George Eliot’s Middlemarch, originally published as a series between 1871 and 1872, is a realist novel of England’s Victorian era. Set in a fictitious rural English town of Middlemarch, the novel follows multiple characters and their social ambitions, family dynamics and relationships with others. The themes in the novel are largely concerned with religion, politics, marriage and education.
The novel begins with the marriage of young Dorothea Brooke to Edward Casaubon, her elderly and pedantic ministers, who have nothing in common but shared religious values. Dorothea is determined to save her husband’s soul, but this is thwarted when his willed money to another after his death.
The next story follows the medical student Tertius Lydgate and his idealistic ideas of science and health. He defines himself by his scientific thought, but finds little success even though he is a doctor. His interest in Dorothea’s cousin Rosamond brings them together, and their marriage is ultimately unsuccessful due to his inability to provide the life she dreams of.
The stories of Dorothea and Lydgate converge with the tale of Mary Garth, a plain but honorable young woman who seeks to escape the shadows of her father’s bad reputation. She too ends up married, to Fred Vincy, the youngest son of a prominent family in Middlemarch. The marriage is challenged by the misassociation Fred’s family have with the banker turned swindler, Nicholas Bulstrode.
One of the major characters in the novel is the ambitious young politician, Will Ladislaw. He is scandalously related to Dorothea and is in love with her. His rivalry with Casaubon provides a major source of conflict throughout the novel. He also becomes a significant part of the narratives of Lydgate and Dorothea, with his involvement in their lives creating numerous difficulties for all involved.
The novel follows the lives of the characters through a number of major events, including Lydgate’s scandalous entanglement with a patient, the death of the embittered banker Bulstrode, and Dorothea’s triumph over her husband’s posthumous insult.
Middlemarch is a complex novel that has earned considerable acclaim since its publication. Defying traditional expectations of marriage and religion, Eliot portrays a realistic society in which characters gain strengths and insights despite their mistakes and weaknesses. With its many intertwined stories, Middlemarch presents a vivid depiction of the community and moral politics of Victorian England while addressing timeless issues that are still relevant today.
Eliot wrote her novel with a skillful and interesting technique, weaving multiple story arcs, detailed characterization and elegant prose. Unlike many classic novels, Middlemarch does not focus on a main character, instead examining the lives of many people within a single community, creating a rich and compelling portrait of an English village. More than a traditional novel, Middlemarch offers insight into human nature and gives readers a greater understanding of the complexities of life.
