Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life - George Eliot

Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life

            George Eliot

Introduction:

   George Eliot’s Middlemarch is a novel embroidered by social relations, marriages, gender roles and a plain perspective on the Victorian society. The “Middlemarch” is a novel of relationships. Eliot here studied the life of social people. In a way it is a study of culture or in general it is the study of human nature. Nineteenth century England experienced a great deal of change and upheaval. Societal norms were questioned as Europe experiences numerous   revolutions that cried for equality.

Character List:

Dorthea Brooke

Celia Brooke

Mr. Brooke

Mr. Casaubon

Sir James Chettam

Lady Chettam

Mr. Cadwallader

Mrs. Cadwallader

Will Ladislaw

Dr. Lydgate

Rosamond Vincy

Mary

About the novel- “Middlemarch”:

   The central character of this novel is Dorthea- A young lady who is idealist and who stands against the patriarchal law of the Victorian Society. Dorthea is known as “FREE BIRD”. She was simple by nature. Her ambition in life is to help people. She married with Casaubon with this intention only that she help him in his research work and also increase her knowledge. But after marriage she came to know that the research which doing by her husband it was already done by someone else. Even the matrimonial life of Dorthea is in ruin. Though she is known as idealist she cannot understand her husband. Rosamond- who is rich lady in search of “Mr. Perfect” and she married with aged Dr. Lydgate.

    The matrimonial life of Mary and Fred becomes successful because Mary thinks truthfully. Both of them love each other but Mary denied to Fred that if he don’t becomes clergyman she couldn’t marry with him. But after becomes clergyman their life is more lovely. Marriages based on capability work better. Here in this novel Dorthea represent as a ideal woman, Rosamond represent as a real woman, while Mary represent as a truthful woman.

    Marriages based on capability work better because after the death of Casaubon she fails to break free completely from the societal pressures.

Conclusion:

    Some of the major themes stated in the novel can be considered as disillusion, gender roles and frustrated love relations and marriages especially with the marriages of some major characters such as Dorthea, Casaubon, Lydgate and Rosamond.

      In short the novel “Middlemarch” is a mirror of society. It is speak about the current affairs of society in which individual fails to make his or her own spaces. But at least they MARCH for BETTERMENT.