Middlemarch discussion

What does this passage/(really long sentence) mean?:

The sanctity seemed no less clearly marked than the learning, for when Dorothea was impelled to open her mind on certain themes which she could speak of to no one whom she had before seen at Tipton, especially on the secondary importance of ecclesiastical forms and articles of belief compared with that spiritual religion, that submergence of self in communion with Divine perfection which seemed to her to be expressed in the best Christian books of widely distant ages, she found in Mr. Casaubon a listener who understood her at once, who could assure her of his own agreement with that view when duly tempered with wise conformity, and could mention historical examples before unknown to her.

Dorothea thinks that Mr Casaubon shares her own interests.

More than that, she thinks they're having a communion of souls.

Which is kind of ironic because one of those interests is exploring the fact that "religion" is about how the strength of your relationship with God is better expression of your faith than going through the motions of rituals that supposedly show on the surface that you believe in God. She makes a connection with Mr. C that mirrors this--being with him is like communing with God on a spiritual level, versus the relationship she has with everyone else in town is like soulessly trodding to church on Sunday because you're supposed to (she goes through the motions with pleasantries because that's what polite people do).

Thanks everyone!

Madeleine wrote: "Thanks everyone!"

Kressel wrote: "More than that, she thinks they're having a communion of souls."

Yes, but it's really a communion of intellect and Causabon won't allow that Dorothea is equal to him in intellect (and maybe greater, because her vision is greater), so their communion of souls never happens.

I thought it was because he lacks her passion and depth.

That too. But doesn't a lack of passion and depth limit intellect to pedantry?

Sounds about right to me.

If you love Middlemarch, you may be interested in My Life in Middlemarch and Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.

Ooo. I've heard about the second title; both sound good. Thanks for the recommendations.

I read the second because I'm interested in higher ed (read: wishing I could go to grad school), That it contained a whole section on Dorothea was a complete surprise!

Kressel wrote: "I read the second because I'm interested in higher ed (read: wishing I could go to grad school), That it contained a whole section on Dorothea was a complete surprise!"

That is interesting.

Thanks for recommending Mead's My Life in Middlemarch, which I just put a hold on at my local library. I recently discovered George Eliot, starting with Adam Bede, which I loved, then on to Middlemarch, which I loved even more (after getting into it), and just last night finished Mill on the Floss. Now I'm feeling at a loss, not having that great person to listen to (and feel like I'm talking with) every night. Guess I could re-start Silas Marner.

My favorite is Daniel Deronda, which features Jewish characters shown in a positive light. If I am ever so fortunate as to get to grad school, that's what I want to write my thesis on.

Thanks for the tip. I just bought one of the kindle versions. Hope it's better than the edition of Middlemarch, which was full of annoying typos. Good luck w/your plans for grad school, btw. I'm a retired French prof, now catching up on all the things I would have read if I'd remained an English major.

Did you teach at Brown?

Yes, as a matter of fact. How'd you guess?

I saw from your profile that you live in Providence

Right. This year I'm in Paris however.

Ooh la la!

In the passage above, Dorothea is talking to Casaubon about not only intellectual things, but religious things as well. Things that the other people in her acquaintance do not care about. Particularly she is trying to reconcile the requirements of the (Anglican) Church that its members accept the interpretation of the church hierarchy, priests and bishops and on up the line, of God's will, rather than a simple Christian having a one-on-one loving relationship directly with God. I am sure Casaubon is assuring her that a simple Christian definitely needs a whole phalanx of priests to interpret God's Word, and that he, being a clergyman, will tell her what God wants of her, quoting chapter and verse.