Multiplicity of Major Theme in Middlemarch.

Name: Vadher Ankita.

Paper: E-C-204: The Victorian Literature.

Topic: Multiplicity of Major Theme in Middlemarch.

SEM: 2, Part: 1.

Year: 2011/12.

Submitted To,

Dr, Dilip Barad,

Dept. of English,

Bhavnagar University.

v Unity of Middlemarch:

        The Decision made by every Person in Middlemarch seems to have a direct effect on at least one other person. Dorothea’s Decision to choose Casaubon leads sir James to choose Celia Mary’s decision to marry Fred means that fare brother is without a wife. Balustrade’s dirty dealing with regard to raffles mean disgrace to both Lydgate and willladislaw. Everyone is in interconnected and it seems that no one can move around without disturbing someone else.

v Gender roles and expectation:

Especially relevant to Dorothea. Middlemarch society has very defined ideas of what people of each gender should do within the society and people, especially women, who deviate from this norm, are looked down upon. Dorothea is tolerated because she is of good family and does not disrupt the society she is in. however she faces a great deal of pressures to change herself, conform to others ideas, and submit herself to male leadership at all times.

v Social position:

Social position is a great deal in Middlemarch; it means how much respect a person gets. How people treat them, how they are regarded etc. people of high status are generally treated more delicately than people with little money like Laidlaw and Lydgate Birth and connection are also important in determine a person’s place and also what benefits they will receive from society.

v Family obligation:

People within the novel have varying ideas of family obligation in the novel, though it is a strong force in Middlemarch society. Mr. Featherstone’s relations believe they are untitled to money; Mrs. Balustrade believes that she must help and advice her family in order to show support. Sir James shows his regarded for his family by being very protective and a constant adviser as well. Casaubon dispense of his obligation though money and Balustrade attempts also to do the same.

v Reality VS Expectations:

  Many character’s preconceived ideas, especially of marriage, are proven tragically wrong in the course of the book. Casaubon and Dorothy both have unrealistic ideas about marriage, and are disappointed. Lydgate and rosamond have the same ideas, and are let down. Life often defines what one expects, or could predict of it; and the people who are happiest are the ones who have few expectation, or are most flexible.

v The imperfection of marriage:

Because of marriage. Life become imperfect and destruction. Most characters in Middlemarch marry for love rather than obligation, yet marriage and the pursuit of it are central concerns in Middlemarch, but unlike in many novels of the time marriage is not consider the ultimately source of happiness. Two examples are the failed marriage of Dorothy and Lydgate. Dorothea marriage fails because of her youth and of her disillusion about marrying a much older man, while Lydgate’s marriage fails because of irreconcilable personalities. Mr. and Mrs. Balustrade also face a marital crisis due to his inability to tell her about the past and Fred vincy and many Garth also face a great deal of hardship in making their union. As none of the marriages reach a perfect fairytale ending. Middlemarch offers a clear critique of the usual portrayal of marriage as romantic and unproblematic.

v Self- determination VS chance:

 In Middlemarch self determination and chance are not opposing forces but rather a complicated balancing act when character strictly adhere to a belief in either chance or self determination, bad things happen. When rosamond goes against the wishes of her husband and writers a letter asking for money from his relative her act of self- determination puts lydgate in an unsavory and tense situation coupled with a refusal to help on the flip side, when Fred vincy gambles away his money, relying solely on chance he falls in to debt and drags with him the people who trust him. Only when he steps away from gambling and decides not to go in to the clergy, the character of fare brother demonstrates the balance between fate and self determination. This balance is exemplified. In his educated gamble in the game of whist. Through a combination of skill and chance, he is able to win more often than not his character strikes a balance between chance and his role in determining that fate.

v Self discovery:

There are certain truths which every character learns about himself in the course of trails Lydgate and rosamond find out more about their character through their money troubles through their money troubles through they do not always adjust accordingly. Dorothea makes the most dramatic younger of self discovery and changes a great deal within the course of the novel.

v Conscience VS self interest:

            

This is a question that comes to play in Lydgate’s life in particular. Does one do what one thinks is right or what gives one the most benefit? Lydgate often goes for self interest though it gets him not trouble.

v  Money:

Money is the root of many evils, but much good in the novel, lydgat gates desperate for want of it, Fred despairs when he has little Dorothy becomes generous when she has too much and the garths save carefully since their money is limited money has a profound effect on character within the novel, and though many people are judged by how much money they have many of the best people in the novel, like will Laidlaw and Mrs. Fare brother, have very little.

v Love:

     

Love keeps people together in Middlemarch we can see in the Middlemarch true love between character like will and Dorothy, Mary and Fred and they are bound together by it and they are very alike in temperament and outlook. And those who look it like lydgat and rosamond, Casaubon and Dorothy are ill-suited to each other in marriage. And they are very disappointed by there unions.

v Responsibility:

This is a major theme of Fred’s story and he must become responsible for his finances and his choice, will does to a certain extent. Both men must learn how to rely on extent. Both men must learn how to become independent it many ways.