Middlemarch as cobweb of relations ... ASSIGNMENT SEM 2 (PPER 6)

Middlemarch as cobweb of relations.....



Name : Niyatiben A. Pathak

Roll No.25

Enrollment No.2069108420180042

Topic .Middlemarch as cobweb of relations

Paper. VICTORIAN LITERATUE

Submitted to. Department of English MKNU.

Author ...
George Eliot ....

Biography ....

George Eliot is widely recognized as one of the most important writers of the nineteenth century; yet her two volumes of poetry are often ignored in modern critical assessments. Like so many of her contemporaries, Eliot tried to make significant literary contributions in more than one genre; her poems—both narrative and lyric—deal, however, with some of the same themes which inform her novels and short stories. Her poems are less accomplished than her prose fiction—only one poem, “O May I Join the Choir Invisible,” has achieved any lasting fame—but they do stand as an informative window on to her life as a writer.

George Eliot was born Mary Ann Evans in rural Warwickshire and was unusually well educated for a woman of her time. Her first publication, a poem published in the Christian Observer in January 1840, “'Knowing That Shortly I Must Put Off This Tabernacle,'“ displays the influence of Eliot’s Evangelical teachers.  In 1841, Eliot came in contact with a group of philosophical thinkers, and her passionate commitment to Christianity began to find new directions. By early 1842 Eliot questioned the historical foundations of Christianity so much that she both abandoned her faith and stopped attending church services, a move that led to strenuous conflict with her father. Eliot eventually resumed church attendance but did not return to active faith. In forty-three lines of blank verse, Eliot claims in “O May I Join the Choir Invisible” that the only afterlife one can have comes from participation in the growing group of men and women who make the world a better place to live—better in human terms, individually and collectively. The piece demonstrates Eliot’s unconventional thinking in a highly orthodox Christian society.

At the encouragement of London publisher John Chapman, Eliot published a review for the Westminster Review and, excited by her entrée to the London literary world, decided to try to earn her living by writing. In 1851, Eliot became assistant editor of the Westminster Review. During her time with the journal, she met many English and American literary figures—most significantly, Herbert Spencer, the author of Social Statics(1851), and George Henry Lewes, the drama critic and founder of the Leader. The subsequent union of Lewes and Eliot was complicated by Lewes’ thirteen-year marriage to Agnes Jervis, who, over time, bore four children by a married friend.

A controversial figure during her time, Eliot published translations as well as prose and poetry, all but one under her adopted pseudonym. Among her themes are music; art as an activity of unfathomable human worth; the notion that the past shapes the present; and the conflict in a woman's life between great duty and the prospect of a happy marriage. Her prose masterpiece was the psychologically insightful Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life (1871).


Marry Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880) was well-known English Novelist, poet, journalist, translator and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She is known by her pen name ‘George Eliot’. She wrote many novels like “Adam Bede”, “Silas Marner”, “Middlemarch” and many more. Most of the novel are set in provincial England and known for their realism and critical insight.


Middlemarch: A study of provincial life is novel by George Eliot.  It was first published in eight instalments during 1871-72. The novel is set in the fictitious midlands town of Middlemarch during 1829-32. It comprises several distinct stories and large cast of characters. It is based on many themes including the status of women, the nature of the marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, political reform and education.


List of Characters:-
1.) Aurther Brooke

  2.) Celia Brooke

  3.) Dorothea Brooke

  4.) Nicholas Bulstrode

  5.) Harriet Bulstrode

  6.) Elinor Cadwallader

  7.) Edward Casaubon

  8.) Sir James Chettam

  9.) Mr.

Dagley

 10.)    Peter Featherstone

 11.)  Mary Garth

 12.)   Will Ladislaw

 13.)  Dr.Tertius Lydgate

 14.)   Captain Lydgate

 15.)   Miss Noble

 16.)   John Raffles

 17.)  Joshua Rigg Featherstone

 18.)  Walter Tyke

 19.)   Mr. wrench

And Many more…………………………………
 10.)    Peter Featherstone

 11.)  Mary Garth

 12.)   Will Ladislaw

 13.)  Dr.Tertius Lydgate

 14.)   Captain Lydgate

 15.)   Miss Noble

 16.)   John Raffles

 17.)  Joshua Rigg Featherstone

 18.)  Walter Tyke

 19.)   Mr. wrench

And Many more…………………………………

Novel ...

Dorothea was the elder of sisters, was not yet twenty, and they had been both been educated, since they were about twelve years old and had lost their parents, on plans at once narrow and promiscuous, first in English family and afterwards in a Swiss family at Lausanne, their bachelor uncle and guardian trying in this way remedy the disadvantages of their orphaned condition. 

It was hardly a year since they had come to live at Tipton Grange with their uncle, a man nearly sixty, of acquiescent temper, miscellaneous opinions, and uncertain vote. Dorothea was regarded as a heiress, for not only had big money a year from her parents, but if Dorothea married and had a son, that son would inherit Mr. Brooke’s estate. A young lady was with some birth and fortune.

The rural opinion about the new young ladies, even among the cottagers, was generally in favor of Celia, as being so amiable and innocent-looking, while Miss Brooke’s large eyes seemed, like her religion, too unusual and striking. Poor Dorothea compared with her sister. Dorothea with all her eagerness to know the truth of life retained very childlike ideas about marriage. Those who approached Dorothea, thought prejudiced against her by this alarming hearsay, found that she had been a charm unaccountably reconcilable with it. She was open, ardent, and not in at least self-admiring. Sir James Chettam asked Mr. Brooke’s permission to make an offer of marriage to Dorothea. But Dodo preferred Sir. Edward Causabon.

