(BLOCK-4) (UNIT-5) THE FINALE

1. Consider how the subject of “reform” is related to various segments of society in Middlemarch. 

Reform is a central theme in George Eliot's novel Middlemarch, and it is related to various segments of society in different ways. Throughout the novel, characters grapple with issues of social and political change, and the question of how to reform or improve society is a constant concern.

One way in which the subject of reform is related to various segments of society in Middlemarch is through the political system. The novel is set in the early 1830s, a time of great political upheaval and reform in Britain. Many characters in the novel are involved in politics in one way or another, and they have different ideas about how to reform the system. Some, like the reform-minded Mr. Brooke, believe in incremental change within the existing political structure, while others, like the radical Will Ladislaw, advocate for more sweeping reforms that would fundamentally change the system.

Reform is also related to issues of class and economic inequality in Middlemarch. The novel portrays a society in which class divisions are deeply entrenched, and characters from different social classes have different perspectives on the need for reform. The wealthy and privileged, like the Vincys and the Casaubons, are generally resistant to change and see reform as a threat to their social status and economic power. By contrast, characters from lower social classes, like the working-class laborer Caleb Garth, are more sympathetic to the idea of reform and believe that change is necessary to improve the lives of ordinary people.

Finally, the subject of reform is related to issues of gender and women's rights in Middlemarch. The novel portrays a society in which women are largely excluded from political and economic power, and they have limited opportunities for personal and professional fulfillment. Characters like Dorothea Brooke and Mary Garth are keenly aware of these limitations, and they grapple with questions of how to effect change and improve the status of women in society. The novel ultimately suggests that reform in this area requires not only changes in the political and economic systems, but also changes in social attitudes and cultural norms.

Overall, the subject of reform in Middlemarch is related to various segments of society in complex and multifaceted ways. The novel portrays a society undergoing profound social and political change, and it explores the different perspectives and ideas that emerge in response to these changes.

2. How do conflicting attitudes to money determine the relationship of Lydgate and Rosamund? 

In George Eliot's Middlemarch, the relationship between Tertius Lydgate and Rosamund Vincy is shaped in large part by their conflicting attitudes towards money. Lydgate is a physician who comes from a middle-class background and has aspirations to become a great medical researcher. Rosamund, on the other hand, is a member of the wealthy Vincy family and has been raised with a sense of entitlement and expectation of luxury.

From the beginning of their relationship, Lydgate and Rosamund have very different ideas about money and how it should be spent. Lydgate is focused on his medical work and is not particularly interested in material possessions, while Rosamund is obsessed with maintaining her social status and living a luxurious lifestyle. She insists on spending money on expensive furnishings, clothing, and social events, and is unwilling to compromise on these expenditures.

This conflict comes to a head when Lydgate begins to experience financial difficulties due to his expensive medical equipment and research expenses. He is forced to borrow money from his friends, and this puts a strain on his relationship with Rosamund, who is embarrassed by his financial troubles and upset by the fact that they cannot continue to live in the style to which she is accustomed. She becomes increasingly demanding and critical of Lydgate, putting pressure on him to make more money and maintain their luxurious lifestyle.

Ultimately, Lydgate's financial difficulties and Rosamund's insistence on maintaining her status and lifestyle drive a wedge between them. Lydgate becomes increasingly frustrated with Rosamund's demands and her lack of understanding of his work, while Rosamund becomes increasingly resentful of Lydgate's financial difficulties and his inability to provide her with the lifestyle she wants.

The relationship between Lydgate and Rosamund thus serves as a commentary on the role of money in relationships and the ways in which conflicting attitudes towards money can create tension and conflict between partners. Eliot suggests that financial compatibility and shared values about money are important factors in sustaining a successful and harmonious relationship.

3. Discuss the metaphor of the web in the context of events and people relating to Bui strode. 

In George Eliot's Middlemarch, the metaphor of the web is used to describe the intricate connections between people and events in the small town of Middlemarch. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of Nicholas Bulstrode, a wealthy banker and town leader whose past transgressions come back to haunt him in a web of lies and deceit.

The metaphor of the web is used to convey the idea that every action and decision that a person makes has a ripple effect on the lives of those around them. In the case of Bulstrode, his past misdeeds, including embezzlement and bribery, come back to haunt him when a former associate threatens to expose his secrets. The threat of exposure sets off a chain of events that involves several other characters in the novel, including the morally rigid Reverend Farebrother and the ambitious journalist Will Ladislaw.

The web metaphor is also used to describe the emotional and psychological connections between people in Middlemarch. Bulstrode's guilt and shame weigh heavily on him, and his attempts to cover up his past misdeeds only serve to entangle him further in the web of lies and deceit. Meanwhile, his wife Harriet, who is unaware of his past transgressions, becomes caught up in her own web of guilt and fear as she struggles to understand her husband's behavior.

Overall, the metaphor of the web in Middlemarch suggests that the actions of individuals have far-reaching consequences, and that the lives of people in a small community are intricately connected in ways that are not always immediately apparent. It also suggests that attempts to cover up past misdeeds only serve to entangle individuals further in the web of their own making, and that the only way to break free is to confront the truth and face the consequences of one's actions.