English Literature books summary

English Literature books summary

inhabited by Mr. Brooke and his two nieces, Dorothea and Celia. Dorothea

and her sister Celia are well-connected, sensible girls from a good family;

they believe in economy of dress and are rather mainstream in their beliefs

and behavior. Dorothea is drawn to sacrifice and grand, intellectual

things, while Celia has fewer aspirations in the world of academics and

religion. Their uncle, Mr. Brooke, is careful with his money, and rather

Puritan in his disposition, which Dorothea is also.

Two suitors, Sir Chettam and Mr. Casaubon, make visits to the house;

Sir Chettam likes Dorothea, but Dorothea believes he is more inclined

toward her sister. Celia has more sense than her sister, but Dorothea is

very steadfast in her Puritan ways.

Chapter 2:

Sir James and Casaubon are over for supper, with Sir James trying to

appeal to Dorothea, while Dorothea begins to admire Casaubon. Dorothea

hopes that Sir James will try to appeal to her sister Celia, rather than to

herself, and Dorothea continues her perverse fascination with Casaubon.

Chapter 3:

Dorothea continues to admire Casaubon, especially admiring his vast

studies and knowledge. She understands that Casaubon has some regard for

her, and feels honored, despite Casaubon's complete inability to show

emotion. She is blind to the fact that he wants to marry her to fulfill his

needs, and is taking advantage of her naivete in this decision. Casaubon

actually tries to show consideration for her in the things he chooses to

speak to her about, and in the way he regards her. Still, Dorothea's

refusal to see Casaubon as anything other than a beacon of knowledge and

good, and Sir James as an annoyance who is useful for carrying out her

plans, shows how her stubbornness blinds her in judging people's

characters, and in making important decisions as well.

Chapter 4:

Sir James has acted on Dorothea's plan, and made new, more pleasant

cottages for his poor tenants; Dorothea is still determined not to think

highly of him, though Celia is rather fond of Sir James. Dorothea admits to

her sister that she does not like Sir James, although he plainly likes her;

Celia cannot believe that Dorothea could so easily dismiss a man who loves

her. When Dorothea gets back, her uncle tells her that he went to visit

Casaubon, and Casaubon inquired about marrying Dorothea. Mr. Brooke is

against it, because of Casaubon's tendency to mope about and live in books;

but, when Dorothea says that she would accept Casaubon over Sir Chettam,

Mr. Brooke speaks diplomatically, while laying out before her the realities

of marriage. Though Dorothea listens, she does not seem to absorb all the

important things he says. Mr. Brooke has brought back a letter of proposal

to Dorothea, and she is determined to accept.

Chapter 5:

Dorothea reads Casaubon's letter, and is touched by it; she

immediately writes out an acceptance, taking the letter to mean that he

feels the same about her as she does about him. Celia has no idea what has

happened until Casaubon joins them all for dinner, and she, at least, knows

that her sister has made a serious mistake, and perhaps can be swayed from

it. Dorothea, however, is convinced that she has made the right choice;

Casaubon expresses happiness at their engagement, and Dorothea completely

overlooks his lack of passion.

Chapter 6:

Mrs. Cadwallader is finally introduced, a shrewd, somewhat

manipulative, and meddling woman whom Mr. Brooke has little affection for.

Mrs. Casaubon and Mr. Brooke talk politics for a little while, which Mr.

Brooke does not want to do; finally, Celia tells Mrs. Cadwallader that

Dorothea is going to marry Casaubon, which displeases Mrs. Cadwallader, a

great advocate for Sir James, greatly. Sir James finds out, and is greatly

displeased; but Mrs. Cadwallader tells him that Celia admires him greatly,

and won't give him as much trouble. Mrs. Cadwallader is the archetype of

the country woman, with her narrow interests, her meddling ways, and her

great concern in anything involving people she knows. Sir James is able to

conquer his disappointment, and realizes that courting Celia is what he

should begin to do.

Chapter 7:

Casaubon has exhausted his meager reserves of passion already, and

looks forward to married life, which he expects will be more pleasant and

fulfilled. Not once does he stop and consider his duties for Dorothea,

showing himself to be an unsuitable partner who will be hard-pressed to

make her happy. Dorothea is eager to begin learning, out of her own desire

to be able to understand and know things. Mr. Brooke cautions Casaubon that

Dorothea, as a woman, might not be capable of such learning; Dorothea

resents such talk, and tries to ignore it.

Chapter 8:

Sir James, in spite of Dorothea's engagement, begins to like visiting

the Grange, her home, once again; he is stung by her rejection, and cannot

understand her attraction to Casaubon at all. He goes to speak to Mr.

Cadwallader, a great friend, to clear his mind about this issue. Sir James

cannot help his great pride, but at least he is very civil to Dorothea, and

does not let his distaste for her marriage interfere with his plans to make

the cottages she proposed.

