The major theme that has been seen throughout the book is MONEY. Money is the determining factor for everything within this world both  present and past. Although money itself is an insignificant element within the world, it becomes significant when humanity or the leaders of our government puts a price value on it and when others also agree with that value. Money then becomes a part of society but also a part of the interactions between individuals. As the people around can reflect the kind of person you are, money can also be used as a tool of reflection. Acceptance of tainted money from an individual who is a criminal reflects badly on you as an individual, it shows others that you have no morals and that you do not know the difference between right and wrong. The most important point that it shows is that you can be bought with money, a person that can be bought is an insincere and untrustworthy person to be around.

Lydgate: Bulstrode loaning money to Lydgate is a great example of the consequences that follow individuals who take money from an untrustworthy person. I understand that Lydgate did not know outright that Bulstrode “killed” Raffles however he did come to the deduction that Bulstrode had a hand in the death of Raffles. Lydgate taking the loan that Bulstrode was not willing to give him in the beginning shows to Bulstrode and the community that he will not speak up about the wrong Bulstrode committed.

Lydgate was already on a tightrope when it came to the community, most of the community never fully accepted him because of his partnership with Bulstrode, along with his medical practice. Him turning a blinded eye for Bulstrode is the last straw for the community, they want someone that they can trust. Looking deeper into understanding why Lydgate ignore the suggestion of Bulstrode “killing” Raffles we see his desperation. Lydgate had a huge debt that  he could not pay off by himself because of the lack of money management, his business and his wife spending money like it is water. At the end of the day, he was trying to provide for his family and desperation sometimes make people do something they would never have done otherwise.

The role between husband and wife in this book is very important to analyze. There is no separation between husband and wife, wives are indirectly connected to their husbands. The success of a husband equals the success of a wife, throughout the book the wives were always the last to know anything about what their husbands did. Harriet Bulstrode was the last to know about the secret her husband was hiding from her. For this, I do not understand why the husband feel as though they need to hide things from their wives. Is it a manly feeling that they need to protect their wives from unsavory situations? If this is the excuse, I cannot agree at the end of the day their wives will still experience unknown complications due to their husband’s actions.

Keulesia Webley-Sewell

Middlemarch is a journey. I went from deeply hating almost every character (but Mary, who is, let’s face it, basically the best person ever) to cheering for Dorothea and Ladislaw and pitting Bulstrode. This is not your average happily ever after fairy tale, meant only to leave you with a feeling of wellbeing. It is a story that looks deeply at individuals and calls out each person’s character flaws while highlighting their redeeming qualities. For this reason, the characters are not bound in text—they take on a realistic life of their own. Children cannot understand Middlemarch. You have to live to see the world shift from black and white into shades of grey.

Take Bulstrode. He could easily be the villain of Middlemarch. He stole Ladislaw’s potential inheritance and blackened Ladislaw’s reputation. His inaction killed a man. The problem with this simplistic notion comes from his characterization. Bulstrode was just a man terrified to losing his reputation. He was an old man faced with oncoming physical death and the death of his legacy. Understanding his fear comes easily. Does that mean he is totally absolved of all sin? NO. But it does allow for leniency. It is this multifaceted characterization that George Elliot exploits in Middlemarch. Middlemarch reaches into the depth of the human experience to equalize all members of society.

Rank and social standing shifts in Middlemarch as easily as the weather. Social evolution and devolution happen at every social rank. The business men—Mr. Garth and Mr. Vincy—cling to prosperity with every shift in the economy. They both chose similar paths, though their personal morals determined the success of their family. The clergy—Mr. Casaubon and Mr. Farebrother—changes lives with just a few words. The former with his codicil and the latter with his “timely” speech to Fred. The ladies—Dorothea and Cecilia and Rosemond—all fall and rise on their own, whether or not they follow social standards.

This is echoed in the Finale. The son of Dorothea and Ladislaw “might have represented Middlemarch”, an opportunity that would never have been given to Ladislaw, for all of his mixed blood. Lydgate recovered his name and had a good living and provided for his family, leaving behind four daughters with a good shot at life. Rank can be dropped or gained, personally or generationally.

Middlemarch doesn’t discount social standing. It has very real effects on the physical and mental health of many characters. Peer pressure inhibits actions and feelings, but is also a counter measure to bad behavior. There is a natural balance that exists because people so not want to face the ire of the larger community. However, by exploring different lifestyles and characters, Middlemarch gives a voice to everyone. In this way, the separation between different people becomes arbitrary. In consequence, you should always be nice to your neighbor because you never know when your neighbor will die and leave his property to a hitherto unknown illegitimate son who will then sell it to you, but not until after exposing your identity to the one man who knows the secret to your utter destruction. But that could never happen in real life. I mean, what are the odds?

