Diana Burcin, EN -SP [609008]

Diana Burcin, EN -SP
Camelia Lazurcă, EN -SP

Middlemarch, A Study of
Provincial Life is a novel by the
English author George Eliot (Mary
Anne Evans), appearing in eight
instalments (volumes) in 1871 and
1872. Set in a fictitious Midlands town
fictitious Midlands town from 1829 to
to 1832 ,it follows distinct, intersecting
intersecting stories with many
characters. Issues include the status of
status of women, the nature of
marriage, idealism, self -interest,
religion, hypocrisy, political reform, and
reform, and education.

The novel was published in eight parts in 1871 –1872, and also in four
volumes in 1872. It is considered to be Eliot’s masterpiece.
It is divided into 8 books and a total of 88 chapters, including the “Prelude”
and the “Finale”.
I. “Prelude”
II. Book 1 –“Miss Brooke”, chapters 1 -12
III. Book 2 –“Old and Y oung”, chapters 13-22
IV. Book 3 –”Waiting for D eath”, chapters 23-33
V. Book 4 –“Three Love Problems”, chapters 34-42
VI. Book 5 –“The Dead Hand”, chapters 43-53
VII. Book 6 –“The Widow and the Wife”, chapters 54 -62
VIII. Book 7 –“Two Temptations”, chapters 63-71
IX. Book 8 –“Sunset and Sunrise”, chapters 72-86
X. “Finale”

There is a "Prelude" to the story; Eliot spends a
couple of pages on Saint Theresa, a Catholic saint
who lived in the early 1500s in Avila, Spain.
Theresa, according to Eliot, was destined for great
things because she had such a lofty, idealistic
nature.
Eliot points out that there have been many, many
Theresas born since then –women who, like Saint
Theresa, want nothing more than to lead meaningful
lives and do great things, but who are thwarted by
mundane, everyday concerns. Women like this
spend their lives yearning to accomplish some epic,
"long -remembered deed," but end up getting
married and having babies and being forced to
content themselves with playing the conventional
role of wife and mother.
This is an important lead -in to the rest of the novel,
because Dorothea Brooke, we quickly learn, is such
a woman. She's a "latter -day Saint Theresa" –
someone who yearns to do something amazing and
make the world a better place, but who just can't get
past the feeling that she was born in the wrong
moment for great deeds.

There are loads of characters in this novel, but here are some of the most
relevant ones:
i.Dorothea Brooke is illustrated as an intelligent, beautiful woman who
devoted to some project for improving the world and helping the
needy, by redesigning cottages. Her kindness is shown through several
moments in the book, such as the time when she gave money to
Lydgate’s hospital. After she marries Mr. Casaubon, a much older man,
she realizes that she made a big mistake, because their marriage was
not as she imagined.
ii.Celia Brooke is Dorothea’s younger sister, but they are very different.
aspires to nothing more than marriage and motherhood, and she
eventually marries Sir James Chettham.

iii. Edward Casaubon owns a large estate and his desire is to write the Key to all
Mythologies. He is described as “ugly and dry”, and his house, Lowick Manor, is
Manor, is described as being dark. His insecurities become clear throughout the
the novel. He becomes jealous and he is suspicious of Will’s feelings about Dorothea.
Dorothea. Edward Casaubon dies without finishing the Key to all Mythologies.
Mythologies. Also, after he dies, it is revealed the fact that his will contains a
a request by which Dorothea will be disinherited if she marries Will Ladislaw,
Ladislaw, Casaubon’s cousin.
iv. Will Ladislaw is Casaubon’s younger cousin. He is an idealist and has a rebellious
spirit. Although he does not admit, he comes to live in Middlemarch just to be near
be near to Dorothea, his cousin’s wife. After Mr. Casaubon dies, Will and Dorothea
Dorothea get married and they move to London.
v. Arthur Brooke is Dorothea’s and Celia’s uncle, who always tries to please anyone.
He runs for a seat in Parliament.
vi. Tertius Lydgate -Tertius Lydgate is the orphan son of a military man. He chose the
medical profession at a young age, much to the chagrin of his wealthy, titled
titled relatives.
vii. Walter Vincy -Walter Vincy is a modestly well -off businessman in manufacturing.
He is also mayor of Middlemarch . He is married to Lucy Vincy.
viii. Rosamond Vincy -Rosamond Vincy is the daughter of Walter and Lucy Vincy. She
grows up accustomed to an expensive lifestyle.

Celia is attracted by material things, and she says that
“women are expected to have weak opinions”. Although
she comes from a wealthy family, Dorothea prefers to
dress plainly. She longs to live a life devoted to her project
–redesigning the local farmers’ cottages. She is not afraid
to speak up her mind and even criticizes her uncle for his
preference in spending money on entertainment rather
than on socially responsible projects. When the two sisters
find their mother’s jewelry, Dorothea seems as fascinated
by the jewels as her sister. When Celia asks Dorothea if she
will wear the jewels in public, Dorothea says “I cannot tell
to what level I may sink”, disagreeing with the idea of
wearing them in public. This moment appears in
contradiction with the scene when her sincere admiration
for the jewelry was obvious.