Chapter 9:

Dorothea gets her new home, Lowick, ready for her impending residence

there. The house is rather big, but not particularly cheery; in fact, it

rather resembles Casaubon in its looks. Dorothea, however, finds it

agreeable, as she finds Casaubon also; but, chances are, she will soon find

that she is mistaken, as the newness and novelty of this entire situation

wears off. Celia herself dislikes anything that Dorothea accepts, and as

such, dislikes Lowick and Casaubon equally.

Casaubon introduces the party to Will Ladislaw, his cousin; he

dislikes Dorothea immediately, because of the way she speaks poorly of

herself before others, and because she is marrying his sour, humorless

cousin. Will is young, rather handsome, and an artist as well; he seems

much better suited to Dorothea, though a better match than Casaubon is

certainly not hard to find. Ladislaw is without occupation, so Casaubon is,

reluctantly, providing for him; but Casaubon and his cousin seem not to get

along at all.

Chapter 10:

Ladislaw leaves suddenly for Europe; he has a view of life and work

completely opposed to Casaubon's, and is much more impulsive and full of

passion than his dull cousin. Casaubon, to his credit, does try to be more

joyful about his marriage, and to understand his young bride better; but,

he is fundamentally unsuited to this relationship, and cannot make himself

more amenable to it. They decide to go to Rome on their honeymoon, a

decision partially motivated by Casaubon's single-minded pursuit of

information, to the detriment of his fragile relationship with Dorothea.

Casaubon and Dorothea attend a local dinner party, where many of the

prominent citizens of the town are discussing their displeasure at Casaubon

and Dorothea's marriage, and the arrival of the new doctor, Lydgate. Many

of the townspeople prove completely pedestrian in their opinions, liking

decorative, weak-willed women, and disapproving of any experimentation,

especially relating to medicine. These are people who like routine and

tradition, and will be hard-pressed to accept any progress or any outsiders

in their community.

Chapter 11:

Lydgate, the new doctor, is already enamoured of Rosamond Vincy, the

mayor's daughter. She is attractive and affable, but he is not economically

set for marriage yet. Lydgate believes that women should be quiet,

obedient, and beautiful; he is not looking for a partner, but rather an

adornment, for a wife. Rosamond seems determined to escape from the tangled

web of Middlemarch marriages, in which case Lydgate seems suited to her.

Rosamond's brother, Fred Vincy, is an aimless young man who failed to get

his degree at college, and seems to do very little besides hang about the

house and bother his sister.

Chapter 12:

Fred and Rosamond travel to Stone Court, the house of their wealthy

uncle, Mr. Featherstone. Mrs. Waule, Mr. Featherstone's sister, is there;

and though she is also well off, she tries to get even more money from her

brother. Mary Garth is Mr. Featherstone's servant, and Fred admires her

very much. Mrs. Waule's visit is to lobby for more money in Mr.

Featherstone's will, and she tries to discredit Fred, of whom Mr.

Featherstone is very fond, by alluding to rumors about Fred's gambling

debts. Mr. Featherstone bothers Fred on this subject, and Fred insists he

has done nothing of the sort; Mr. Featherstone continues to shame and

embarrass Fred, and finally insist that he get proof in writing from

Bulstrode, who started this rumor, that it is indeed false.

Mary Garth is plain and amiable, and very honest and kind. Rosamond

continues to be supremely interested in Lydgate, whom Mary has met and does

not think terribly highly of. Lydgate and Rosamond finally meet, and it

seems like their romance has already been destined to occur.

Chapter 13:

Mr. Vincy goes to see Mr. Bulstrode at the bank on his son Fred's

behalf; Lydgate is already there with Bulstrode, talking about the

construction of a new hospital in town. Bulstrode likes Lydgate, and

expects that he will make reforms and improve medical care in the town, but

both are aware of the professional jealousy that will arise from Lydgate's

new position, if he is indeed elected as head of the hospital. Bulstrode,

for some reason, wants a man named Mr. Tyke to be chaplain of the new

hospital, in place of another man named Mr. Farebrother.

Mr. Vincy enters, and broaches the subject of Fred and his need for

Bulstrode's reassurances; Mr. Bulstrode does not want to be involved.

Bulstrode criticizes Fred's upbringing and personal qualities, making the

matter more personal than it needs to be. This matter is complicated by the

fact that Bulstrode and Vincy are brothers-in-law, and Vincy believes it is

Bulstrode's family obligation to comply, though Bulstrode does not.

