Henchard, in his youth, drunkenly sells his wife Susan and their daughter Elizabeth-Jane to a sailor. Years later, he reforms himself, gives up drinking, and rises to become the respected mayor of Casterbridge. Meanwhile, Susan returns to Casterbridge with Elizabeth-Jane, searching for her lost husband. Henchard, ashamed of his past, conceals the truth and remarries Susan, hoping to make amends. Around the same time, Donald Farfrae, a young and talented Scotsman, arrives in town and becomes Henchard’s trusted advisor. However, Henchard’s admiration for Farfrae soon turns into jealousy as the young man gains influence. Susan’s death reveals that Elizabeth-Jane is not Henchard’s biological daughter, but he chooses to keep this secret. Meanwhile, a woman named Lucetta sends letters, hinting at a past relationship with Henchard that threatens to resurface.
