There is so much information available in My Life in Middlemarch that is overwhelming.  The background, history of Eliot’s life and how it intertwined with the author was quite interesting.  It appears that in most cases, Rebecca Mead could identify with each of the characters at one or more points in her personal life journey.

But, what is very interesting are Mead’s story telling abilities for Ms. Mary Ann Evans.  Wild in her thoughts and actions, Mary Ann is truly an innovative woman.  She openly defied the confines of organized religion, set up house and openly lived as a husband and wife with a married man, was prosperous and a smart business woman in regards to her publications.   It surprises me in many ways is that during my educational years, George Eliot was not heralded as such a brave and unique woman.  The actions that Mary Ann Evans took were not in the norm and while it appears by Mead’s historical references Evans was not applauded but I did not gather that she had been ostracized as a person as much as maybe the Bulstrod’s.

But, in that same respect, through Meade we find evidence of Eliot’s life mimicked in Middlemarch in the same way that we can identify with the story in our personal lives the same that Meade does.  For example, in Eliot’s early life – she is much like Celia – seeing the world and rational as a young adult.  Celia was Dorothea’s balance and I also find Eliot like Dorothea – loving and devoted to the older gentleman and giving a great portion of her being to Thornie just as Dorothea did with Casaubon.  Eliot was chastised by many just as the Bulstrod’s and made positive impressions on the lives of others just as Mary and Fred.  I also found interesting the similarities in the idea of what some of us wished – if Dorothea and Lydgate would have come together.  I wondered if maybe their relationship would be similar and comfortable like Eliot and Lewes was.  When Eliot would be writing and Lewes would be “examining specimens under his microscope” (Mead pg. 249).  There is so many similarities between the author presented to us by Mead that an entire paper is possible to compile, but that is not my aim.

I find it ironic that Middlemarch is still so relevant.  Many of the same situations and busy body tendencies are still present in today’s times.  It makes me wonder if human kind has evolved at all with respect to social relationships.  We deal with gossip, snotty and snide people, those who have self-absorbed ideas who pleasure in shutting down the others around them.  I can pick out the Rosamund’s in my neighborhood.  These are the “keeping up with the Jone’s” type of people, usually as spouse who is jealous of others or wants to make the impression that they are successful when they are barely getting by.  I also know who the Bulstrod’s are and that I feel for them more because of reading Middlemarch.  I recognized immediately the gossip mongers in my neighborhood:  which is ironic as it is a group of men who walk their dogs together every morning instead of the town’s women gathering for tea in the shop down the street.  The neighbors around the corner from me is the Mary and Fred couple of the area.  You just go past their house and with the kids playing in the yard under Mom and Dad’s watchful eye and feel the love ooze from their home.

As for myself, I have yet to identify exactly who I most resemble.  In many ways, I feel as though I am much like Mead where different parts of my life can place me in different characters as times pass.  Overall, while I appreciated the in-depth analysis of all the characters in Mead’s book, I found the historical references more intriguing.  As a person who always prefers real or historical non-fiction as a general read the presentation that Mead gives us is so conversational I was surprised when it was finished opposed to when Eliot’s was completed I was relieved.  All being said, Mead has piqued my interest to go seek out and read (when I get some free time HA!) The Mill on the Floss.