Chapter 14:

Bulstrode writes out a letter to the effect that Fred has not borrowed

money on his inheritance from Featherstone, because his wife Harriet,

Fred's aunt, wishes him to do so. In fact, Fred is in debt, and is given

some money by Featherstone on the spot, though it is not enough to unburden

him. Fred is grateful, but not as grateful as he could be; Featherstone

takes pleasure in the fact that the young man depends on him for funds, and

uses this to threaten Fred as well. Fred tries to talk to Mary Garth, whom

he has feelings for, about his living and his feelings for her as well.

Mary is realistic about his prospects, and knows that he cannot marry until

he finds a living and a stable income.

Chapter 15:

Eliot begins the chapter with a bit of narration about the scope of

the book, and then begins to delve into Lydgate's background. Lydgate was

very intelligent as a young man, and fell in love with anatomy at a young

age. He is a hard worker, driven to succeed in his field and make

innovations, and to help people get better rather than make money, which

seems to be the focus of many doctors of the time.

Chapter 16:

Mr. Bulstrode's power becomes plain; as a banker, he has some control

over those he lends money to, and he defends people in return for certain

expected favors. There is a debate going on whether Bulstrode's choice of

Mr. Tyke for the chaplain's position at the hospital is indeed correct;

Lydgate, Mr. Vincy, Mr. Chichely, and Dr. Sprague debate this question,

with Mr. Vincy firmly supporting Farebrother. Lydgate is soon able to sneak

away and talk with Rosamond, whom he finds very refined and beautiful. He

meets Farebrother, whom he also finds agreeable. Lydgate is in no hurry to

marry, since he has no money yet; but he will certainly keep Rosamond in

mind in the meantime. Rosamond, however, is sure that Lydgate is in love

with her; and, with little else to think about, she sets her mind on

marrying Lydgate.

Chapter 17:

Lydgate goes to see Farebrother at home, and observes his domestic

situation. Farebrother's mother engages Lydgate in a debate about changes

in religion, which Farebrother and Lydgate seem to espouse. Farebrother is

a man of science, like Lydgate; they get along well, which makes Lydgate

question Bulstrode's championing of Mr. Tyke even more. However,

Farebrother is knowledgeable about Middlemarch politics, and knows that

Lydgate must vote with Bulstrode if he wants to get ahead; Lydgate listens

to this advice, but wants to vote with his conscience instead.

Chapter 18:

Lydgate is compelled to vote for Farebrother, at the expense of any

help from Bulstrode; he debates this with himself, and the outcomes of

either decision. Lydgate wants to secure Farebrother the much needed money,

but also wants to keep in Bulstrode's good graces, and knows that Tyke

might be better suited to the position. The voting meeting begins, with

Lydgate still waffling; people have their various reasons for voting for

Farebrother or for Lydgate, and they all vary widely. Lydgate finally

decides upon Mr. Tyke.

Chapter 19:

Dorothea is at last in Rome on her honeymoon, and Will Ladislaw is

there too, spotting her but not daring to approach. Will's friend, Naumann,

is there too, is taken with her beauty and wants to paint her picture; Will

is still under the influence of his negative first impression of her, and

does not want to see her at the risk of finding her as unpleasant as he

suspects.

Chapter 20:

Dorothea is in shock by the combination of lately having become a

wife, being in a place so foreign to her as Rome, and being completely

alone, with the absence of her husband due to his study. Dorothea appeals

to her husband to let her help, so that he may get his work finished and

published; in her desperation for some emotional response, she sobs, which

immediately makes Casaubon even more remote. Casaubon wants her support and

affection, which she is giving him, but not in the way he wishes. They have

a fundamental communication block, which upsets both of them, especially

since it is their honeymoon. Casaubon continues his studies, and nothing is

resolved.

Chapter 21:

Just as Dorothea is beginning to despair again, Will Ladislaw comes to

visit her. Will is surprised to find that she is nice, friendly, and far

better than his dried-up old cousin could ever deserve; Will's bad first

impression is proven completely wrong. They discuss art, which Dorothea

can't understand; Will admits that he has not found his calling in art, and

Dorothea is bewildered by his ability to be at leisure all the time. Will

also realizes that Dorothea holds Casaubon in unnaturally high regard; he

resents this, and wants to get her to realize how she is mistaken. Casaubon

returns home, and is not pleased by his cousin's presence. Nevertheless, he

invites Will back, and Dorothea senses that she has found a valuable

friend.

Chapter 22:

Will impresses Dorothea with the way he is able to listen to Casaubon

and make him feel at ease; Will is also able to engage Dorothea in the

conversation, and draw some statements out of her that make Casaubon proud

of his well-spoken wife. Will gets Casaubon to agree to bring Dorothea to

the studio; once there, Naumann gets Casaubon to sit as a model for Thomas

Aquinas, which allows Naumann to also paint Dorothea without Casaubon

feeling slighted. Will goes to visit Dorothea later, when Casaubon is not

at home; they speak, and Will tells her plainly that she will not be happy

with Casaubon, and that her piety is completely unnatural.

