MIDDLEMARCH BY GEORGE ELIOT-SUMMARY

Dorothea and Celia Brooke, two young women who were left as orphans in the care of their uncle, Mr.
Brooke, have to face the challenges in regard of their work, as well as their private lives. Dorothea is eager to
improve the quality of the Middlemarch inhabitants by building and renovating the farmers’ cottages. Her
hobby develops into a life-long occupation, as many other characters help her along the story line to enhance
the beauty of the town. Celia and her uncle learn about Dorothea’s marriage prospects, as she shares no
interest in Sir James Chettam whenever he approaches her. Despite this, she is being courted by a renowned
clergyman called Edward Casaubon, who is more mature than her. She accepts his offer in marriage and not
long after this, her sister becomes interested in Sir Chettam.
The Brookes visit Casaubon’s residency, Lowick manor and as he discloses the story of his sister’s
marriage, they come across Will Ladislaw, Edward’s second cousin who is sketching along the corridors. At
their engagement party, a new Middlemarch inhabitant makes his appearance, and he introduces himself
Tertius Lydgate, a young surgeon ready to revolutionize the medical industry. The enigmatic man is pleased
with Rosamond’s encounter, as they develop feelings for one another along the following chapters. The town
mayor’s children, Fred and Rosamond Vincy visit their elderly uncle, Peter Featherstone who is unpleased
with his nephew’s gambling debts which he paid with his uncle’s money. Given the situation, Mr. Bulstrode,
the Middlemarch banker can disclose whether the accusations are true or not. Whenever Fred is visiting uncle
Featherstone, he is mesmerized by Mary Garth’s angelic appearance.
Doctor Lydgate is about to be announced the supervisor of the new Fever Hospital by Bulstrode. He
needs to attend to his managerial business, which is choosing a chaplain for the institution, whether it is Mr.
Farebrother or Mr. Tyke, although he shares his remorse, explaining that religion is not a subject of significant
matter to him. Mr. Vincy invites Lydgate to supper after broaching Bulstrode about writing the letter
addressing the rumor of his nephew stealing money from Mr. Featherstone to pay his debts from gambling.
He brings the letter to his uncle, and he receives 100 pounds, although he acknowledges the fact that the sum
is not sufficient to get him out of debt. Fred and Mary discuss about a future together, although she is certain
that their families would disprove of their alliance. Lydgate attends the dinner party at the Vincys and
becomes even more enchanted by Rosamond, although he is later questioned about his decision regarding the
chaplaincy. He meets Mr. Farebrother, one of the competitors for the position, and later becomes a close
acquaintance of him, which could possibly hinder his decision. After a few weeks, he needs to elect a person
for the chaplaincy and chooses Mr. Tyke as he doesn’t want others to believe that he was influenced into
choosing otherwise.
Dorothea feels miserable in her honeymoon as she is fighting more constantly with her husband. She
comes across Will Ladislaw, Mr. Casaubon’s cousin, and his German friend in the Vatican Museum, admiring
paintings. Knowing that Edward is not at home, Will pays a visit to Dorothea, but they are later interrupted by
her husband who is furious with his wife’s behavior. However, he invites Mr. Ladislaw to dine with them the
following day and they discuss about his drawings and whether they would enjoy being sketched. Casaubon
doesn’t enjoy his cousin’s presence, especially since he doesn’t respect his work.
Fred Vincy learns about responsibility as he needs to repay Mr. Garth the money he borrowed for his
remaining debt and decides to sell his horse for a bargain, although he is fooled and cannot pay the entire sum
of money. The Garths face a difficult period as they need to reduce their consumption and use their savings to
support themselves. After Fred discloses his mistake to Mary, he starts feeling ill. Dr. Lydgate diagnoses him
with typhoid fever, advising him to get plenty of rest. Rosamond and Tertius’s relationship advances as they
spend more time together, hence the doctor is in charge of her brother’s health.
 Dorothea and Edward come back from their honeymoon and start working on their projects. He
becomes infuriated when a letter addressed to his wife arrives at Lowick manor on behalf of his cousin,
Ladislaw. He suffers from chest pain and shortness of breath, which aggravated his situation and later suffered
from a heart attack. She then reads Will’s letter, in which he was inquiring whether he is welcomed to drop
off the painting. Her uncle writes to him, inviting him to Tipton Grange instead, wishing that he will help him
with politics.
Lydgate pays a visit to the Vincys to see Fred, although Rosamond’s excitement emphasizes her
devotion and feelings which overwhelm her and make her confess her feelings, in response to which Lydgate
decides to propose in marriage. At Stone Court, people gather around to pay their respects to Mr. Featherstone
who is on his death bed. One night, as Mary Garth is watching over him, he has one last wish which is to burn
the latter will, although she doesn’t want to fulfill his desire. Not long after this, Mr. Featherstone dies. The
following days, people attend his funeral, but the family remains to read his will. A dubious man makes his
appearance, although his name is revealed when the will is read as he is the rightful heir to Mr. Farebrother’s
estate and stock. Given the fact that Mr. Vincy doesn’t have a dowry to offer to Rosamond, he wishes to
postpone the wedding until de finds the money, but Lydgate opposes this as it doesn’t bother him.
