The shocker of all shocker Celia’s engagement to Sir James Chettam, I did not see this coming. When Sir James was introduced by Eliot he was fascinated by Dorothea and her ideas, Celia explained that Sir James would be the best choice for Dorothea in terms of marriage because of his love. The marriage between Celia and Sir James is a shocker because I did not believe they would get married to each other. I do not know how I would feel if  the man I am about to married was once in love or even fascinated by my sister. I wonder what led to this mutual consent between the two, did they realize that with Dorothea out the way they final saw what was in front of them.

The fact that Featherstone had two wills made up, leads me to question why he needed two and why he wanted to burn one. This was not a shocker but still, the fact that Featherstone was on his death bed and everyone was arguing about his wealthy. Did anyone really care about this old man? I cannot imagine how sad it would be to know that the people surrounding you, mostly family, only care about your wealth and trying to inherit it. The shocker that everyone received by Featherstone was that he did not leave anything to Fred, and he had a son- although illegitimate, but still a son. It makes me wonder if he had a son and was thinking of leaving everything to him why did he make people fight over his wealth and how could no one know about this son.

The Brooke’s: It is very important to talk about the Brooke’s house, not just their house but the location in which their house resides. The fact that they can watch Featherstone’s funeral from inside their house speak so much about their wealth and their position within this community. It seems as if Mr. Brooke is somewhat overlooked in their status within the community. Eliot talks about Bulstrode and his control over the community because he controls everyone’s finance and his use of this for personal gain. But I do not believe Eliot has yet talked about Mr. Brooke’s role or control within the community. Brooke is an erratic man who is all over the place with his ideas and you can never understand his train of thought but I never did understand his place.

The betrayal between Mr. Brooke and Dorothea is something that should be analyze or even pay close attention to. I cannot say this was a misunderstanding at all between the two characters, Dorothea specifically asked her uncle to respond to Ladislaw and tell him not to come. The fact that Brooke ignored Dorothea took it upon himself to personal invite Ladislaw and hide him speak louder than anything else.In this sense I believe Mr. Brooke really only cares about his opinions and his feelings, he did not stop to think about how this might come off to other people or even affect his niece. If he really thought about it, he would have understood why Dorothea refuse to invite Ladislaw to Middlemarch, he could have even gone out of his way to have either Casaubon explain why this might be a bad time. This I believe will lead to a huge misunderstanding between Dorothea and Casaubon.

Dorothea and Casaubon: This is a couple that I believe was not a good fit with each other and the belief that Casaubon did not care one bit about Dorothea. In this book, I saw something that have lead me to revise my words, Casaubon in his own way cares about Dorothea. His belief that he needs to protect her from Ladislaw, the fact that he is insecure in his relationship with his wife is a huge show of affection (my belief) that he cares. It is sad to say that he does not trust his wife and believe she is conspiring against him. His lack of trust lays on his shoulder, he locks himself away in a library and barely communicates with his wife. Dorothea on one hand has too many people in her head, she is believing everything everyone (Will!) is telling her except her husband. The lack of trust, communication and listening to each other can be their downfall.

Keulesia Webley-Sewell  

Three Love Problems was spent largely exposing the faults of the men in Middlemarch. The women have faults of course—Dorothea is oblivious and Rosamond is needy and blind to the dangers in front of her. But the men, while they undeniably had issues in the previous books, where roasted in this book.

Mr. Casaubon is stuck in a rut of territorial jealously. He is isolating Dorothea from Ladislaw because he sees Ladislaw as a potential enemy. In reality, Ladislaw is a foil for Mr. Casaubon. Ladislaw is young, intelligent, and understands new ideas and concepts. Mr. Casaubon is bogged down with age, and while he is intelligent, he is facing the knowledge that his research may be obsolete before he even sets pen to paper for an academic work. Ladislaw listens to Dorothea and treats her like her words have value—something Dorothea does not find in her husband. Ladislaw is everything Mr. Casaubon wishes he was or could be again. This is a problem that will only grow and it betrays Mr. Casaubon as a frightened old man, scared of losing Dorothea—his nurse, secretary, and maid. The cracks in this character are deepened considerably in this book, though the faults are, on the whole, pitiable.

Ladislaw does not escape unharmed. He specifically stays in Middlemarch for Dorothea. He wants to save her from her folly in marrying Mr. Casaubon, and therefor interjects himself into her society with much gusto. However, his actions put a tremendous pressure on the Casaubon’s marriage. It is undeniably selfish for Ladislaw to ignore his uncle (and benefactor) so completely for such selfish reasons. In the end, it will be Dorothea who will suffer the wrath of Mr. Casaubon, and she will not even understand why he will be angry with her. It is Ladislaw’s youthful belief in his ability to right wrongs and be a savior that show him to be misguided and selfish.