Chapter 23:

Fred still has a debt to pay, and the money he got from Featherstone

will not cover the balance; even worse, his dear Mary's brother, Caleb, co-

signed on Fred's debt and will be held responsible if he defaults. Fred

decides to make money to pay his debt by speculating on horses;

unfortunately, he buys a horse that lames itself in a stable accident, and

has even less money with which to pay his debt. Fred is a fool to risk all

that he has on such an uncertain plan; but the boy is slow to learn, and

cannot help himself.

Chapter 24:

Fred finally feels very sorry about his debt, and the fact that he has

only fifty pounds and five days to pay up. Fred is most sorry because

Mary's father is going to have to pay, and he feels this will jeopardize

his chances with Mary. Fred goes to the Garth household to tell Caleb

Garth, whose wife is very fond of Fred, but probably will not be after he

tells her. Mrs. Garth is teaching her children their lessons in the

kitchen, and Fred sits down and tells her and Mr. Garth the news. Mrs.

Garth will have to give up the money she was saving to send her son to

school; Fred feels terrible, as he should, knowing that his

irresponsibility is costing them so much. Mr. Garth knows then that he was

a fool to trust Fred, and they believe that there is little chance Mary

will regard him so highly when she finds out.

Chapter 25:

Fred goes to Stone Court to tell Mary the news; he is not as repentant

as he should be, and wants comforting words from Mary about his

irresponsibility. He still doesn't see the entire magnitude of what he did;

he tries to rationalize things with his good intentions, and by claiming

that he is not so bad, compared to what other people do. Mary is upset, and

says that she cannot trust him, and that he should be more sorry for what

he did. Caleb comes later, to ask for whatever she has saved up; Mary gives

it gladly. Caleb Garth is worried that his daughter has some feelings for

Chapter 26:

Fred is foolish enough to go back in search of his old horse, and ends

up with an even worse one. He soon becomes ill, and after their regular

doctor tries to help and fails, Lydgate is brought in and says he has

scarlet fever. Mr. and Mrs. Vincy get angry at their regular doctor, Mr.

Wrench, for failing to catch such a serious illness; Mr. Wrench is in turn

angry at Lydgate for interfering, and very uncivil to the new doctor.

Rumors spread about the confrontation between Mr. Wrench and the Vincys,

and between Mr. Wrench and Lydgate. Various opinions and stories surface

about the alleged scuffles, leaving everyone worse off as subjects of

untrue gossip.

Chapter 27:

Mrs. Vincy becomes completely consumed by Fred and his illness, to an

unhealthy extent; Lydgate is around the house frequently, and sees a good

bit of Rosamond as well. Lydgate's attentions to Rosamond are causing some

resentment in the neighborhood, as rivals for her affection become jealous

of him; Rosamond continues to believe that Lydgate is in love with her and

intends marriage, while Lydgate merely enjoys her pleasant company. At the

end of the chapter, Lydgate receives a summons from Sir James Chettam, who

he has not attended to before.

Chapter 28:

Dorothea arrives at Lowick with her husband in January, after their

honeymoon. Dorothea, who had been so dejected during their honeymoon, feels

revived by being home, in familiar surroundings. However, she is still

haunted by the knowledge that her vision of marriage is yet unfulfilled,

and the depressing atmosphere of Lowick. Her sister Celia finally arrives,

brightening up the place with her presence; Celia tells Dorothea of her

engagement to Sir James, and Dorothea is very happy for her sister.

Chapter 29:

Mr. Casaubon's beliefs about marriage are reiterated; he wanted to

marry someone young and impressionable, so that she would be pleasant and

able to help him with his work and be taught by him. He also believed that

marriage would make him happy for the first time; but marriage could never

instantly change his disposition, and his hopes for his union were too

high, as were Dorothea's. Casaubon and Dorothea have a bit of a tiff, as

Casaubon tells her that he does not want Ladislaw to visit, and Dorothea

resents the condescending and mean-natured tone he takes with her. Casaubon

is weakened, and Dorothea strengthened by this altercation; it seems like

this relationship is going to make her stronger, though it will definitely

not work out.

Chapter 30:

Lydgate comes to check on Casaubon, and cannot find anything

immediately wrong; he asks that Casaubon give up his studies for the time

being, and focus on leisurely pursuits. Dorothea is informed as to the

details of whatever ails Casaubon; Lydgate says that he must be kept from

any stresses, or else his condition might be aggravated, and his life cut

short. Dorothea is sad, but not sure exactly what to think; Ladislaw is

supposed to be arriving there in a few days, and she asks Mr. Brooke to

write Ladislaw a letter saying that Casaubon is ill, and not to visit. Mr.

