Middlemarch

Rating:

Middlemarch: a study of provincial life is a truly well-written and ingenious work of literature by the 19th century writer George Eliot. Eliot masterfully centers the book around the stories of three couples, but many other characters are also weaved into the story. What sets this book apart from all others is its very dynamic and realistic characters–each character has his strengths and weaknesses. In many ways, Eliot also lashes out against 19th-century England conditions through her characters in the novel.

When I first read this book, I was only reading it for the sake of reading it since it was an assigned book from class. I really missed out on analyzing the characters by myself and really looking and trying to understand what Eliot was trying to do or did in her writing. In class, each book (there are eight in total) was broken down with a theme; specific passages were selected and the class discussions would be based around those passages.

After reading each passage carefully and trying to first analyze it by myself, I found several aspects of the book that I had missed out on while trying to read it as fast as I could over the summer. The class discussions were even better, since even more aspects of the book was revealed to me. I was surprised when I could relate the relationship and personalities of a couple in the novel to a real life couple that I knew. In my life, I hadn’t even been able to identify the source of a problem between a couple that I knew, but when Lydgate and Rosamond’s relationship was analyzed, I inwardly though Ohhh! These personalities are exactly like the people that I know–maybe that’s why they have such relationship problems!

I like how Eliot crafted her story in such a way that each “evil” character (or the characters Eliot would usually characterize in such a horrible light–such as Casaubon, since she always relates him with death) would still have parts that were pitiable. However, this story was also pretty dramatic. A lot of the characters had turning points that all followed one after the other and I especially liked the end when Dorothea and–oh, I won’t spoil it for those who want to read the book to find out. But I will mention that there was lightning and thunder in that incredibly dramatic (yet sweet and sappy) scene.

Overall, I thought Middlemarch was different from any other book that I had read because of the realism associated with the characters. I must give this a reread sometime when I have time–I bet that I will like it all the more. I believe that this is one of those books that the more you read it, the better you like it.

If you would like to give this book a read, you can read it online here. There are other versions online; just do a Google search!