Causabon was over five-and-forty and he was twenty seven years older than her. His income was good – he has handsome property independent of the Church. He was good match in some respects but his health was not over-strong. Dodo admired and honored him. Dodo had not the same tastes as every young lady; and clergyman and scholar-who may be bishop suited for her than Chettam. He was good man. Mr. Brooke’s mind felt blank to hear his niece’s decision. Dorothea trembled while she read the proposed letter from Edward Causabon. The scholar man introduced all his family members to Dodo including his cousin artist young Will Ladislaw.

A new young surgeon, Mr. Tertius Lydgate could not belong in Middlemarch without having that agreeable vision, or even without making the acquaintance of Vincy family. They were old manufacturers, had kept house for three generations, in which there had naturally been much intermarried with neighbors more or less decidedly genteel. Mrs. Vincy’s sister had been second wife to rich old Mr. Featherstone, and Mr. Vincy’s sister was a wife to the banker Mr. Bulstrode. Mr. Vincy’s children; Rosamond and his brother Fred Vincy were beautiful mortals in Middlemarch.

Doctor Tertius Lydgate married the most beautiful girl in Middlemarch. Lydgate married Rosamond while Fred approached a governess girl name Mary Garth. A girl nursed Fred’s uncle the rich old Peter Featherstone. Mary’s father was a property businessman and her mother governess too like her. Caleb Garth gave himself up entirely to the many kinds of work which he could do without capital. He did his work well, charged very little, and often declined the charge at all. It was no wonder then that the Garths were poor, they did not mind.

Fred was in huge debt Mr. Garth. Mr and he couldn’t pay it. His uncle Featherstone helped him. It was ashamed to the Vincys and sent his son to University. When Fred came back to Middlemarch, he still loved Mary but he had no skill for living. He worked and learned from Caleb Garth. After old Jew Peter Featherstone died, Mary went to girl school.

Newly wed Edward Causabon and his wife Dodo travelled to Rome, Edward had a sensitiveness to match his wife’s. Both were shocked at their mutual situation – the clash at the wedding journey. To Dorothea’s inexperienced sensitiveness, it seemed like a catastrophe, changing all prospects; and Mr. Causabon it was new pain. He never have been on a wedding journey before since this charming young bride not only obliged him to much consideration on her behalf, but turned out to be capable of agitating him cruelly just he need shooting.

Will Ladisaw was not aware that his second cousin and his wife in Rome, Dodo met him coincidentally. When Edward went to read in the Library at Vatican every day, his wife was comfortable with young Ladisaw. After several weeks in Rome, the new couple had returned to Middlemarch. Dodo had learned from Doctor Tertius Lydgate that there were no signs of change in Edward Causabon’s bodily condition beyond the mental sign of anxiety to know the truth about his illness. Will visited Edward but the old preacher chose not to speak to him. Edward Causabon was quite sure that Dorothea was the cause of Will’s returned from Rome. Edward was determined not to speak to his cousin and sent him a letter to stay away from his wife. Meanwhile Dorothea in sadness, her sister Celia married to James Chettam and had a baby. Causabon died and Dodo was childless rich widow in Middlemarch. He was shocked of the death.

Lydgate broke and had no estate. Lydgate moved to London. He had gained excellent practice alternating, according to the season. His skill was relied on many paying patient, but regarded himself as a failure. Lydgate’s hair never became white. He died when he was only fifty, leaving his wife and children provided for heavy insurance in his life. Rosamond Vincy afterwards married an elderly and wealthy physician, who took kindly to her four children. She made very pretty show with her daughters, driving out in her carriage, and often spoke her happiness as “a reward”- she did not say for what, but probably she meant that it was a reward for her patience with Tertius, whose temper never became faultless, and to the last occasionally let slip a bitter speech which memorable than signs he made of his repentance.

Mary Garth and Fred Vincy achieved a solid mutual happiness. Fred surprised neighbors in various ways. He became practical farmer and produced a work which won him high congratulations at agriculture meeting. Fred never became rich – his hopefulness had not led him to expect that; but gradually saved enough to become owner of the stock and furniture, the work which his father in law put into his hands carried him in plenty those bad times which are always present with farmer.

Sir James Chettam never ceased to regard Dorothea’s second marriage as mistake and indeed this remained the tradition concerning it in Middlemarch where she spoke of to younger generation as a fine girl who married a sickly clergyman, old enough to be her father. In little more than year after his death gave up her estate to marry his cousin- young enough to be his son, with no property, and not well-born. Dorothea herself no dreams of being praise above another women. Still, she never repented that she had given a fortune to marry Will Ladisaw, and he would have held it the greatest shame as well as sorrow to him if she repented. They were bound to each other by a love stronger than any impulses which could have marred it.

Will became an ardent public man, working well in those times when reforms were begun with a young hopefulness of immediate good which has been checked in those days, and getting at last returned to Parliament by a constituency who paid his expenses. Mr. Brooke lived to a good old age, and his estate was inherited by Dorothea’s son, who might have represented Middlemarch. 

Title ....

The novel gives us realistic , vivid and comprehensive picture of provincial. Life of england.

★A Host of characters belonging to ..

... Evry profession

..... Age-group 

......Walk of life 

★Confflict in the town ..

Old with new both excited in middlemarch ..

Old was dominant 

Divided religion 

Anglicanism 

Plot of the novel ....

Dorothea --asauborn .. Ladislw story ...

She Marries twice 

She inherits casubons property 

end of the novel 

She take night decision .

Rosamond --ydgate story ...

False impression she wanted extra vantage life 

Upper class people 

Fred vindt --- mary story ....

Childhood love 

He becomes good person 

They had to suffer  a lot.

Bulstrod s episode ....

His way of livehood

Different Stands 

The novel is full of pessimism.

Gloom 

Melancholy...

Thank you ....