And then there is Fred. I really hate Fred. His behavior is constantly pardoned by everyone—his parents, the Garths, and Middlemarch society in general.   Even Mrs. Garth finds herself “ready to think well of him again when he gives [her] good reason to do so” though it was merely a quirk of fate that kept the Garths from feeling the unfriendly effects of the loss of the money for Fred’s debts. Fred send the vicar as “an envoy” to tell the Garths that “he is going away, and that he his miserable about the debt…, and his inability to pay, that he can’t bear to come himself even to bid [them] good by”.  Fred cannot bring himself to apologize or inform the garths himself that he is leaving. Sending an envoy highlights his cowardly nature and is inexcusable. Fred leaves knowing that he will be leaving behind a family is tight financial straits and a damaged future. I feel like he will see the good fortune of Mr. Garth’s new position as fate intervening on his own behalf and settling his debts, rather than remaining in the debt of the Garths. Fred has no right to be relieved because he seriously messed up. He is fundamentally a coward who relies on fate to bolster him. He feels entitled to a good life. I hope he grows up, but I am not holding out much hope.

Interpersonal relations remain a struggle for the people in Middlemarch. They are becoming real people rather than characters—they have disappointments, good characteristics, bad habits, health problems, and struggle with money. I hope they also have the capacity to grow.

-Valerie Harrison

Pink Floyd said it best in his song “Money” – “I’m all right Jack keep your hands off of my stack.”  Money is such an important issue in this novel.  Lydgate is obsessed about it and shortly after his engagement is wondering about Rosemond’s dowry.   Mr. Balustrade seems to horde it and uses everyone to his advantage to get it.  Mr. Vincy never has it, struggles for it, and has taught his children nothing about money management.  Poor Fred, he and his gambling addiction will be the end of him I believe.

But what is surprising is how concerned Dorthea is about it.  In the beginning, she says that money does not mean much to her, but it becomes apparent later on that it does.  Her naiveté about finances is strange to me, because it is as though she does not realize that it costs money to travel and pay servants and etc.  She has grand ideas to revamp and upgrade the homes of the tenants but does not realize that the repairs and upgrades would cost money to do it.  She wants to do all this good, but does not understand that being a missionary takes funds to make those ideas come to fruition.  And she becomes overly concerned with the future financial status of Will.  It seems presumptuous to me that she would implore her husband to change his will to leave funds for Will even without knowing everything about the situation.  She is so gullible that I am really beginning to despise her character.

In contracts, Casaubon is securing his money’s future by saying to Will to “keep your hand off my stack” because of whatever the family reason was, but he did give generously to the young man to “find himself” some part of it by duty so we are told, but could it have been ordered to him in another will by a different family member?  Who knows, but it is a plausible case that Casaubon was bequeathed the money to provide for Will until a certain point and that could be the reason for his bitterness when Will rejects any more financial assistance.  I don’t blame Casaubon for his reaction at all, but I do hold him accountable for keeping Dorthea in the dark.  Mr. and Mrs. Casaubon are perfectly matched for each other.

In regards to Mr. Featherstone, he was also a stingy man but loved to flaunt his money in the end to the people around him.  I also was disgusted when the family would sit around and wait for him to die, it was really creepy. But even in death, Mr. Featherstone ensured that he reminded people of his wealth and ultimately keeps his family hands off his stack.  The amount of moping and outrage that occurs at his will reading is quite disgusting.  I don’t even know why Fred thought he would be entitled to something.  It reminds me of my uncle hunting down my brother during my grandmother’s funeral to discuss her will with him.  I suppose it is a good thing to know that people never change.

Money seems to be a huge driver in Middlemarch, while the overlaying story is about love and relationships and often reads as a tabloid, the undercurrent of politics and money propel the story forward.  I find myself very invested in the character’s lives, but I am constantly reminded of how money is a big driver of everything then and now.

Vickie Culpepper

In the fourth book, Three Love Problems, we are shown the ways in which several characters are forced to face some unpleasant realities. These revelations come in many forms, delivered from the mouths of lawyers, doctors, and even lowly tenants. While Fred Vincy, Mr. Casaubon, and Mr. Brooke each suffer personal blows to their pride, their reactions vary considerably. In the face of adversity, Fred chooses to return to the path once set before him, Mr. Casaubon machinates a narrow path for his wife, and Mr. Brooke eventually acquiesces to address the needs and desires of those around him.

Upon Peter Featherstone’s death, Fred Vincy, along with many other relations, withstands the disappointment of being excluded from the will of the deceased. It is rather cruel irony that the woman he hopes to marry held the power of his future in her hands in a very literal way. Although Mary could have helped Fred to become a rich man through inheritance, perhaps Fred’s perceived loss will push him to become the sort of man Ms. Garth would be proud to marry. “[U]tterly depressed,” Fred returns to his studies like most who are without any other course of action available to them would do (324). For Fred, his first lesson in life is that it isn’t always fair!

