people fear most are those they ultimately bring upon themselves.While Susan acts out of a desire to help Elizabeth Jane and Henchard, she ends up harming both of them. The concealment of information from her daughter and husband is what destroys their relationship. Susans greatest concern is what people will think about her daughter and her top priority is conformist to societal standards. However, her meek personality and constant worrying eventually cause her worst fears to come true. Susans saga of secret-keeping serves as a warning to readers concealing the truth will come back to haunt you.