Brooke does write a letter, but the contents are nothing like Dorothea

intends; Mr. Brooke invites Ladislaw, and also proposes that he might work

for Mr. Brooke's newspaper, since Mr. Brooke has been favorably impressed

with what he has heard.

Chapter 31:

Lydgate and Rosamond become closer, as Lydgate is about to be sucked

into a relationship which he is unprepared for because of the nature of

Middlemarch society. Mrs. Bulstrode and Mrs. Plymdale gossip about

Rosamond's pride, and how Lydgate might suit her; Mrs. Plymdale thinks that

the match would be unwise for Lydgate, since Rosamond has expensive habits,

and Mrs. Bulstrode goes to speak to Rosamond out of concern. When Mrs.

Bulstrode sees Rosamond and her fine garments, she knows that Mrs. Plymdale

was at least right about that one point. Mrs. Bulstrode speaks to her,

telling her that if she marries Lydgate, she will not be able to keep her

expensive habits; Rosamond admits that he has made no offer of marriage to

her, and seems intent on ignoring her aunt's good advice. Then, Mrs.

Bulstrode approaches Lydgate, and tells him that he should not press his

advantages as a romantic-seeming outsider with the Middlemarch girls;

Lydgate sees that others believe him to be engaged to Rosamond, and wants

to avoid marriage at all costs.

However, Lydgate ends up going by the house after an absence of two

weeks, to deliver bad news about Mr. Featherstone's health; Rosamond cries

when she sees him again, and this display of affection touches him enough

to abandon his plans and reasonable thinking, and propose to her. Rosamond

accepts, and they are engaged.

Chapter 32:

Mr. Featherstone's relatives begin to pop out and appear, and all

expect that he will die soon, and will leave them some bit of money, since

he is their rich relation. They all expect that he should do something for

them, that he owes them money because they are relatives; they do not

consider that they have done nothing for him, but are like vultures

circling, waiting to pick up his money once he dies.

Mr. Featherstone wants to see none of the greedy, crowding relatives;

Mary Garth has to try and turn them away, but doesn't have the heart for

the task. Mrs. Vincy hovers around, sure that Fred will receive most of the

property and money anyway, as Featherstone regards and treats them so much

better than his other relatives. Trumbull, an auctioneer and assistant to

Featherstone in business matters, is the other person who Featherstone

shows any regard for; on the basis of behavior alone, it would seem that

these people would receive most from Featherstone's will. Mary Garth must

put up with the various visitors and their varying degrees of rudeness, but

manages to stay calm and make the constant crush of daytime visitors as

comfortable as she can.

Chapter 33:

Mary Garth is sitting with Mr. Featherstone at night, as she usually

does, reflecting on the events of the day, and sitting in silence, for the

most part. She figures that the issue of Featherstone's will shall

disappoint everyone involved. Mr. Featherstone suddenly tells her to open

the chest with his will in it, and burn one of them; Mary refuses, even

when she is offered a sizeable amount of money to do so. Mary is scared of

his sudden energy, and does not think that he is in his right mind; Mr.

Featherstone drifts off to sleep, and by the morning he is dead.

Chapter 34:

Mr. Featherstone is finally buried, with many relatives whom he did

not like there; the occasion is a rather expensive one, for although

Featherstone was miserly in many respects, he liked to show off his money

when it could impress many people. Dorothea and Celia, along with Sir

James, watch the proceedings from their house, as he is being buried at the

church that is on Casaubon's land. Will Ladislaw appears again, and Mr.

Brooke reveals that Will is his guest, and has brought the picture that

Casaubon sat for in Rome. Casaubon is shocked and upset, and Mr. Brooke

explains that he wrote to Ladislaw when Casaubon was ill, not Dorothea; Mr.

Brooke continues to speak of his fondness for Will, as Casaubon tries to

hide his displeasure, and Dorothea becomes alarmed.

Chapter 35:

The funeral is over, and people are waiting anxiously for the will to

be read and the sums they are to receive to be announced. There is a

stranger among them, though, who makes them nervous; his name is Rig, he is

in his early 30's, and no one is quite sure of who he is or where he comes

from. A lawyer is there, named Standout, who went through the will with two

witnesses; he reads through the two wills that Featherstone left, regarding

the last one as the most correct. Mary Garth is nervous, and somewhat

excited, since her refusal to burn one of the documents has led to this

outcome. The first leaves Fred a good bit of money, and gives something to

most of the relatives; the second, which is considered the correct one,

gives everything to Mr. Rig, who doesn't seem surprised.

Upon hearing this, many of the relatives start complaining about the

expense of traveling to the funeral, and how they should not have come if

they were to get nothing. Mrs. Vincy cries, and Fred seems upset as well,

to have a large bequest announced, and then taken back. No one seems very

fond of Mr. Rig, who takes the name Featherstone as requested in the will.