– Valerie Harrison

Book 8 brings to a close my dynamic journey amongst selected characters in George Eliot’s Middlemarch. My particular favorites, Dorothea and Lydgate, faced difficult situations in their marriages, but never ultimately submitted to the anguish they suffered. Rather, they shared a personal honesty that won me over.

Dorothea’s impetuous generosity (p 733) gave encouragement to Lydgate when everyone else, including friendly Mr. Farebrother, doubted the young doctor’s conduct. Her bold attitude countered the prevailing opinion that Lydgate accepted a bribe in order to protect his community reputation. Tertius, overwhelmed by Dorothea’s belief in his goodness, unburdened his marital troubles, including his wife’s rebuffs, to this gentle, trustworthy soul. Dorothea not only listened with keen empathy, but she was impelled to call on Rosamund, urging reconciliation between husband and wife. I observed in Dorothea’s behavior a brave and unconventional woman who behaved unselfishly. Her argument that human nature may be rescued and healed (p 735) might sound naïve… until her return trip to the Lydgate’s house after the horrifying shock of discovering Will sitting (intimately, in her opinion) beside Rosamund. The young widow’s pride and self-assurance vanished as she supposed Will’s love for her to be a sham. Yet, during an agonizing night, she came to the conclusion that three lives (p788) (Lydgate, Rosamund, and Will) depended on her ability to free them from permanent self-destruction. Her decision contrasts with Rosamund’s high opinion of herself in which she expected marriage to be a glory to her (p756). Bitter (and immature) disappointment drove Rosamund to cling to the mistaken belief that Will would suit her better. Listen to the author’s accurate description of the Lydgate’s level of communication: the silence between them became intolerable to him; it was as if they were both adrift on one piece of wreck and looked away from each other (p 756)…an evocative image.

Dorothea’s motives, as pure as they appear, may have arisen from the need to distract her empty heart. Rosamund’s surprise at not receiving Dorothea’s anger at her return, resulted in a release of mutual sorrow, and for a minute or two they clasped each other as if they had been in a shipwreck (p 797). Dorothea’s vulnerability and insight from her own short marriage, prompted Rosamund to disclose the true object of Will’s affection. Hopefully Dorothea, so full of kindly feelings towards men, experienced a fresh appreciation of marriage, full of an unleashed passion from her chaste soul. And even though Rosamund lost an imaginary lover, she remained the focus of her husband’s affection, never realizing the pain and disappointment she triggered in his heart. Lydgate had chosen this fragile creature, and had taken the burthen of her life upon his arms. He must walk as he could, carrying that burthen pitifully. (p 800)

Lydgate’s attraction to lovely Rosamund was the source of his unceasing devotion to a wife who became his downfall. He recognized his illusory hope for their relationship to deepen in fellow compassion. Loyalty to her, above his own sensibility, compromised his aspirations for a career of progressive medicine, supported by research. It was heartbreaking to me when Lydgate came to the realization that only those who know the supremacy of the intellectual life- the life which has a seed of ennobling thought and purpose within it- can understand the grief of one who falls from the serene activity into the absorbing soul-wasting struggle with worldly annoyances (p 737). His decision to face the town’s defamation of his personal integrity and medical practice was a poignant turning point in his career. Perhaps the loss of Lydgate’s enlightened approach to medical treatments was the cause of his early death from a common infectious disease. I think Dorothea’s words are a fair tribute to him: To love what is great, and try to reach it, and yet to fail (p 764).

Three more couples deserve mention. The Bulstrode marriage can be summed up in the quotation before chapter 74: Mercifully grant that we may grow aged together (Book of Tobit, Marriage Prayer). Like Dorothea with Mr. Casaubon, Mrs. B dutifully and lovingly stood beside her husband, despite disapproving and hurtful comments from her circle of acquaintances. She was a loyal spirit (p 749), but she had real feelings and needed to sob out her farewell to all the gladness and pride of her life (p 750). Mrs. B. embraced humiliation, by removing all that was superfluous to her previous existence, as she tenderly and compassionately bore her husband’s shame with him. I respect her decision. I also wonder if Dorothea, whose temperament of mercy, pity, love, and peace, embodies William Blake’s quotation from the ‘Songs of Innocence’ (p 760), will reach out (in days to come) to the innocent wife of Mr. Bulstrode? I expect the woman who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rests in an unvisited tomb (p 838) remained true to herself.