A conflict arises in the town, as Mr. Brooke hires Will as the editor of The Pioneer, one of the town’s
newspaper company. Sir Chettam becomes worried after this decision and asks his nieces to speak to him.
Joshua Riggs Featherstone, the peculiar man whom nobody knew in the beginning, receives an unpleasant
from his stepfather, Mr. Raffles, who is an acquaintance of Mr. Bulstrode. Dorothea decides to pay a visit to
Mr. Lydgate after he consulted with her husband but finds Mrs. Lydgate with Will Ladislaw. She rushes to the
hospital to discuss his health status with him, but he takes interest in asking her for charitable aid for the
hospital. A few doctors share their disproval of Dr. Lydgate’s methods regarding his course of treatment for
his patients. Meanwhile, Ladislaw starts fretting about his position at The Pioneer and whether it was an
exceptional decision to work along Mr. Brooke.
Casaubon and Dorothea know that he has little time left and he wants her to continue his work after his
decease. She cannot offer him a spontaneous answer, although when she goes to tell him her answer, she
discovers his dead body in the garden. After his funeral, Dorothea wishes to spend time with her sister at
Freshitt. She later finds out about the codicil, in which she is bound from marrying his cousin, Will Ladislaw,
unless it is her desire to lose the estate and all of the inheritance. As time passes by, Will learns that he is no
longer welcomed to see Dorothea, as it may become a conflict of interest. Mr. Brooke gives up the newspaper
after embarrassing himself whilst offering a speech for a political election due to drinking too much sherry
before going on stage. Dorothea plans to give Lowick Manor to Mr. Farebrother who is overjoyed by her
generosity and wishes to continue to court Mary Garth. Unfortunately, she tells him that she has feelings for
Fred, and he decides to forsake his plan. Dorothea wishes to see Will, although she cannot be seen by anyone
in Middlemarch. She requires Mr. Garth’s help as she has returned to her project regarding the cottages. Fred
discusses with him about Mary and how he wishes to marry her, although Mrs. Garth is not pleased with this
decision as she believes that Mr. Farebrother is a more suitable match for her daughter. He and Mary talk
about their engagement, and she warns him that she will not pursue in marriage in case he becomes a
clergyman.
Captain Lydgate, Tertius’s cousin is in town and has seized his pregnant wife, Rosamond, into riding
horses, but unfortunately, despite her husband’s warnings and prohibitions, she suffered an accident and
miscarried the fetus. However, this wasn’t their only issue, as they are compelled to sell their furniture and
personal belongings due to their colossal debts. Rosamond tries asking her father for a loan, although she is
unsuccessful. Meanwhile, at a big auction of furniture, Will is approached by an unknown man who was
inquiring that his mother was Sarah Dunkirk. Mr. Raffles provokes havoc in the town, as he shows up
uninvited at Bulstrode’s house. In his youth, the old banker married Mrs. Dunkirk after her husband’s death
and inherited all the money. Mr. Raffles was paid to find Mrs. Dunkirk’s daughter, Sarah, who was married to
Mr. Ladislaw and had a child named Will. Mr. Bulstrode offers a sum of money to Will, but he refuses it.
People in town start hearing about Lydgate’s serious debt. At first, Rosamond decides to write to Sir
Goodwin, requesting that he is willing to help them, although it was of no use. Tertius starts gambling again,
falling into this trap once again, although he has one last resort, which is to ask Bulstrode for a loan. Alas, the
old banker informs him that he withdraws his financial support for the hospital and leave town, although he
suggests that Dorothea might be eager to help him out.
One night, Mr. Garth finds an ill man on the streets and takes him to Stone Court but informs Mr.
Bulstrode about this man’s appearance, who proved to be Mr. Raffles. He was under medical observation for
alcohol poisoning, but due to Mr. Bulstrode’s wrong instructions regarding his treatment, he dies. A trial for
his decease follows after and this taints Lydgate’s name, as the majority of doctors have started to question his
medical expertise. People seem to have taken an interest in this case, especially since Bulstrode offered him
the money to pay off his debts which, to some people, it was displayed as bribery. Dorothea wants to help him
clean the stain left on his name and asks Farebrother for his help. She demands his presence at Lowick Manor
in order for them to discuss about Bulstrode’s affairs regarding the hospital as she is willing to take over, as
well as loan him the amount of money necessary to repay the banker.
Ladislaw is back in the city to see Dorothea again. He pays a visit to Rosamond at first and during their
encounter, they are interrupted by the late Mrs. Casaubon. She visits the Lydgates again, only this time to ask
Rosamond whether she has feelings for Will, to which she responds that he was actually in love with another
woman. Not long after this, Mr. Brooke announces that her niece desires to marry Will, in spite of the codicil.
Sir James Chettam disproves of Dorothea’s decision to marry young Ladislaw, although he eventually caves
in. Fred marries Mary Garth after Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode offered him the management of Stone Court.
Dorothea lives a happy life with Will as she continues her projects.