In Thomas Hardy's first chapter of `The Mayor of Casterbridge', we are introduced to the main themes that will be developed later on. In the first Chapter we meet the main characters Michael and his wife Susan Henchard. As well as their daughter Elizabeth Jane. They are on their way to Weydon-Priors (Hardy's fictional town). Shortly after they arrive they seek nourishment in the furmity tent at the local fair. After several servings of furmity with liquor, Michael gets drunk and verbally abuses his wife for his unemployment. He later sells auction and sells her to a sailor for five pounds. The sailor and Susan leave taking Elizabeth Jane with them.

To understand the first chapter we must first understand and have an idea of how it was in the 19th century. Since Hardy wrote his novels in the second part of the nineteenth century. The industrial revolution...