Why does Dorothea wants to know more about the Farebrother’s household? Is it in connection to Will? Does Dorothea have any feelings for Will?

Caleb Garth… This character is the most genuine character in the book he has no grudges for anyone within the community. His major flaw is that he is so naive and trusting of others. I do not believe that after someone has taken money from you to pay off his debt, money that was very beneficial for your family can turn over a new leaf so quick. I am proud of Fred for actually going to get his degree however I do not believe he actually realizes fully the consequences and suffering he caused. Fred is still too caught up on his feelings for Mary and the fact that she will not marry him.

Mr. Vincy: Finally he has put down his feet when it comes to his son. He is telling him that he is no longer his responsibility, he has fed, gave him an education and now its time for him to stand on his own. Vincy will no longer bail Fred out of his debt; this shows Vincy’s breaking point as a parent. He has done everything for his child and that child brush aside that parent concern and opinions.

Men versus Women: Eliot shows the difference between men and women that is still seen in today’s society. Women are always seen as inferior to men- e.g. a perfect example of this would be the educational difference between  men and women. Men can go out and learn a trade and get an education on anything they want, through hard work men can improve their status within society. Women, on the other hand, has to use marriage and their husband to improve their quality of life, they are not allowed to have an education similar to that of men. The kind of education they receive is all  about how to be the perfect housewife for their husband, it is nothing beneficial for living in the real world. For a woman their reputation is everything- e.g. Dorothea. Although Dorothea did not commit any foul play while married to Casaubon, the condition in his Will led to her downfall. Due to how small and connected everyone is within Middlemarch there is no such thing as a secret. The people closest to Dorothea tried to save her reputation, however, the number one person I would have to blame about this gossip on Dorothea is Mr. Brooke. If Mr. Brooke had listened and not invite Will to Middlemarch I believe everything would have been fine with Dorothea’s reputation intact. Looking on the other hand, Featherstone has an illegitimate son who he gave wealth and property to with this Rigg’s can become a gentleman that can now be considered part of high society. Having an illegitimate son does not affect Featherstone’s reputation, it would be frowned upon, but no one would shun him. It’s sad that although things have changed between the time Eliot has written the book to today for men and women there are still some things that are not equal between the two gender.  

Keulesia Webley-Sewell

The age old saying that pride comes before the fall is true; too much pride leads to arrogance and complacency. However, everyone must have a little pride—pride in their work, in themselves, in their capacity for faith. Pride demands that we walk a line. For several Middlemarch residents, personal pride, healthy and otherwise, is being challenged, putting many characters in situations they are not comfortable with.

Lydgate is deeply in debt and his pride is the main reason why. His motives were sweet; he just wanted to provide his new wife with a nice life. Unfortunately, his pride keeps him spiraling deeper into debt because he is controlled by what he thinks society demands a man with a good living ‘should’ have. He can’t immediately sell off possessions because he “thought he was obliged” to maintain a certain standard of living. It is so painful to see him struggle with this pride. Telling Rosamond that they needed to scale back was excruciating. Lydgate has nowhere to turn—he refuses to ask his father in law for help and cannot repossess the healing he dispensed when people don’t pay him for his service. It is touching that Lydgate does not sell the jewelry. He wants to badly to provide for his wife and not take back wedding gifts. He reveals himself to truly love Rosamond, while Rosemond acts like a child and pouts and goes to daddy for help. This stress may humble Lydgate, but he still struggles to provide for Rosamond over himself or his honor.

And then there is Ladislaw. I never truly believed that he loved Dorothea until this book. He always described her in terms of classical, unparalleled beauty, to the extent where his adoration bordered on worship rather than love. However, he hastens to leave Middlemarch when he finds out about the codicil and realizes the effect it could have on her—and his—honor in the eyes of their neighbors. His pride cannot stand being besmirched by gossip. Ladislaw would rather leave Middlemarch for good than have his honor questioned.