Mary and Fred, who represented humor and hopefulness, especially for each other, achieved a solid mutual happiness (p 832). When Aunt Bulstrode sought to do something charitable for her brother’s family, it was Fred (who was given Stone Court) and Mary who benefitted.

Celia’s devoted sisterly love for Dorothea was her one encouraging attribute, in my opinion. She and Sir James Chettam deserve each other’s trivial quest for acceptability.

A sunset of dreams ended in sorrow for the Bulstrode and Lydgate marriages. A sunrise of love finally united Dorothea to Will, and Fred with his Mary. George Eliot’s talent to explore so many sides of our human psyche lent maturity to her novel Middlemarch. I was satisfied with this book for grown-up people (p. xxii, Virginia Woolf).

Tudy Hill

Despair and a little annoyed is how I am left with the close of Middlemarch.  The lead character, Dorothea, held so much promise in all the good that she could do in Middlemarch that I am disappointed with her.  There were moments of a great aptitude for business that she held.  Her work in funding the hospital, the school bell, the improvements and all the other things that she was getting involved in.  Dorothea was becoming a strong woman in a place controlled by men and had a good hold of things to get her own way.  Her decision to marry Will is all good and fine, but I was hoping that she would offer to sell the Lowick Estate to Sr. James and Celia to combine the properties (neighboring) since they had a family monopoly going on.  This way, Dorothea could have emptied out the Estate of Casaubon and used the money for proceeds.  She could have established trusts and funds for the hospital, infirmary, the school and all the other items that she wanted to get involved in.  If given a little time, she could have influenced Farebrother’s sister to become involved in her capacity as she had shown similar Dorothea like qualities in her compassion and demeanor.  Mary would have been an excellent choice to help facilitate the changes.

I also wanted more information on the outcome of Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode.  Yes, he is a hypocrite and did some stupid things, but made no effort (that we are aware of) to clear his name or look for the support that was given to him.  Even when all came out regarding everything to Dorothea and she took on her Knight in Shining armor act, she could have done something.  She was the holder of secretes to all and with the amount of respect everyone was always giving her, one would think that she would have done something more than reimburse him.

For that matter, Dorothea could have had will contact Bulstode to get back the money of Will’s inheritance and then turned that into an endowment or trust for even further good.  Instead, she just let all the money go to waste.  I know that she said it was an albatross and that she did not want it, just as Will did not want his money that was by unsavory methods but they could have taken it to advance their philanthropic ways.  In the name of Casausbon or his mother.  Dorothea had so much potential with her thoughts and plans, that I am disappointed that she did not use those talents in a better way.  In my opinion, taking money that you don’t want and giving to the Church or other goodwill ways would be a better way to do their good.

I am also disappointed in the majority of it all being “a happily ever after” story.  Everyone turned out, for the most part, happy.  Will and Dorothea lived a do-good life in London, Rosamund got her golden spoon in the end, Lydgate I am sure was adored by his children, and Celia got her sister back and the children kept the estates in the family just as Sir James wanted.  The only ones that did not get their way was the Bulstrode’s to a degree, she did not get to stay in Middlemarch (probably a good thing), but he did not lose his wife, which was his biggest fear.  I believe that Bulstrode could have remained in seclusion on the outskirts of Middlemarch as long as he kept his beloved.  Even though he was a despicable businessman, I believe that he was very devoted to his wife.  The words shared by Eliot about their relationship were few, but what we did have gave me the impression that their relationship was built on mutual love and adoration for each other.  I am not surprised that she did not leave him, while awful, it was not done when she was with him or even knew him.  And I don’t know why everyone got so huffy about it, all they ever worried about was how much everyone had and how much they would get for their wives to be dowries.

Overall, I am disappointed and wanted a little more thorough of a closure.  We get drawn into their lives, like they are our neighbors only to get a snippet of the after effects.  While my whining will not change then ending, I still am left wanting a little more.

Vickie Culpepper

All good things must come to an end, even if we wish they could go on forever. All season must end to give birth to a new season. All of childhood must end so a person can open a new chapter in their life. School must end, but learning never does. All stories must end not all have happy endings. Middlemarch did end with a few more twists than one would expect in a nineteenth century novel.

