The Challenge Factory discussion

Erica & Rachel


Middlemarch by George Eliot

Started this a week ago, but so far the progress has been very slow. I've made it to Chapter 9 (still on "Book One").

(view spoiler)[So far, I'm finding the dynamic between Celia and Dorothea to remind me very much of my sister and I; it's the unspoken "I think you're a hypocrite/idiot/making a mistake but I'm not going to say it to you directly" undertones that are making me laugh a bit as I read it.

Dorothea, to me, seems immature and impulsive so far, which I can understand given her young age. She romanticizes everything, and who it is she feels she wants to be. Do I think she is really who she portrays herself to be? No, I don't. I feel like she is behaving like an actor playing a role and that this is not going to last.

I do feel sorry for Chettam, and even for Dorothea a little bit. One thing I noticed is that she uses "Love" when she writes her message to Casaubon, but he never uses "Love" when he speaks or writes to her. It's all about companionship or almost like a father/daughter or teacher/student relationship. Never once has he mentioned wanting to marry her because he loved her.
I can see the setup to what seems like it will not be a happy marriage, whereas she may have been a bit happier with Chettam had she chosen him instead. (hide spoiler)]

I just did a marathon read of another huge book, so now I'm *finally* able to start- hopefully today. :D

I finally got a start on this one. I'm through Dorothea's acceptance of the marriage proposal from Mr. Casaubon. I'm sad for her but I can see how something like this might happen in that era to a young woman who likes to think and doesn't have any interest in fashion and "typical" female things. But maybe it's as you say and she's really just deluding herself.
And yes, I am sorry for Chettam but he'll move on. Maybe to Celia? I agree that Dorothea is in for a dry, loveless marriage.
I don't have a sister. But it's fun that you can see some of the same things going on with yours as are happening here.
I'm glad my copy has endnotes. I would not get any of the literary and other references otherwise. It's amazing that educated people used to learn so much about literary history. We don't have that so much now. But there's also just so much out there now - maybe it's impossible to keep everything in your head now.

I finished the Ms. Brooke section today. Middlemarch seems very provincial. Some of the comments are hysterical for the pettiness. It's really hard to wrap my brain around the fact that people used to live like this - lives of rather complete idleness with not much to do but gossip about each other!
In the intro to my book, it indicates that Ms. Brooke was initially published on its own. Then later it was combined with the rest of the book as George Eliot kept writing. Overall, I'm enjoying this. Curious what comes next. Having a bit of difficulty keeping everyone straight...

Sorry, on a pause at the moment. My father passed on Saturday and I haven’t been able to read since then. I’m planning to pick back up after everything settles down.

Oh Rachel, I'm so sorry to hear that. No rush here at all. I'll use spoilers and pick up our discussion when you are back. Take time. Breathe. It's a hard thing - I lost my dad 15 years ago.