Ladislaw turns down the offer of financial assistance from Bulstrode for pride as well. Ladislaw knows that the money from his mother’s family was gotten by dishonorable means. At a time where Ladislaw is questioning his own honor and knows the town is doing likewise, it would be forsaking his own honor to accept the money from Bulstrode. Further, Bulstrode is motivated by pride and honor. He realizes that he is dishonorable—though unwilling to let go of his position of respect attempts to atone by bribing Ladislaw. This Hail Mary is repugnant. Bulstrode makes sure Ladislaw realizes that he has no legal claim on the money, thus protecting his interests while attempting to atone for his sin. Bulstrode is characterized as a clearly impotent, dishonorable old man, trying to eke out some semblance of forgiveness before he dies. By refusing the money, Ladislaw cements his good character and condemns all dishonorable action by Bulstrode —the best punishment that could have happened.

– Valerie Harrison

While Middlemarch occupies us with gossip, love and politics-another subject that is repetitively brought up is education.  Much discussion is centered on the quality of education and the necessity of it.  Fred started with University and then left due to his poor grades.  After failing spectacularly as a young man, although in fair honesty he had a lot of help from his parents, he did complete his B.A. only to be promptly chastised by Mr. Garth on the lack of his abilities.  Fred questions Mr. Garth asking if he is “too old to learn” his business and is reassured that while the education is not learned from books, a “foundation” can still be laid to provide Fred with a future (pg. 561).  Mr. Garth does not question Fred’s learning ability but questions the quality of Fred’s foundation.

What strikes me most is the critique Mr. Garth offers regarding Fred’s education.  This evaluation is age old and often raised, as it is today, about how the education of people impact the future.  Mr. Garth exclaims at the faulty penmanship of Fred and observes that “to think that this is a country where man’s education may cost hundreds and hundreds” only to turn out a poor product (pg 566).  What is interesting is how the penmanship statement is relevant today.  Not only a personal statement, penmanship presents a picture to the world – careful letters and straight lines show care and attention to detail.  Architects are taught how to write in the standard block style on blueprints before they are introduced to CAD.  A need for handwriting analysts for verifying signatures is necessary.

As some know, cursive writing is no longer taught in many public schools.  I wonder at how foregoing the instruction of manuscript may impact our future?  How will students be able to read historic documents which are full of beautiful and careful script?  It is commonly known that with technology so prevalent in our culture the need for certain talents are negligible.  I can see in the future that cursive writing will soon be regarded as a “fancy” ability, where cursive is only taught at a defunct finishing school or other private institution, just as calligraphy was dropped from the norm as well.  Possibly, there will be some parents who see the need for this style to remain with our culture.  I know that I was taught calligraphy – both to write and read – when I was in about fourth grade.  Granted, I went to a non-traditional grade school, but remember distinctly being told by the teacher that to have this ability will help in college and in business.  Hand written thank your and letters are a norm and the ability to read historical documents, as in our Constitution, would be necessary.  This is something that I still use today, in thank you letters and reading documents from the past.  Script is very important.  It often shows the type of person you are and the care that you take with certain matters.

Recently, I was shopping and overheard a conversation between two employees.  One girl, who recently graduated from high school told her manager that she was not able to read a sign in the employee area.  This grabbed my interest and I was plainly eavesdropping.  The manager asked her why, and the girl said that it was something that they were not taught, that the style of writing was not presented to their class for reading.  The type face was Lucinda Calligraphy.  It’s a standard script found in most computer programs, and often in company emails to present a more personal style of closing an email.  I was shocked to find that this is a standard.  I wanted to ask how she signed her name, was it just printed or did she just give up and put a big X?  Is this what our society is reduced too – an educational system or standard that is subpar and unable to take the time to recognize and teach a writing style that is centuries old?

Shaking my head, I continued on with my shopping.  I felt sorry for the girl, thinking of all the things that she will not experience because of her inability to read cursive writing.  How is she going to read others signatures?  Will she be able to appreciate the historical documents of our country?  How is this going to impact her future?  Can all we look forward to is atrocious spelling, computer typeface and made up words with shortcuts established to get our meaning across in one-hundred eighty characters or less?  I feel sorry for our future persons who will not appreciate the written cursive word.