Mr. Casaubon suffers an even greater disappointment when he learns the true nature of his fragile condition after interrogating Dr. Lydgate. Knowing the seriousness of his health issues and his wife’s understanding of them only feeds his suspicions of both Dorothea and Will Ladislaw and the nature of their relationship. Both Lydgate’s and subsequently Casaubon’s suppositions may not be founded in any undeniable fact, but they still have a tangible effect on Mr. and Mrs. Casaubon’s marriage. Dorothea clearly feels a guilty tenderness toward her husband because she blames herself for his illness. Sadly, Mr. Casaubon, while correct in his estimation of Will Ladislaw’s desire for Dorothea, cannot correctly interpret the agency behind Dorothea’s actions and generates the very discord that he imagines. Wrapped up in fear and jealousy, Casaubon chooses not to divulge his misgivings to his wife in life, deciding to memorialize his fears in his death with the freshly created “codicil” in his will. It seems ironic that this man, who cannot open up his heart to anyone including Dorothea, will soon be undone from a disease of the heart.

Finally, Mr. Brooke must come to terms with the fact that despite his illusions of being a fair proprietor, his reputation as a poor landlord is not completely unfounded. Throughout Middlemarch, we have been introduced to a myriad of characters, most of whom come from some sort of pedigree or honorable station in society. Much has been spoken about the need to help the less fortunate, especially from Dorothea, who has been calling for reform and renovations to the cottages since the beginning. Her drive has always been attributed to her religious fervor, but after being introduced to the Dagley’s cottage it is no wonder that Dorothea should feel so strongly. Mr. Dagley clearly feels similarly regarding the state of his domicile, calling Brooke to task for it in reply to Brooke’s concerns about poaching. While Mr. Brooke escapes quickly from the uncomfortable skirmish as quickly as possible, the confrontation seems to move him just as quickly to hire Caleb Garth to finally renovate the slummy cottages.

Emily Fleischhauer

Together

A potentially poignant word, together, closes Book 4…and I did not expect it. Dorothea, who cannot bear to think that any one should die, and leave no love behind (p 328), is heartbroken over her husband’s morose behavior towards her, following a medical visit from Lydgate. Her altruistic attitude about marriage is floundering, as she experiences a rebellious anger…instead of tears there came words- What have I done? What am I- that he should treat me so? … He wishes he had never married me. (P 426) Her expectation as helpmate in academic pursuits has faded, as Mr C’s lack of confidence and Dorothea’s pity for him is uncovered. Neither spouse felt fulfillment in the marriage. Neither anticipated joy, but it was not part of their courtship, either.

She saw her own and her husband’s solitude- how they had walked apart so that she was obliged to survey him. If he had drawn her towards him, she would never have surveyed him- never have said, Is he worth living for?…now she said bitterly, It is his fault, not mine. In the jar of her whole being, Pity was overthrown. (p 426) Mr C’s routine and concentration is disturbed by a change in lifestyle; and Dorothea’s interpretation of her role has adapted to an awareness of her husband’s failure (p 365) as an eminent scholar. Acceptance of her dreary situation, despite Will Ladislaw’s attempts to create a shared delight, makes me wonder if Dorothea has ever imagined herself as a sexual being? Ardor drove Will’s judgment, and Dorothea, innocently, sought his presence as a glimpse of the sunny air (p 361); while Mr C sunk into jealous anxiety. Then, Dorothea’s loyalty turned to tenderness, when her husband became ill, not a surprising reaction, given her earnest disposition. Three times, the author chose the phrase, Poor Mr Casaubon…and I was tempted to share Dorothea’s pity. But she revealed her own vulnerability while questioning Will about a portrait of his aunt Julia…eager to know if this enigmatic family member was happy in her own marriage (p 365)? Up until now, Dorothea’s only delight has been to plan land management and reforms among the laborers for her uncle. As book 4 ends, her pent-up emotion overcomes her usual restraint, and she gives way to anger…at this point, I was sure she might give up the vigil for an old and jealous husband. Yet her patient and quiet disposition return as she waits for him to come to bed, and even Mr C is touched by his wife’s good heart, and they went along the broad corridor together (p 427).

One “love problem” is fixed, for the moment.

I predict a different scenario for Rosamund and Lydgate, as she uses her allure to manipulate a marriage proposal. Caught in a gossamer web of love-making (p 346), the ambitious doctor invites unhappiness into his new life in Middlemarch. The beautiful bride anticipates material gain, while the naïve groom stands to lose his principles.

Dorothea may be the centerpiece of this novel, but Mary’s subtle qualities prove a close match. Mary’s humor and humility are endearing, as Fred Vincy appreciates. An attraction of opposites: one takes responsibility for her future (I must teach… p 400), while the other chooses indolence over opportunity. A resolution emerges, however, when Fred will be offered a position working for Mary’s trustworthy and practical father.

Tudy Hill