But, it seems that all the greedy relatives, and the expectant Vincys, have

all rotten their just desserts; the Garths could have been better served,

but overall, people do get exactly what they deserve.

Chapter 36:

Fred is sorely disappointed with not getting any money; he expected

that he would get a large amount, and would not have to work. Now, he will

likely have to join the clergy, or find some form of work; he will finally

have to stop being idle, as his father will tolerate his idleness no

longer. Mr. Vincy also says that Rosamond will have to postpone her

marriage, until the family are in a better position to pay for it; Mrs.

Vincy, Fred, and Rosamond are all spendthrifts, expecting that the money

they need will somehow drop into their laps. Rosamond takes the issue up

with her father, and he caves in; Mr. Vincy doesn't have the heart to stand

up to his daughter, though she clearly needs some reasonable advice on the

subject of her marriage.

It seems that only Mrs. Bulstrode knows better on the subject of

Rosamond and Lydgate's engagement; she knows how difficult it will be for

Rosamond to live on little money, and how extravagant she is, and how ill

prepared Lydgate is to live with a flighty girl like her. However, no one

will listen to her; her advice, though it will prove correct, is unheeded.

Rosamond tells Lydgate that her father wishes their marriage to be

postponed; Rosamond says that she refused, not so much out of love for

Lydgate, but out of stubbornness. Lydgate urges her that they be married

soon; Rosamond agrees to six weeks, and manages to convince her father.

Lydgate soon starts buying new things for the house, though he has little

money to do so; already, he is spending beyond his means, a dangerous

habit. They will go to his uncle's estate for their honeymoon; he is a

baronet, and wealthy, which boosts Lydgate's hopes for a better position.

Chapter 37:

Middlemarch politics assert themselves once again, in the rivalry of

the two papers of the region. It is revealed that Mr. Brooke has bought one

of the papers, The Pioneer, and has inserted his unorthodox political views

into it. Will Ladislaw has been hired to head the paper, and Mr. Brooke is

very pleased with his work, and his coverage of the Middlemarch political

situation. Casaubon continues to resent Will, and Will grows more angry

that Casaubon married someone as young and naive as Dorothea, dragging her

down into Casaubon's dull, dry world of academia. Will's affection for

Dorothea continues to grow, and Dorothea becomes more and more fond of Will

in return.

Will goes to Lowick to sketch; luckily for him, it begins to rain, and

when he takes refuge in the house, he finds only Dorothea at home. They

begin to speak as they did in Rome, very happy to be alone in each other's

company; Dorothea becomes more aware of her husband's failings, but also

learns of his generosity toward Will's family. Will tells Dorothea that he

has a job at Mr. Brooke's paper, if he wants it; Dorothea says she would

like him to stay in the neighbourhood very much, but then realises that

Casaubon would disagree with her.

Dorothea tells Casaubon, who of course is not in the least supportive.

Casaubon writes Will a letter, telling him he should not take the position,

nor should he call at the house any longer. Casaubon's letter seems to be

motivated not out of embarrassment for having a relative of lower status

nearby, but out of some jealousy perhaps for his friendship with Dorothea.

Dorothea becomes consumed by the case of Will's grandmother, and her unfair

disinheritance when she married; she believes that Will is owed a good part

of what Casaubon has because his family was impoverished unfairly, and

wants to bring that up to Casaubon, though it will upset him.

Casaubon is not suspicious that Dorothea is being influenced by Will,

but he thinks that it might happen; his insecurity and jealousy lead him to

contrive secret hindrances for Will. He dislikes his cousin more than ever,

because he imagines that Dorothea would like Will more than she likes him.

Chapter 38:

Mr. Brooke is making enemies through his advocacy for the Whig party,

when Middlemarch is a predominantly conservative, Tory area. Bulstrode is

allied with Brooke politically, but many of the neighbors disapprove,

including Sir James. Sir James, Mrs. Cadwallader, and others are gossiping

about Brooke and Will Ladislaw, Brooke's need to take care of his parish,

and other subjects. Brooke comes by, in the middle of being discussed; they

inquire about the state of his tenants, attacks that have been made on him,

etc.

Brooke, however, does not wish to enter into any arguments, or listen

to see if they do have any valid points to make amid the rumors they are

discussing. Brooke runs out quickly, and the others wish that maybe he

could see if he was doing something wrong, and act on that.

Chapter 39:

Sir James becomes more judicious in his appraisal of Brooke's

situation, and decides that Brooke needs to invest in improvements for his

tenants if he wants to evade the scathing criticisms of the other

Middlemarch paper, The Trumpet. Dorothea is the key to convincing him,

figures Sir James, since she is a great advocate for improvements. Dorothea

goes to visit her uncle, and Will Ladislaw turns out to be there; she tells

her uncle that Sir James told her that Tipton was to be managed by Caleb

Garth, and improvements made. Dorothea is very passionate that this should

be done; however, her uncle will not commit. She and Will find a moment

alone, to explain a bit more of themselves; Will seems to be falling in

love with her, as their relationship becomes stronger.