Even though at first Dorothea is courted by Sir James Chettam, she is
instead attracted to Edward Casaubon, a much older man. She eventually
decides to get married to him, despite her sister’s sad reaction. After they
get married, Dorothea realizes that the things are not as she has imagined.
On their honeymoon, they do not spend time together and Mr. Casaubon
prefers to work on his manuscripts. They do not talk too much to each
other, and their small conversations seem uncomfortable. Through this
moments, the author illustrates a lack of affection or appreciation.

Dorothea does not tell Mr. Casaubon about her desires to spend
more time with him, and she thinks that letting him write his book
in the Vatican’s caverns is a proof of affection.
When they return to Middlemarch, Dorothea does not seem to see
that Mr. Casaubon is feeling threatened by his younger cousin, Will
Ladislaw. She brings him into conversation very often and she also
invites him to their house. On the other hand, Mr. Casaubon does
not understand the fact that his wife may feel lonely and
unappreciated. They cannot empathize with each other, both of
them being preoccupied with their worries.
They do not see each other as individuals with their own feelings,
ideas and opinions, but rather they see each other as an extension
of themselves.

It is also important to mention the fact that Casaubon’s and
Dorothea’s marriage remains childless, while the couples
Celia and Sir James and Lydgate and Rosamund both have
children very early in their marriages . The physical
relationship between Dorothea and Casaubon is not
mentioned, and most probably, non -existent.
Casaubon’s insecurities and worries come to light when he
notices the bond that Dorothea and Will start to create. He
thinks that after he dies, Ladislaw “will persuade her to marry
him” and that he will try to “make her believe anything”. On
the other hand, Dorothea makes some assumptions: “He
wishes he had never married me”, “It is his fault not mine”.
But is it really only it’s fault?

After he dies, it is revealed the fact that his will contains a
request by which Dorothea will be disinherited if she marries
Will Ladislaw, Casaubon’s cousin. Dorothea feels betrayed by
her deceased husband and in response to his will, she refuses
to continue Casaubon’s work. This moment illustrates the fact
that she returns to her independent self. She eventually
marries Will Ladislaw. Their marriage is portrayed in
contradiction with Dorothea’s and Casaubon’s marriage.
Dorothea’s and Will’s relationship is represented by
partnership, respect and mutual understanding.

Tertius Lydgate -An idealistic, talented, but
naïve young doctor, of good family and social
social connections. He falls in love with
Rosamond and marries her, though his
finances are less than secure .
Rosamond Vincy -A vain, somewhat empty –
headed young woman, though her social
graces and manner are perfect. She loves
Lydgate because he is an outsider with
impressive connections, who often flatters
flatters her.

Lydgate hopes to make great advances in medicine through his research,
but ends up in an unhappy marriage to Rosamond Vincy. She needs
constant attention from male suitors, even after marriage, and only the
finest things around her. She treasures expensive possessions and
furniture even more than her husband Lydgate, which causes great
discord.
Rosamond Vincy is vain , beautiful and shallow, Rosamond has a high
opinion of her own charms and a low opinion of Middlemarch society. She
marries Tertius Lydgate, believing he will raise her social standing and
keep her comfortable. When her husband meets financial difficulties, she
thwarts his efforts to economize, seeing such sacrifices as beneath her
and insulting. She cannot bear the idea of losing status in Middlemarch
society .
His attempts to show he is not answerable to any man fail and he
eventually has to leave town, sacrificing all his high ideals to please his
wife.

Rosamond’s interests are not serious; she is
concerned with social niceties, upward mobility,
and living well. While Dorothea is beautiful,
Rosamond is stunning and swanlike, a model of
perfection. Although Rosamond comes from a
middle -class background, her education lifts her to
a higher social circle. She represents the ability to
change social status through conduct, but in the
end her education ruins her marriage and
happiness.
Rosamond’s primary motivation is social
advancement, which fuels her desire to wed Dr.
Lydgate. Initially Rosamond seems to genuinely love
Lydgate, but when he loses his money, Rosamond
loses interest in him. Their marriage fails as
Rosamond struggles to keep her house and her
possessions and becomes petulant and
manipulative in the process.

Marriage ruins Lydgate,
both financially and
idealistically. As he gets
further and further into
debt, his personality
changes, vacillating
between coddling and
soothing Rosamond and
feeling intense bitterness
toward her. The financial
burden of marriage comes
between him and his desire
to reform the provincial
medical practices of the
neighborhood. In addition
to his debts, the scandal of
Raffles death marks him as
an accomplice to murder.