I am an avid support of technology – the ability to store important documents on a flash drive, email and text a friend in a manner of seconds and I support companies and entities that endorse paperless environments.  But there are a few things that I can’t seem to let go.  I love books, not Kindles and Nooks, but books.  I don’t want to read by the glow of a blue light or give up my favorite bookmark.  There is something so wonderful in the joy of holding the heft of the pages, the feel of the pages and being able to smell the glue which binds it to it spine.  I adore the ability to make my own notes in the margins (in script, mind you) and skim effortlessly to find them and even the ability to flip through the pages quickly where they run into a blur.  I love the ability to write a pretty and thoughtful letter to a friend instead of sending an email or calling.  But more significantly, I love how I sign my name.  It’s a personal statement and gives so much information about the personality of who is writing it.  I’d rather keep my signature instead of an X or *cringe* a thumbprint or even *horrifying* to lick the paper to seal it with my DNA.

Mr. Garth brings up a great point to Fred:  his penmanship is “disgusting” and he needs to consider the consequences of it (pg. 566).  Just as Mr. Gath advises, Fred must take the time to “form the letters and keep a straight line” in order to prevent “sending puzzles” across the country (pg. 566).  Even if Fred did not go into Mr. Garths profession, his penmanship would affect his abilities as a clergy man.  Letters and notes of congratulations or sympathy would need to be drafted.  Clarification and documentation for death and weddings and births would have to be officiated – how could Fred not be able to foresee how his writing would impact others?   He would be sending out cryptic messages into the unknown, where in the case of our current students – will they be haunted by the ghostly script of Dickens or Shakespeare sending them cryptic messages they are unable to read?  In the future, students will not be able to read cursive without the aid of a computer program that transcribes it into plain text.  Does this mean that the rare books collection will soon be lost too?  Would Rebecca Mead even bothered to visit the New York Public Library to touch, smell and see in person the script of her idol, George Elliot, if she had not been taught to read and write cursive (Mead pg 11)?  Right now, the future is uncertain.  I hope school districts don’t forget the importance of cursive script, otherwise we will live in a world of abridged manuscripts and forgotten words because someone could not “translate” the code.  Cursive writing my well become the next hieroglyphics.   

Vickie Culpepper

You know how people will have slumps. Maybe their grades are dropping, because the schoolwork is overwhelming. They might start drinking, because they just lost a family member or the person they though they would be with forever. They might have lost their job due to a bad economy and can’t find another one. They were evicted from their apartment, because they failed to pay rent.

Rosamond and Lydgate are in a financial slump. Lydgate was so in love with Rosamond he bought her jewels and anything else she wanted once they were married. They were the picture perfect couple and the only ones who seemed like they were happy.

Then, Lydgate realizes they are broke and doesn’t want to tell Rosamond. Everything that they have is in the possession of the creditors since Lydgate hasn’t paid it off. He refuses to tell Rosamond, because she is pregnant and wants to solve the problem himself since he is the man. Lydgate also starts controlling Rosamond after she becomes pregnant. He tells her she can’t ride a horse. Rosamond doesn’t listen to Lydgate. She goes out riding one day gets thrown off of her horse and looses the baby. After that Lydgate seems to just want to make her feel worse and says, “hey since you lost the baby and are no longer under the stress of pregnancy we are also broke.” Ladislaw has also been living n their rug and Lydgate is always at work so Rosamond might be finding a friendly companionship with Lydgate who is always around.

After Rosamond finds out they are broke she gives him the jewels to sell to make money to pay off the creditors. Lydgate refuses to sell the gifts he gave to Rosamond even though they are in debt. Lydgate will also not allow Rosamond to ask her family for money so Rosamond and Freddy both have money problems. Rosamond isn’t afraid to tell her father, but he won’t give them any money.

Dorothea left her sister and Mr. Chettam’s house probably feeling claustrophobic and not really wanting to intrude. Chettam also seems to still have a thing for Dorothea. When he saw her without her cap he just stared at her. Chettam also constantly says that he cannot stand Ladislaw and that he should stay away form Dorothea. When he hears that Ladislaw is leaving he is also happy about that. He also seems to be trying to get everyone who wants Dorothea to get married to back off.

