I Do Love Will Ladislaw

Will Ladislaw is an important character in Middlemarch for more than one reason. Not only is he a handsome foil for Casaubon, he certainly lightens the mood whenever he is present, but he helps Dorothea truly see her situation. Dorothea is more than willing to help Casaubon with whatever he "needs." But Casaubon doesn't think Dorothea is a worthy assistant. He belittles her on a number of occasions. The latest incident that involves Will is a turning point for Dorothea. Before, she may have shrugged off Casaubon's comments as to her infallibility, but now that Ladislaw is in Middlemarch and appears to be an innocent victim of family injustice, Dorothea sees Casaubon for who he really is, a jerk.

When Dorothea recollects how Casaubon refused to make concessions to Ladislaw she thinks to herself, “she was in the right and her husband was in the wrong, but she was helpless” (446). She goes on to say “now it appeared that she was to live more and more in a virtual tomb, where there was the apparatus of ghastly labour producing what would never see the light” (446). I think this is the first time that Dorothea truly recognizes what Casaubon is and she is depressed by the thought of having to spend the rest of her life with him. But, in the next day or two she is right by his side helping him with his “work.” Does she feel sorry for him? Does she still feel it is her duty? I guess she is stuck in this relationship…Yuck.