Reading the Chunksters discussion

Post your thoughts on the final book - Sunset and Sunrise - and the Finale, as we say goodbye to Middlemarch

So events gallop to a close.

The most striking part for me was the contrast between Mrs Bulstrode and Rosamund in their reactions to the news. Mrs B shows loyalty and compassion, accepting his weakness but not condoning it "His confession was silent, and her promise of faithfulness was silent" . Very touching.

Rosamund on the other hand feels resentful and fantasises about keeping Will as a kind of adoring admirer.

Dorothea shines through as well, her belief in Lydgate and her kindness to Rosamond show how her idealistic character can do good. Shame it led her into marrying stuffy old Casaubon, but now she finds a good outlet for her enthusiasm.

Our finale gives us the happy ending we wanted for Will and Dorothea, though I had to smile at grumpy Sir James still thinking she'd chosen badly, and Celia having to smooth things over. Poor Lydgate, though, he finally gains some respect from Rosamond but his scientific idealism is trampled into the compromises of a doctor's practice, and then he dies quite young.

Overall, what did you think of this novel? For me it was four stars, I loved the start, and thought Eliot's observations on society were sharp and incisive. I felt the Lydgate/Rosamond unhappy marriage was a bit too drawn out and I began to get impatient there, but it swept me up again at the end. I do love Eliot's style and will be reading more (this was my third book by Eliot)

Pamela, I couldn't help but take my time with this section, reading the Finale twice. I'm taken by so much regarding Middlemarch and so much more by George Eliot. It was good from beginning to end, not dropping the ball of intrigue and wonder, once. Not that I'm a writer, but keeping afloat multiple plot lines and being able to draw them into an ending that is both realistic and charming...I would think it difficult. What Eliot appears to do is create strong themes, weaving them in and out of these various stories, giving them durability. I'll admit, I had my doubts for a hot minute; when we delved off of the Dorothea/Cassaubon storyline initially, into that of some of the other Middlemarchers. However, shed ended it as strongly as she started.

Society, in and of itself, is always caught in between a state of reform and change, or some form of it. Although, reform and change is a strong theme that runs throughout these pages; I found the us vs them mentality, or rather, that Eliot emphasizes greatly the differences in those who are socially aware, versus those that are self absorbed. While we read about the eb and flow of relationships between these characters, at the center of it all, they were dancing in and around the constraints held by society. It's unfortunate because two characters that do come to mind regarding societal judgement would be Lydgate and Dorothea. Both in the end are left with thoughts of not having done enough with their lives; one hindered by anti-social reforms, the other by the societal view of her sex. A lot of what we have read affecting these dear characters, is still prevalent even in today's societies; that's why Middlemarch is one of those books that stands the test of time, truly it does. I believe it goes to show, that people do get smarter over the years and through the generations; but they are still, none the wiser for it.

George Eliot's, Middlemarch going down as one of my most favorite reads of 2018. Thank you for getting this all started, Pamela... for seeing it through to the end, for allowing me to participate, and most all for your patience during this process.

Have you ever read, Adam Bede?

Pamela wrote: "So events gallop to a close.

The most striking part for me was the contrast between Mrs Bulstrode and Rosamund in their reactions to the news. Mrs B shows loyalty and compassion, accepting his wea..."

most striking part for me was the contrast between Mrs Bulstrode and Rosamund in their reactions to the news.
Ah, yes, so true. One who sees her husband as flawed, and worthy of compassion; the other who sees him as flawed and a burden to her life. What I loved about the conclusion is Eliot remained true to form; although, Rosamund flourishes, she does so without reforming or seeing the error of her ways. I thought Eliot writing Rosamund as such was quite realistic and believable of a character. Reforming her to being a better person, or just less self-centered, towards the end would have worked as well for me. I did love this one line, via Lydgate...Eliot writes,

He once called her his basil plant; and when she asked for an explanation, said that basil was a plant which had flourished wonderfully on a murdered man's brains.

Do you think her to be a sociopath, now, Pamela? LOL! :P

Eliot does the same for Fred too, for that matter. Although, his life is content he is still apt to being hopeful and finding his way into poorly executed business deals. I still feel, that Eliot doesn't paint as terrible a picture for him than she does for Rosamund, do you?

Will as a kind of adoring admirer.
Was this not a great scene between the two...when Will admonishes her for being frivolous with him? I loved how Eliot describes his words for her as lashings, like a child being disciplined with a switch, or something. I think Rosamund was as shocked as I was to Will's reaction to her.

though I had to smile at grumpy Sir James still thinking she'd chosen badly,
Oh, "he's" just mad that she didn't choose him! The green eyed monster rears its ugly head in the most curious of people: Sir James, Casaubon, Fred..Lord, even in Dorothea. I, personally, don't find jealousy to be an attractive quality on anybody; but, Dorothea, I enjoyed reading this about her. It manifests in her quite organically, but she maneuvers her jealous nature too; to do good for somebody else. She's aware of it, and self realization is worth so much more to me. I like how Dorothea is better able to channel her energies towards the end of the novel; she may have not achieved her St. Therese-level honors in her life, but she did come full circle. She tried, and that's just as admirable in my eyes.

I felt the Lydgate/Rosamond unhappy marriage was a bit too drawn out and I began to get impatient there, but it swept me up again at the end.
I'm with you every step of this statement. It did feel drawn out, but it swept me up again. I am going to give it 5 stars, Pamela...for the quality in writing, the juggling of multiple plot lines successfully, its prevalence to society (of any era), and it's such a great story about relationships and how people navigate through them in a time of great change. Rosamund and Lydgate issues aside, they aren't worth all the good of the novel. At least Rosamund, as much as I disliked her, she was worth reading about. Lydgate, I would have never thought, ended up being a wet rag...blech. I had so much hope for him.

Ami wrote: "Pamela, I couldn't help but take my time with this section, reading the Finale twice,..."

I read the Finale twice too! I agree that it ended really strongly, and that Eliot pulled all her threads together skilfully.

Middlemarch going down as one of my most favourite reads of 2018
I'm really glad you enjoyed it Ami, it was fun reading with you and sharing our thoughts and ideas. I didn't love this as much as Moby-Dick or, The Whale or the Snopes, but maybe that's because those were so different for me - I probably take Victorian literature for granted a bit.

Have you ever read Adam Bede?
No, the other books by Eliot I've read are The Mill on the Floss and Daniel Deronda. A future Buddy Read somewhere?

Pamela wrote: "Ami wrote: "Pamela, I couldn't help but take my time with this section, reading the Finale twice,..."

I read the Finale twice too! I agree that it ended really strongly, and that Eliot pulled all ..."

"Adam Bede..." oh, absolutely! The New Year? ;)

Heading off to "The Mansion," as we speak!