Mr. Brooke goes to visit a tenant whose son has been poaching on Brooke's

land, and is chastised by the tenant. Brooke, who liked to fancy himself a

favorite of his tenants, is shocked; also, the house looks worse now that

Dorothea has made her criticisms. It looks like Mr. Brooke will give in,

and turn the management of the estate over to Mr. Garth after all.

Chapter 40:

Focus moves to the Garths, who are gathered at the table, reading

letters. Mary is looking for another position, and has decided to take a

place at a school in York, though it does not please her, or her parents,

too well. However, Mr. Garth reads a letter from Sir James that asks him

whether Mr. Garth would start managing Freshitt, and mentions that Mr.

Brooke might want his services again as well. This would double the Garths'

income, and means that Mary can stay at home; but Mr. Garth will need an

assistant, and none of his sons are in the position to do so. The whole

family is happy, Caleb Garth most of all because he will be able to do good

work to help even more people.

Mr. Farebrother comes to visit; he has some interest in Mary Garth,

and also likes to visit and spend time with the family. He has been talking

to Fred Vincy, and informs them of Fred's situation, telling them Fred is

going back to study, and still cannot pay off his debt to them.

Chapter 41:

It is not long since Mr. Rigg Featherstone has gained the estate of

Stone Court, and already there is word that he wishes to sell the place to

Mr. Bulstrode. It is revealed that Mr. Rigg is Featherstone's illegitimate

child, who was brought up far away from Middlemarch, with very little

money. Someone named John Raffles is there, his mother's new husband; he

wants money to start a tobacco shop from Mr. Rigg's new-found fortune. Rigg

refuses, because Raffles, he alleges, was very cruel to him as a child,

took money from his mother, and left them poor and miserable. He says that

he will continue to send his mother an allowance, but will give Mr. Raffles

nothing. Rigg gives him money to get back home, and some liquor, but not

before Mr. Raffles makes use of an important paper, signed by Mr.

Bulstrode, to keep his flask from falling apart.

Chapter 42:

Lydgate is at least back from his honeymoon with Rosamond, and is

immediately called to Casaubon, whose health seems to be getting worse. He

is also haunted by the idea that he has never been given credit for his

studies, and that the Key to All Mythologies will never be finished; he is

starting to admit that he has failed in his life-long project. Casaubon is

disappointed also with Dorothea; she does all her duties as a wife, but he

suspects that she is critical of him secretly, and this disturbs him a

great deal.

Casaubon's vitriol against Will, and against Dorothea's suspected

affection for Will, takes him over; he concedes to write a passage into his

will "protecting" Dorothea from marrying eager, potentially deceptive

suitors like Will. Lydgate finally arrives, and Casaubon asks that he be

told exactly what his condition is. Lydgate tells him that he has a heart

ailment, but cannot be sure that it will cut his life short, or have any

immediate effect. Lydgate goes once Casaubon has heard enough, and Dorothea

comes out to fetch him; he withdraws from her, and soon she becomes angry

at him for treating her so. Dorothea realizes that she has reduced herself

in order to try and please him, but he seems to be satisfied with nothing;

she is tired of not being herself, and resents him greatly. However, when

he says that he needs her help, she forgets her anger, and goes to join

him.

Chapter 43:

Dorothea decides to seek out Lydgate, and ask him if there has been a

serious change in her husband's condition, or else why he has been so

troubled since Lydgate's visit. She goes to his house, and finds Rosamond

there; but Will is also there, which makes Dorothea panic, and she

immediately leaves to find Lydgate at his hospital. Will fears that

Dorothea will think badly of him because she has found him in the company

of another woman, and not totally devoted to her; but she acted the way she

did because she likes him, and knows that her husband doesn't approve of

the friendship, and that it is some kind of betrayal as well.

Rosamond begins to get ideas about perhaps attracting other admirers, in

order to appease her vanity, and allay her fears about Lydgate's fondness

for her growing weaker. It seems like she might try to win Mr. Ladislaw's

affections, and seems a little jealous that he likes Dorothea rather than

her. She also seems to suspect that maybe her husband has a soft spot for

Dorothea, and that might have been part of the reason she was searching for

Lydgate.

Chapter 44:

Dorothea finally talks to Lydgate, and Lydgate tells her that Casaubon

now knows about his condition, and he is probably upset by it. Lydgate

turns her attention to the new hospital; Bulstrode has been one of the few

supporting it, and so many are against the hospital because they do not

like Bulstrode. Dorothea says that she would like to do something for such

a good cause, and pledges money from her yearly allowance; she is happier

that she is able to make a significant contribution, but still her

husband's illness and behavior bother her.

