Reading the Chunksters discussion

Here is the thread for your thoughts on Book Four - Three Love Problems.

The plots are thickening, we are getting to know these characters much better - what do you think about them?

The title of this Book is focussing on the three romances - do you think this book is a novel about love...or is there more to Middlemarch than love problems?

Pamela wrote: "The title of this Book is focussing on the three romances - do you think this book is a novel about love...or is there more to Middlemarch than love problems? "

This is a fantastic question. For me, there is a lot more to Middlemarch than the love problems. I would say that Middlemarch is more about the development of empathy than a discussion on the challenges of relationships.

I believe this is the case because of my experience with the character Casaubon. I was this close to shutting the door and judging him and deciding that I didn't care for too much when he was reflecting on his inability to voice his concerns about Ladislaw.

When he reviewed all the people in the region, including James Chettam, and decided that none of these people would be able to assist him in finding a solution to his problem, I was about to turn the corner and say that this was all his fault. He could have faith to approach them. He could change the way he relates to them or he could be more concerned with the happiness of others overall and leave Ladislaw alone to make his own decisions.

From his reflections and the opinion he seemed to have of himself, I half expected this to be an accurate portrayal and to hear the other characters echo these same opinions.

However, this is not the case and the next couple chapters went directly to a discussion between James and Cadwallader about the same thing from a completely different perspective. They also didn't like the relationship between Mr. Brooke and Ladislaw and the involvement in politics that they were pursuing.

This made me feel so bad for Casaubon. If only he could reach out to someone and find that his self assessment was wrong. These people wanted to approach him towards the same goal, but seemed to be worried that this would be offensive to him.

I caught myself in this change of opinion and realized how much a different perspective can change the way we see a whole situation and that empathy can develop as a result.

In addition to this, the discussion on the conditions of the cottages and the way that Mr. Brooke is portrayed as something of a slum lord makes me think that this book is meant to challenge our opinions on social issues as well.

I think Eliot also has a way of pointing out many things that are obvious, but invisible in our social interactions.

For example, "Mr. Cadwallader, whose name offered a fine opportunity for pronouncing wrongly if you like."

I just loved this. I probably am pronouncing this name wrong while I am reading. Every time this name is mentioned, I am mentally sounding it out and saying it slightly different. It is such a common thing that I have done a hundred times, which makes it so amusing to me that Eliot includes this sentence giving her permission for this as though she knows that this is what the reader is doing. Very clever.

Although, I also enjoyed the description of Mary the best out of all the love problems in this section. I think she seems adorable and am interested to see whether she does end up with Fred or not. So it is also about love too I guess.

I thought this was interesting too. I don't know if anyone else knows already that Casaubon is a somewhat satirical character
based on the life of a man named Isaac Casaubon.

I didn't know this and I only found this out because I had to look up how to spell his name real quick when I made my last post. Apparently, he had a personal diary published during the 19th century and Eliot's portrayal of Casaubon that is derived from this has become the more popular of the two Casaubon's, which could explain why I had never heard of him before.

I thought that was interesting as well. Here was a link of an article I found on the subject. https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/ren/pr...

Thanks for sharing that link, Marie. It's fascinating to hear about the real Casaubon, and amazing how Eliot's fictional portrayal of Edward influenced the Victorians' view of Isaac. Good to know that it is now recognised that Isaac was not as dry and insular as the fictional Casaubon is portrayed.

Chapters 34 - 37

So this section starts with Featherstone's funeral, and the appearance of the strange Joshua Rigg who gets a large share of the inheritance, with the rest going to build almshouses for the poor. Fred Vince is disappointed, and for a while this may affect Rosamond's marriage to Lydgate, but she knows how to get round her father.

In fact, there's a contrast between Rosamund who knows how to use her charms to get her way and Dorothea who once again blunders in and causes trouble. She gets so enthusiastic about the idea of Casaubon giving her endowment to Will, she's carried away with the idea of it being fair and right, and can't see how it's going to make Casaubon furious. Meanwhile Casaubon is convinced that she got Mr Brooke to invite Will, and too proud to discuss it so the misunderstanding never gets cleared up.

