Middlemarch and Illness

The character map we made in class the other day is very helpful in trying to follow the plot of this book, especially when trying to read in a cold and flu medicine induced haze. However, I found a better one online that I wanted to share with everyone. http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll252/Nickelini/MiddlemarchRelationshipMap.jpg

I was particularly interested in the customs of mourning after Dorthea loses her husband. Celia does not want Dorthea to wear a mourning cap. So I did a little research of what was considered appropriate. In England, women were expected to wear full black for a year after their husband's death. Then there would be a second morning for 6 months where the woman does not need to wear a mourning band or black veil. A third mourning where a woman can wear jewelery, as long as its black then starts. The final morning takes place for another 6 months where a woman can wear grey, lavender, mauve, and black-and-grey. This comes to a total of 2.5 years. I was not able to find out what the requirement was for men. Talk about a double standard.