Chapter 45:

Lydgate's practice seems to be at the mercy of rumor, hearsay, and

general sentiment; people go to him because they have heard about "miracle

cures" that he has done, or stay away because they have heard he is

newfangled, and they like their present practitioner just fine. The

backward Middlemarch way of doing and deciding has helped Lydgate's

reputation and practice to spread, but opinion could turn against him just

as rapidly, and dry up his practice. Lydgate is unlucky enough to come into

Middlemarch at a time when old ways are becoming contested in other

regions, and reforms have started to creep into Middlemarch as well; a few

believe that maybe his way is best, but others have been roused to defend

the old, and are more militant about this point than usual. Lydgate is also

disliked because he has taken on cases from other doctors, given a

different diagnosis, and been able to cure them; this wounds the vanity of

the old-guard doctors, and increases their personal dislike for Lydgate.

Mr. Bulstrode is on the side of progress, with Lydgate; this means

that many prominent, wealthy citizens, who dislike both Bulstrode and

innovation, refuse to donate to the new hospital. Lydgate is becoming too

closely tied to the widely disliked Bulstrode that his reputation is

beginning to suffer; Farebrother tells him so, and hopefully Lydgate will

distance himself some. Farebrother also warns Lydgate against having too

many debts.

Lydgate thinks that he might be among the great innovators of

medicine, and this necessitates making enemies, and having opinion turn

against you; in this, he is a little conceited, since there is no way he

can claim an advance as great as those of his hero, Vesalius. It is fine

for Lydgate to try and change the outdated medical practice around him; but

his egotism and his visions of greatness could easily hamper his progress,

and get him into even more trouble with his peers and patients.

Chapter 46:

An issue of reform is coming before Parliament, which Will supports,

and Brooke decides to as well. Will seems to have a good deal of insight

into British national politics, as he can make sense of issues and

candidates, and make a convincing case for his opinion. Mr. Brooke,

however, doesn't seem to be able to put his thoughts in a convincing

argument; he is rather flippant in setting out his opinion, and is easily

swayed by Ladislaw's better-formed opinions. Will is not winning any fans

because of his unconventional behavior and views, as most people dislike

his speeches and his writing because they are different.

Will wants Mr. Brooke to be elected to Parliament; however, with the

uncomplimentary way in which Mr. Brooke is regarded in much of the

neighborhood, this is unlikely. Will is perhaps a bit idealistic in

believing that Mr. Brooke could actually win; he might assume that the

citizens of Middlemarch are more sensible than they really are, in which

case his plans would fail. Lydgate makes some points about area politics

that perhaps he should take into account regarding his own situation; the

two argue for a bit about these political issues, then Ladislaw leaves

after they have tried to patch things up.

Chapter 47:

Will, who cares little what people think, stops to consider how his

employment with Mr. Brooke, and his involvement with Mr. Brooke's politics,

might be hindering him and making him look foolish. Even more important is

whether he really is a fool for following along with Brooke; Will does

think that the relation has cost him some of his dignity and individuality.

All the same, he wants to stay in Middlemarch, at that position, in order

to be near Dorothea; but he considers whether he is a fool with her too,

and his hopeless devotion will amount to nothing if he gains no proof that

she shares his affection.

Will has also become aware of what his cousin Casaubon thinks of him

being friends with Dorothea; he knows that Casaubon might think that Will

means dishonor in his interest in her, but Will really does not. Will

decides to go to Lowick church to see her, aware that Casaubon will be

upset. However, his doubt is only reinforced; Dorothea shows no happiness

to see him, instead seeming pained; Will is saddened by the whole affair,

and seems close to calling it quits on the whole affair.

Chapter 48:

Dorothea is actually happy that Will showed up at church, and wishes

for his company, since she is often alone at home. Dorothea is not allowing

her husband's disapproval to stifle her feelings for Will, though it will

be difficult for her to see him. Casaubon is, all of a sudden, requesting

Dorothea's help with his studies, and being kinder to her; perhaps this is

a result of his talk with Lydgate, and he wants to get his work in order

finally, and be on better terms with his wife, in case he dies suddenly.

However, Casaubon next asks her if she will follow his wishes for her after

he dies, whenever that is; Dorothea has to consider, since she is reluctant

to promise to do something, when she does not know what it is. She secretly

suspects that it may have something to do with Will, but consciously

considers that it has to do with finishing Casaubon's work, which she does

not want to devote years to.

However, before she can make an answer, Casaubon dies. Dorothea is at first

in denial, and tells Lydgate everything, and to tell her husband that she

has an answer. It might be a good thing for her that she does not have to

hold herself to any answer she made; but she still does not know what

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