The plot of the Mayor of Casterbridge revolves around a drunken event. One night, Henchard becomes so drunken that he auctions off his wife and daughter to a sailor, named Newson. For 18 years he regrets the events of that night. Fate gives him a chance to make amends when his wife and a young daughter (now a young woman) find him once again. The sailor has died. Henchard, in order to hide his disgrace from the daughter, does not mention that he knew his former wife in any way. Then they court and marry. She dies shortly thereafter, and through a series of events, he learns that the young girl that he thought was his daughter is not his daughter, but Newson's. Later, after estranging himself and engaging in all sorts of backroom bargains, he realizes that he has spent his life bringing no joy to anyone's life. He tries to make amends with Newson's daughter, but she snubs him. Later, she feels badly that she treated him this way and goes to find him. He has died alone in the country. His will says that he simply wishes to be forgotten.