I was struck by a whole series of witty phrases in this section, some of my favourites
"In warming himself at French social theories he had brought away no smell of scorching" (about Lydgate)

" as if a tortoise of desultory pursuits should protrude its small head ambitiously and become rampant" (about Mr Brooke getting involved in politics).

Chapters 38-42

Two main aspects struck me in this section. First, the political theme and how cleverly Eliot described the issues through the detail of the actions of Mr Brooke, Sir James and the rest. Her views on social improvements and the plight of labourers is skilfully spread across the comments made by Dorothea, Mrs Cadwallader and the Rector, and then Dagley. I felt so sorry for poor Mr Brooke when Dagley had a go at him!

The other notable aspect was that we spend more time with the Garth family, and I am finding Mary and her parents more interesting as time goes by.

Chapters 33-39
Oh, who knew Featherstone was so diabolical… did any of you? At the end of each chapter, I am in a perpetual state of surprise…Eliot keeps me on my toes. One would think with the myriad of characters and the plot lines within plot lines, that somewhere one’s attention begins to wan; or, characters are lost and plot lines run into a dead end? It’s not the case here, and we’re only at the halfway point. It’s such good reading and beyond exciting. Good stuff!

My, my, utter disdain turning into absolute hate…we’re in high-octane land when it comes to Will and Casaubon. I would have thought that Casaubon would have so much respect for Will now that he is no longer financially dependent upon Casaubon? This change in affection on Casaubon’s part, of course, has more to do with Dorothea than a changed and resolute, Will… no? However, to Casaubon’s chagrin, Will’s contempt for Casaubon isn’t much improved either. In fact, as Will’s affections for Dorothea continue to build and unfold, so does his hate for Casaubon. LOL! The polar points have changed, as Dorothea now sits front and center, while Will and Casaubon are on either side of her. Again, I can’t make note of it enough, but this narrative is full of movement like no other. The internal and external wave of emotions, the attraction between positive and negative charges of these characters, the meetings and effects of those polar opposite charges, the ups and the downs of life, one character ridding themselves of all wealth while another character they are tied to begins to want more of their life and make something of themselves…there’s so much movement, it transcends off these pages making Eliot’s words and thoughts so much more tangible.

Chapters 40-42
Oh…my…goodness! Who is the new character what role does he have to play in the final half of the novel? Although, Eliot may have written a most serious novel, I have felt quite animated throughout the first four books. I really can’t imagine what is in store for me with Raffles in the picture. SMH!

Also, does anybody else think Casaubon has cancer? Both husband and wife appear to really be going through it with one another. There’s sickness, jealousy, detachment, bitterness, and more that is present; however, at the end of this book Casaubon reaches for Dorothea’s hand… what did we make of this act, did anybody else read into it? I was thinking they were exhausted by one another and in reaching for Dorothea’s hand, Casaubon was perhaps creating some intimacy in the only way he can?

Pamela wrote: "Here is the thread for your thoughts on Book Four - Three Love Problems.

The plots are thickening, we are getting to know these characters much better - what do you think about them?

The title of..."

The title of this Book is focussing on the three romances - do you think this book is a novel about love...or is there more to Middlemarch than love problems?
I don't think it's about love at all. Lord, most of these characters don't even know if they are in love, or misconstrue love for lust. What do you think about the novel being about relationships and compatibility in an era of great upheaval?

Ami wrote: "What do you think about the novel being about relationships and compatibility in an era of great upheaval? ..."

I think that's a great way of putting it. I feel that Eliot used these three relationships because her readers would be expecting to read about love and marriage and money, but she builds on that to cast a light on society and the huge changes that are going on in the period.

This fits so well with the point you made above about movement in the narrative, I hadn't really defined it in that way in my mind, but I do agree. Society is in turmoil, and our characters along with it. Great insight! (This is why I like reading with others!)