Death and Other Thematic Motifs in Middlemarch
Added on 2023-01-20
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Running Head: MIDDLEMARCH
Middlemarch
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
Middlemarch
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
1MIDDLEMARCH
Question - How death and other thematic motifs contribute to form a major part
of Middlemarch ?
Mary Anne Evans, better known as George Eliot is considered to be the one of the best
novelists of the 19th century England. The lady supported in shaping the movement of realism
and held the mirror up to life and accounted everything through her writings. It was the time
when Britain and other countries were rising. Notably, Eliot did not only record whatever she
pointed but delved deep into the minds of the characters (Booth). She is known for analyzing
every parts of the characters both best and the worst. Literature suggests that maximum Victorian
novelists ended with the theme of marriage and the audience were left believing that everything
continues happily after that. However, the novels of George Eliot are different from that and
focus not on getting married but being married. She is one of the most important female authors
of her time. The novels are good n style like the male Victorian counterparts such as Charles
Dickens, Willkie Collins, Thomas Hardy and others more. The lack of equality due to the genre
throughout her time could not hold her back and she prospered over it (Henderson). The novels
of Eliot reflect the best and the worst parts of humanity which is still applauded. Eliot had lack of
devotion to Christianity which is also reflected on her works. From an early age she began to
develop a strong sense of secular humanism which suggests that humanity is capable of morality
and self-fulfillment in God too. Although she did not have firm belief in religion, she respected
the ethics and morals of Christianity.
Middlemarch is a novel of multiple themes which form the base of the novel. The major
themes are the theme of prejudice, love, social expectations, self –discovery, money and death.
The story takes place in an imaginative land named Middlemarch. The people in Middlemarch
are seen to dislike anyone who does not belong to Middlemarch. They also do not like people
whose reputation seem to be unsecure or questionable. Lydgate and Will Ladislaw are good
Question - How death and other thematic motifs contribute to form a major part
of Middlemarch ?
Mary Anne Evans, better known as George Eliot is considered to be the one of the best
novelists of the 19th century England. The lady supported in shaping the movement of realism
and held the mirror up to life and accounted everything through her writings. It was the time
when Britain and other countries were rising. Notably, Eliot did not only record whatever she
pointed but delved deep into the minds of the characters (Booth). She is known for analyzing
every parts of the characters both best and the worst. Literature suggests that maximum Victorian
novelists ended with the theme of marriage and the audience were left believing that everything
continues happily after that. However, the novels of George Eliot are different from that and
focus not on getting married but being married. She is one of the most important female authors
of her time. The novels are good n style like the male Victorian counterparts such as Charles
Dickens, Willkie Collins, Thomas Hardy and others more. The lack of equality due to the genre
throughout her time could not hold her back and she prospered over it (Henderson). The novels
of Eliot reflect the best and the worst parts of humanity which is still applauded. Eliot had lack of
devotion to Christianity which is also reflected on her works. From an early age she began to
develop a strong sense of secular humanism which suggests that humanity is capable of morality
and self-fulfillment in God too. Although she did not have firm belief in religion, she respected
the ethics and morals of Christianity.
Middlemarch is a novel of multiple themes which form the base of the novel. The major
themes are the theme of prejudice, love, social expectations, self –discovery, money and death.
The story takes place in an imaginative land named Middlemarch. The people in Middlemarch
are seen to dislike anyone who does not belong to Middlemarch. They also do not like people
whose reputation seem to be unsecure or questionable. Lydgate and Will Ladislaw are good
2MIDDLEMARCH
friends both but the initial prejudice founded on circumstantial reasons are never accepted in
Middlemarch. The theme of Love binds the people together and the absence of love drive people
apart. The characters like Fred, Dorothea, Will and Mary are bund in love. In terms of
temperament and outlook, they are all alike (Henderson). The characters like Rosamond,
Dorothea, Casaubon are disappointed by the unions and are ill-suited to marriage. The social
expectations are closely connected with the social hierarchy which shape the idea of how a
person should act in specific situations. In the novel, Lydgate wants to marry Rosamond because
the society expects them to do it. Dorothea is forced to live with or marry someone else after
being widowed. This is only because the society expects this to be right. These expectations are
not directly followed by people but these are inherent in their lives and play a significant role in
their existence.
As the story progresses, there are certain truths which is learnt by every character in the
course of trials. Rosamond and Lydgate discover their own characters when they come in terms
of money and ego conflicts. The character of Dorothea undergoes a dramatic journey of self-
discovery and transforms a great deal in the course of the novel. Money, on the other hand is
found to be the root of all evils but in the novel, it has played an essential role too. The character
of Lydgate becomes crazy for money, Fred falls into despair when there is lack of it and
Dorothea is too generous when she has too much. On the other hand, Garth saves money when
there is limitation on money. The characters in the novel are deeply influenced by money and
people are mostly judged by the amount of money they have.
In a piece of literature, motifs are the themes which recur several times and almost take a
figurative meaning. Almost in every literary work, the device of motif is used. It can be an idea,
a concept, an object and anything carrying a deeper meaning and purpose. In Middlemarch, there
friends both but the initial prejudice founded on circumstantial reasons are never accepted in
Middlemarch. The theme of Love binds the people together and the absence of love drive people
apart. The characters like Fred, Dorothea, Will and Mary are bund in love. In terms of
temperament and outlook, they are all alike (Henderson). The characters like Rosamond,
Dorothea, Casaubon are disappointed by the unions and are ill-suited to marriage. The social
expectations are closely connected with the social hierarchy which shape the idea of how a
person should act in specific situations. In the novel, Lydgate wants to marry Rosamond because
the society expects them to do it. Dorothea is forced to live with or marry someone else after
being widowed. This is only because the society expects this to be right. These expectations are
not directly followed by people but these are inherent in their lives and play a significant role in
their existence.
As the story progresses, there are certain truths which is learnt by every character in the
course of trials. Rosamond and Lydgate discover their own characters when they come in terms
of money and ego conflicts. The character of Dorothea undergoes a dramatic journey of self-
discovery and transforms a great deal in the course of the novel. Money, on the other hand is
found to be the root of all evils but in the novel, it has played an essential role too. The character
of Lydgate becomes crazy for money, Fred falls into despair when there is lack of it and
Dorothea is too generous when she has too much. On the other hand, Garth saves money when
there is limitation on money. The characters in the novel are deeply influenced by money and
people are mostly judged by the amount of money they have.
In a piece of literature, motifs are the themes which recur several times and almost take a
figurative meaning. Almost in every literary work, the device of motif is used. It can be an idea,
a concept, an object and anything carrying a deeper meaning and purpose. In Middlemarch, there
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