Mr. Garth is also trying to help Fred out of his financial slump. Freddy knows that he will probably have to go into the church, even though he really doesn’t want to. Mr. Garth decides to help Freddy learn how to be a land agent and work for him. Fred actually seems to like the work and is actually learning more about what he should do. His father cuts him off financially though. The reason being Freddy did not do what hi father wanted him to do. Still Freddy seems to like the idea of being independent.

Julia Rogan

I am curious by the title of Book 6…’The Widow and the Wife’. Is George Eliot referring to one person, or two? Spiteful Mr. Casaubon, in a final attempt to restrict his wife’s future, drew attention to the possibility of Dorothea as Will Ladislaw’s wife. Both characters are forced to deal with this news, leading to more conflict in Middlemarch.

Chapter 54’s heading (La Via Nuova) guilelessly captured Dorothea ‘s perceived saintly qualities, at least in the eyes of a certain beholder. Lest the reader become too enamoured by this flawless depiction, however, the author followed immediately with a humorous account of why Dorothea could not bear to be around her sister and the infant Bouddha (p535) any longer… even D. admits to boredom. The truth of doting mothers who insist on being the center of attention made me chuckle in appreciation!

The new widow returned to Lowick Manor from her sister’s home. Fair-minded by nature, Dorothea believed that she ‘owed’ money to Mr. Ladislaw, based on her husband’s financial support in the past, and Will’s eagerness to spend it. The codicil opened her mind to another possibility. Unwittingly, Mr. C. mistrusted her faithfulness, causing Dorothea to imagine her friend as something more… now her soul thirsted to see him (p 539). Their encounters made them aware of a shared sentiment, which was new in Dorothea, but maturing in Will. As he shifts from a selfish playboy, to a serious, even noble, lover (from a distance), he refuses to beg for money, and decides to leave the woman he idolizes. But, first, Will longs for some unmistakable proof that she loves him (p 545). Will’s pride is dependent on such confirmation, in order to sustain and launch him towards a political career, away from Middlemarch. But does Will love Dorothea enough to admit his own feelings? Is he willing to be as vulnerable as he hopes she will be for him? Meanwhile, Dorothea misinterprets his immanent departure, concluding that only a friendship has been terminated. She did not know then that it was Love who had come to her briefly… (p 548).

A shocking revelation to Will and to the reader occurs at an unpleasant meeting with Bulstrode. Will is offered restitution for his mother’s stolen inheritance; the unchallenged, arrogant banker, is insulted when Will refuses: You shall keep your ill-gotten money (p 624). At this point, I sensed a profound transformation in the core of Will’s character…standing up to the most powerful man in town, Will departed with fresh dignity and a secret hope (p 627) to make something of himself. His subsequent conversation with Dorothea, fraught with awkwardness as both tried to speak the truth, ended disappointingly in a brusque farewell. The love they felt for each other, remained unspoken.

So, when Book 6 ends, ‘the widow’ has not become ‘the wife’. Perhaps Rosamund is ‘the wife’, particularly in her contrasting role to our protagonist. Lydgate has impetuously married the lovely, but shallow Rosamund, whose goal is material possessions and rising social class. Her doctor husband, however, is preoccupied with medical reform, and he has no money. Each lived in a world of which the other knew nothing. (p 165) Deterioration of their relationship is inevitable…and the irony is that Dorothea as a wife fulfills what Lydgate naively expected from Rosamund: (an) accomplished creature who venerated his high musings… would never interfere with them; …would create order in the home and accounts with still magic…marriage would not be an obstruction but a furtherance. (p 352) Dorothea’s desire to please, to learn and to make the world a better place, obstructed her decision to marry Mr C., just as Rosamund’s narcissistic mindset manipulated Lydgate to enter into marriage. Both women‘s circumstances make the reader uneasy… thus sustaining our attention.

Tudy Hill