Social and Spiritual Energy in Middlemarch :: Eliot Middlemarch Essays

Social and religious Energy in Middlemarch I do non believe that it is able to say that Middlemarch explores the ship canal in which social and spiritual energy nooky be frustrated it would be more appropriate to say that Middlemarch explores the slipway in which social and spiritual energies (ideals if you will) atomic number 18 completely destroyed and perverted. unrivalled need only look to Lydgate to see an exemplification of idealism world destroyed by the environment in which it is found. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the green, poor and ambitious and most of all idealistic Doctor Lydgate, who has huge plans for the fever hospital in Middlemarch. Throughout the novel, however, we see his plans frustrated by the designs of others, though primarily the hypocritical desires of Nicholas Bulstrode. The second example of the idealism of the young being destroyed by the old is that of Dorothea. This can be seen by her continuing desire to bear a larger pa rt of the worlds visitation or to learn Latin and Greek, both of which are continually frustrate by Casaubon, though this ends after his death, with her discovery of his selfish and suspicious nature, by way of the codicil. The character who has their ambitions and ideals brought most obviously low is Lydgate. The earliest example is when he has to make the choice between Fairbrother and Tyke. Both of these characters are alternatively poor examples of the clergy (Fairbrother because of his gambling, and Tyke because of his rather lazy attitude). Our sympathies are clearly with Fairbrother for a number of reasons he doesnt gamble because he wants to, but because the wage he receives from running his parish alone is too small to support him and the various members of his family that bank on him. Lydgate has to make the choice between some one he likes as a person (Fairbrother) and someone who he needs assistance from (Bulstrode). It is clear that Lydgate is very similar to Fair brother in a number of ways both are scientists, and both have great hopes for the future. It would therefore count to be the case that Lydgate would automatically support Fairbrother. However, Bulstrode uses his money and his influence to contain Tykes success. Bulstrode is another example of a character that has had his idealism and destroyed, though not by Middlemarch.