The Mill on the Floss discussion

In another thread someone mentioned that the relationship between Tom and Maggie was "incestuous". I read the book without any accompanying interpretation or notes, since I like to get my own impression, but even upon reflection, I did not get that drift.

During the childhood episodes I was often reminded of my relationship with my own younger sister, how I would boss her about and make her suffer for apparent misdeeds. She was not quite as devoted to me as Maggie was, but she still looked up to me in a lot of things and I would try to impress her with my skills. So that just seemed a fairly normal sibling-relationship to me.
When I was a kid (and as a grown-up) I would at times encounter boys, who would tell me what a girl can and cannot do. I did not have a brother, but I imagine it would have been similar.

The grown-up relationship reminded me of the relationship my mother had with her elder siblings, who would still be bossy and critical. (I was trying to think of a situation that would make my uncle abandon his sisters and I thought if one of them had become a stripper, he might have.) There are a lot of Toms out there today, narrow-minded and steadfast in a bad combination.

What do you think? Was there more to this relationship that one of close siblings?

It has been a long time since I've read it, but I don't remember ever thinking it was anything more than a sibling relationship.

Deep love, holy love between siblings.