The importance of fate in The Mayor of Casterbridge is more prominent in the character of Michael Henchard and less so in Donald Farfrae.

Perhaps the most prominent part in the novel when the importance of fate is associated with Henchard is when he goes to Blackwater stream to commit suicide. We know this from the sentence,

"The pool he was intending to make his death-bed." As Henchard is poised and ready to dive into the stream,

"His eyes were bent on the water beneath", showing his total commitment and determination to carry out his suicide. A body catches his eye, floating down the river,

"And then he perceived with a sense of horror that it was himself. Not a man somewhat resembling him his actual double, was floating as if dead in Ten Hatches Hole." This seems to jolt Henchard out of the idea of committing suicide...