"It's not right to sacrifice everything to other people's unreasonable feelings."
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The Mill on the Floss, published in 1860, traces the turmoil in the life of Maggie Tulliver, a young woman who has a streak of independence but who also feels close to her father and her brother and believes that she must always honor their feelings and wishes. Maggie's father is the owner of the Dorlcote Mill on the Floss River, a failing business drawing him into increasing debt to his relatives and creditors. Her brother Tom, with no interest in the mill, is encouraged to learn other skills which may suit him for a higher level of society. When the mill fails and is sold at auction to Lawyer Wakem, the Tullivers become social outcasts, at the mercy of creditors and dependent on their extended family.
Philip Wakem, son of Lawyer Wakem, is a hunchback who has been a school friend of Tom Tulliver and a special friend of Maggie, who treats him kindly and appreciates his intelligence and thoughtfulness. When the mill is sold to Wakem, Tom and Mr. Tulliver end all contact with the Wakem family, and though Maggie continues to see Philip privately, Tom eventually forces her to choose between the family and Philip. Another relationship with Stephen Guest, who has been courting her cousin Lucy, unleashes Maggie's passions and leads to a dramatic conclusion.
Throughout the novel George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans) explores the many kinds of love in Maggie's life--her devoted love of her father, her dependence on and love for her brother, her intellectual and kindly love for Philip, and her passionate love of Stephen Guest. Creating a fully drawn character in Maggie, Eliot shows a full picture of a young woman of 1860, trying to be independent, trying to live according to society's strictures, and trying to be true to her own feelings, despite pressures from family and society. Eliot, who herself made the scandalous choice to live openly with a married man for twenty-six years, was thoroughly familiar with these issues herself, and her depictions of such themes as family loyalty and the social conventions and limitations of class carry the ring of truth.
Psychologically astute in the exploration of themes as they affect Maggie, Eliot amplifies these themes through imagery from nature, legend, and even religion. Often melodramatic in plot, the novel remains realistic, even autobiographical, in its attention to character. Though it is not as fully developed as her later novel Middlemarch, Mill on the Floss is still a well developed, thoughtful novel which goes far beyond the pulp fiction being serialized in newspapers and magazines during that time. Mary Whipple
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Awful
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On page 355 of our 495-page edition, the author rhetorically asks the reader, "Had anything remarkable happened?" Well, no, it hadn't really; and once the actual plot got going in the next few pages, I resented the long long build-up of dysfunctional family background, peasants with funny accents, and stifling society, which could have been much more nicely done in a chapter or two. Then the actual plot bit, where our heroine is torn between the two potential lovers and her feelings for her brother, was reasonably good, and I wished that the first two-thirds of the book had been as well-written. But then the ending is a complete cop-out, and totally betrays the feminist views that Eliot has ever so mildly been subversively trying to hint at in the rest of the book. Generations must have thought that her message is "Women, if you Disobey Your Man, God's Judgement will Fall Upon You and you Will Drown (or something equally fatal)." I think for most of the book she was trying to say the opposite, but it is not consistently articulated.
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Eliot is superb as always! I would give this 10 stars if I could
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This is Eliot's semi autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.
The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.
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stunning end
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Don't read the introduction or any preface to this book if you do not know the story, that is, until you have read Eliot's tale!
All but the 'only child' will recognise the sibling rivalry in this book, as relevant today as when it was written. Often I found myself thinking of my 21st Century brothers whilst reading about 19th Century farmers' wives (!!!) Lots of seemingly modern 'self esteem' issues are developed and honed perfectly.
Eliot takes us through the life of the Tulliver family but does not let you get too comfortable with predicting the plot and imagining how the tale will develop. There are some real surprises in this book, not least, in my opinion the ending.
The end to this story is stunning, in so much as you don't have the time or the build up to see it coming.
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A very interesting book
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I had to study this book for my A level english literature. I was daunted by the length of the book. However, once i started reading it, i couldnt put it down. The story of Maggie is very moving, as she struggles against what is expected of her, and being different. She is always being compared to her perfect cousin who fits the expectations of the time.
When reading this book, the reader must remember that this book was written in the 19th century, when there were very different ideals, and women were treated differently.
There is too much information to put in a small review like this! It also follows Maggies father, as he loses his fortune, and reputation, because of his love of lawsuits!! It follows Tom, Maggies brother, struggle through his education,as he is not as clever as his sister, and also how he regains his fathers fortune.
The main focus of the story is Maggie, it is said to be an almost autobiographical book.
This book is also about reputation, as Maggies mother is always being compared to her sisters, and is very upset to lose her crockery when the house is sold. It is definately worth reading, and once you start you wont be able to put it down, i couldnt!
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