At the beginning of The Mayor of Casterbridge, Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter to the highest bidder while drunk. He immediately regrets his actions and swears off drink for years. In time, he builds himself up, becoming the mayor of the town, and his wife and daughter eventually return to him, nearly two decades later. The novel examines the importance of a person's reputation, as Henchard eventually loses everything again after his past actions and relationships are revealed.
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