One of the things that stands out about Middlemarch is Eliot's use of characterization. From the very beginning of the novel, Eliot provides the reader with detailed, thorough character sketches and she explores how characters interact with each other. Many of the characters fit within the context of a stereotypical mode. For example, Cecilia is the typical girly girl, Mrs. Cadwallader is the town gossip, and Mr. Featherstone is the cranky, hateful old man. Despite the stereotypical characters, however, there are a few characters whose personalities stand out from the crowd. When I think of the most unique characters in Middlemarch, I think of Dorothea and Lydgate. Dorothea is unique in that she ultimately ends up discovering her identity as a woman, whereas Lydgate is unique in that he learns how to rise above an unsatisfactory position in life to pursue a career as a new-age doctor.
Although Dorothea and Lydgate appear to be different on the surface, a closer examination of the text shows that the two characters are closely aligned. For starters, Dorothea and Lydgate both appear to be driven by an inward desire to do good in the world. Both characters also decide to pursue alternative paths in life, which forces them to believe in themselves and to learn how to ignore criticism. About halfway through the book, I began to think that Dorothea and Lydgate are parallel characters. I had no doubt in my mind that Eliot would try to connect the two by the time the book was finished--and, lo and behold, Dorothea comes to Lydgate's rescue after the Bulstrode scandal. Dorothea offers to fund Lydgate's project at the hospital because she feels that the project provides her with a way to use her money to benefit the good of all: "So you see that what I should most rejoice at would be to have something good to do with my money; I should like it to make other people's lives better" (813). Although I think that Dorothea's generosity is a good thing, I feel like the event is too contrived to be realistic. In many ways, I feel like Eliot uses this scene as a means to make the reader sympathize with Dorothea and to overlook Dorothea's defaults throughout the book.
I agree about Eliot's use of characterization. I think Eliot purposefully used those characterizations to help the reader see the transformation of Lydgate and Dorothea. Having such rigid Characters in this book served as a platform to help us see how Dorothea comes into her own, and how Lydgate overcomes adversity to become the doctor he wants to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Dorothea's generosity seems a bit unrealistic. After Dorothea sees Rosamond and Will, she is quite upset. Then, she decides to go back to see Rosamond. I couldn't believe it! I thought, "She must really be a saint!"
ReplyDeleteI hate to fall in line with everyone else but I too agree with the unrealistic actions of Dorothea. If I were Dorothea and the man I was interested in was kanoodling with a married woman not once but twice I would be reconsidering his morals and his intentions toward "us."
ReplyDeleteBased upon Will's actions alone today (sorry Ann) Will could be considered a player.
But Will *doesn't* mess around with Rosamond. Rosamond makes this very clear to Dorothea and the narrator makes it clear to us that he never had those kinds of feelings for her. He isn't a player at all.
ReplyDeleteGiven everything Eliot has shown us about Dorothea's character from the beginning and how she has learned through her suffering, I think her generosity towards Lydgate is absolutely realistic. Yes, to quote Brandi, it is "saint"-like, but Dorothea is almost actively pursuing the life of a sufferings, martyred saint.