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“Henchard’s Failing Patriarchical Speech Acts presented in The Mayor of Casterbridge.” Studies in English Language & Literature. 39.2 (2013): 41-58. This paper aims to study the patriarchical speech acts presented with The Mayor of Casterbridge written by Thomas Hardy. The features of this work is focused that speech acts of main characters are being performed in the agricultural community, Casterbridge. This story is classfied into 'novels of Character and Environment' which is centered on a story of character and fortune of a man. Through the 'words' and 'letters' of the hero Henchard, we can see his character and life correctly. I will study how Henchard's patriarchical speech acts affect the surrounding characters—Susan, Farfrae, Lucetta, Elizabeth Jane and Newson in this novel. Character can signify 'sign' or 'letter' Henchard would present. What seems most significant is the way that words and letters becomes Henchard's enemy. The speech acts which reveal the emotion and volition of a man finally destroy him. From the beginning to the end of this novel, Henchard is doomed to be bound by his words. He is always at the mercy of his own words and when he tries to use others' words against them, he always falters, unable to commit such violent acts. Thus, Henchard's Speech acts knock over him and his family, and in the end make him a victim of his community.