The Mill on the Floss - Role of Victorian Women - 2492 Words

George Eliot was an English novelist, journalist, and translator, and one of the leading writers of her life-time period. Although she would use a number of spelling variations of her name over the years, she was born Mary Anne Evans on 22 November 1819, into a middle-class family, in Warwickshire, England, and was the youngest of five children in her family. George Eliot, actually, was the masculine pen name of the writer Mary Anne Evans, one of Victorian England’s influential novelists. She changed her name 1819-1880 because writing by women’s name, especially which was of a vague nature, was not accepted in the Victorian society in which she lived. Eliot†¦show more content†¦But despite this, her world of â€Å"unimaginative, unsympathetic minds† (Book III: 59 p.) sees her as constantly doing harm. Not only does she infuriate her mother by refusing to behave like a real lady, and provoke her brother, Tom, by forgetting to feed his rabbits, by thoughtlessly eating her larger jam puff without sharing it with him, by unintentionally knocking over his card-house, and spilling his wine; but, when criticized, she takes revenge by silly and even naà ¯ve actions, such as hiding in the attic, dunking her head in water, cutting off her hair, pushing cousin Lucy into the mud, and running away to live with gypsies. Furthermore, almost all members of her family perceive her as unnatural. For her conventional mother, Mrs. Tulliver, she, whose absent-mindedness makes her seem â€Å"half an idiot in some things† and whose cleverness â€Å"runs to naughtiness,† which is â€Å"more natural for a boy,† is a à ¢â‚¬Å"mistake of nature† (Book I: 13 p.; 72 p.; 14 p.). Even Maggie’s fond father, Mr. Tulliver, who appreciates her gifts and mind, judges her unnatural on account of them; moreover, he thinks that for â€Å"a woman is no business with being so clever† (Book I: 22 p.). However, particularly around the time of Mr. Tulliver’s illness this clumsy, awkward child grows to a stately, sharp girl. But in a world which will restrict and control her choices most of the time Maggie has learnt to follow some of its external codes: she proves herself as a greatShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Mill On The Floss By George Eliot2199 Words   |  9 PagesThis research report reviews scholarly criticism on the much debated character MAGGIE TULLIVER from the book Mill on the floss written by George Eliot. The project I propose analyses Maggie’s character as a whole. The report will begin by discussing the critics point of view of various reasons responsible for the death of Maggie Tulliver. The report then focuses on how society and how her relationships lead to her downfall from the point of view of various critics. A part of my report also criticallyRead MoreMorality in Victorian and Neo-Victorian Novels Essay4239 Words   |  17 PagesMorality in Victor ian and Neo-Victorian Novels An essay on Jane Eyre, The Mill on the Floss, The French Lieutenants Woman, Possession and The Dress Lodger The Victorian era is one bound to morality. Morality is also defined through the traditional and religious standards that structure the way of life for many Victorians. Morality is defined as the proper principles and standards, in respect to right and wrong, which are to be practiced by all humanity. Ideally, these include obtaining