It was surprising that even though Rosamond was married, she had a sort of forbidden romantic feelings for Mr. Ladislaw that she thought were reciprocated. She seemed to think that Mr. Ladislaw was going to whisk her away from Middlemarch and her husband. Her hasty marriage and engagement was a really bad idea when she decided to marry Mr. Lydgate. Even when Mr. Lydgate was able to pay off his financial debt by borrowing money from Mr. Bulstrode he had a high social price to pay. The people in town ostracized Mr. Lydgate. It is in bad taste to borrow money even if you will pay it back.

The citizens of Middlemarch feel that Mrs. Bulstrode is trapped in a horrible marriage since they think that Mr. Bulstrode killed John Raffles by disregarding Mr. Lydgate’s advice while Mr. Bulstrode took care of him.

Then there is Dorothea’s problem. She had to go and encourage Rosamond not to leave Middlemarch since Rosamond keeps urging Mr. Lydgate to do so due to the fact she is embarrassed and cannot wait to get out. However Dorothea sees Rosamond and Ladislaw in a compromising position and feels embarrassed and leaves rather hastily. Ladislaw can’t help, but goes after Dorothea and tells her that he has no interest in Rosamond.

In the end even though Dorothea looses all of her land that she actually hates she marries Ladislaw and they decide to live off of her 700 pounds a year and know that they will be happy together. Celia feels like her sister betrayed her since Dorothea told Celia she will never get married again. Dorothea does have a son and since Chettam has decided to cut off contact Celia feels hopeless since she will never know her nephew. She also feels like they should forgive her, but I think Chettam is jealous that she married Casaubon and then married Ladislaw while he had to marry her sister.

Fred finally got to marry Mary. He also eventually got a very profitable business working in land and did not have to go into the church. Mary also wrote a book of children’s stories and was the only one in the whole book who actually got a book published.

Mr. Lydgate ended up having a profitable practice and dying at 50 of diphtheria. Then Rosamond was left with her children and ends up marrying an old rich physician. She never got away from doctors; her second husband also loved all of her children. Unfortunately, Mr. Casaubon never got his dream realized of publishing his out of date book.

Julia Rogan

As I completed the final chapter of Middlemarch, I couldn’t help but feel as though Eliot had made an excellent case for, if not communism, at least socialism. Given the amount of attention that was provided to the Reform Act taking center stage in Middlemarch’s political realm, it doesn’t surprise me just how political the novel can get even when its focus lays upon the interpersonal issues of the characters.

For example, poor Dr. Lydgate’s misery is explained in part by his stressful marriage to Rosamond, but the bulk of his suffering is contributed to his financial plight. In Book VIII, Eliot states that “[o]nly those who know the supremacy of the intellectual life-the life which has a seed of ennobling thought and purpose within it-can understand the grief of one who falls from that serene activity into the absorbing soul-wasting struggle with worldly annoyances” (701). When I read this passage, all I can think of is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how Lydgate had reached the summit only to topple back down to the base. His need of money detracts from Lydgate’s studies and directly contributes to the source of conflict between him and his wife.

In contrast, Dorothea, who has never needed for anything, often serves as a mouthpiece for both Christian charity and housing reform. While her pious nature certainly explains the driving force behind her housing projects, the nature of her endeavors brings focus to the needs of the less fortunate. When speaking to Lydgate, Dorothea practically encourages wealth distribution when she says “Think how much money I have; it would be like taking a burden from me if you took some of it every year till you got free from this fettering want of income. Why should not people do these things? It is so difficult to make shares at all even” (730). Given how much people seem to revere Mrs. Casaubon, and the way that she is often compared to the Virgin Mary, it would follow then that her ideas should hold greater importance than some other characters.

Mr. Garth, the most venerable character of Middlemarch as well as my personal favorite, seems to embody the importance of hard work, charity, and a distaste for money. As someone who perhaps has cheated himself out of well-earned financial gain, Garth usually has enough business to keep his finances afloat and his family always manages to make due. Caleb’s desire to better the lives of others appears to be the masculine counterpart to Dorothea’s charitable ways. Although Garth’s character doesn’t truly support the ideas of communism or socialism like Dorothea’s does, he appears unlike any other resident of Middlemarch (than Dodo) with his total disinterest in profit.

As the most estimable characters in the novel, Dorothea and Mr. Garth share a love for their fellow man, a detachment from money, and a desire to work for the betterment of their society. Whether or not their actions support a political viewpoint or a religious one, their values are undeniably behind the happy resolution of the conflict in this novel.

Emily Fleischhauer