Classics Without All the Class discussion
January 2015- Middlemarch
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The Middlemarchers: loves? Hates? Who changed your mind?
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Will Ladislaw: I love his energy and passion, even his hyperbolic tongue!
Dorothea: I didn't like her decision to marry Casaubon but I do sympathize with her loneliness. I'm glad she got a fix from Will though. It must have been a relief to have stimulating conversation.
Casaubon: I would like to slap some life and feeling into him. Intellect alone is so boring and unintentionally cruel when loved ones are starved for attention.

Dorothea and Ladislaw: Oh, the romance of it all!

I love this chapter opening:
"One morning, some weeks after her arrival at Lowick, Dorothea—but why always Dorothea? Was her point of view the only possible one with regard to this marriage? I protest against all our interest, all our effort at understanding being given to the young skins that look blooming in spite of trouble; for these too will get faded, and will know the older and more eating griefs which we are helping to neglect. In spite of the blinking eyes and white moles objectionable to Celia, and the want of muscular curve which was morally painful to Sir James, Mr. Casaubon had an intense consciousness within him, and was spiritually a-hungered like the rest of us...."
Also not totally loving Will at the moment. He seems kind of fickle and dilettantish.

Yes, Casaubon is intense insofar as he loves his work. As to not being his fault, one might say we are all 'not at fault' for being the products of our time. But the feminists are usually the most unforgiving about this outlook.
Like Casaubon, Will gets away with things due to his social position. (But not when he gets a job!)
Thanks for the quote. - John

I think that if the people that carry out these stories are too realistic then it loses most of it's charm and becomes every day life journeled and even when nicely worded is unchangable and tends to tick me off.

It is a well written story, I just not much for it's content. Have you ever wanted to reach through the pages of a book and punch someone? Most of the stories I've read never have a chance of happening even remotely in real life situations. So when I read this with all the normal life bits, with no way to change any of it... Hm, I not sure if I can explain it well.
Well thanks for asking. Did you enjoy it John?

Lol, yes I do know what you mean about wanting to reach into the book and punch (or maybe just shake?) someone. I felt that way about Mr. Brooke allowing Dorothea to marry Casaubon. But that's a sign of a well-written book, no? That it involves you enough with the characters that you want to interact with them?
How do you feel about Rosamund? She's certainly not a flake (and kind of Dorothea's opposite)!


Yes, Charity, I enjoyed the book a lot. In a way it has left a permanent mark on me. (I read it some time ago.) I very much understand failed idealism.

I'm re-reading the book now, and I can't exactly remember how satisfied Rosamund ends up being with her marriage. If my memory is correct, it's actually Lydgate who I felt most sorry for by the end. But I may change my opinion after I finish reading this time around.
What about you? Who do you pity the most?

I liked Middlemarch but I didnt love it. There were places where the detailed description was so beautiful, it moved me to tears and I felt like I was in the same room with the characters. There were many other places where I found that description down to minute details tedious and tiresome like I was in the same room with someone who talks too much! Her writing was brilliant and the story was so well thought out. I suppose I just don't particularly enjoy the common "who is marrying who" theme of 19th century English novels. I know Middlemarch goes beyond this but I lacked the knowledge of history to make the economics, politics and commentary on society as meaningful as I had hoped.

I think you're absolutely right about Mary and Fred. I think they're my favorites too. I love Mary's humor.
There's pretty cool article about how the serialization process influenced Eliot while she was writing this book if you want to check it out: http://www.uv.es/~fores/gearon.html (Serialization is kind of my pet subject these days and I wrote about it on my blog in case you're interested: http://www.eremiamabebe.com/serial-lo... -- I hope that's not too self-promotiony!) Anyhoo... I'll post my thoughts when I finish.
What about Lydgate and Rosamund? How did you end up feeling about their storyline?






George Eliot is a master of creating nuanced characters. Her heroes are usually flawed, and she can make you start to sympathize with people who have done some pretty despicable things. Did she change your mind about anyone? Did you start of hating someone and then start to empathize with them? The opposite?