The Mill on the Floss Study Guide
The Mill of the Floss is the family drama novel written by George Eliot. Some of the parts of the story are considered autobiographical, but the plot shows us the relationships that can happen in every rural patriarchal family of that times.
The story starts from the family that lives on the mill and consists of the miller, his wife and two children. From the very beginning we see that the younger girl is abused by her older brother. More so when she befriends the son of the neighboring lawyer, a lifelong rival of the miller. The girl is too kind-hearted and naive to understand what is happening between the adults, but her brother does everything to “protect” her and all their family from such a “disgrace”.
Both of the kids become victims of that rivalry. When the lawyer gets the mill into his property despite all the efforts of the family, the older son has to work incredibly hard to buy the mill back. He is a young man, but all the adult responsibility and old hatred is burdening him now. Because of this hatred he prefers to ruin the life of his sister than to allow her to fall in love with the son of the family enemy.
The story of the family isn’t as tragic and romantic like the tale of Romeo and Juliet, but the plot shows us that all the former kids are tied by their duty: to their friends or family. They all have to repress their feelings or suffer deeply if they dare to follow their hearts. The disapproval of society and the abandonment of the family may leave them absolutely no options in their lives. Only the great disaster can reconcile the family members and finally let them understand each other - and the value of true feelings and family bonds that is much more important than any mill and rivalry in the world.
Author: Noah Kennedy
New Essays
“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” — Page 130 — “I am not imposed upon by fine words; I can see what actions mean.” — — “Don't judge a book by its cover” — — “I desire no future that will break the ties of the past.” — — “Poetry and art and knowledge are sacred and...
The Mill on the Floss - Simbolistic approach George Eliot was the male pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans (she would later call herself Marian), born on November 22, 1819 at Arbury Farm in Warwickshire. Her father, Robert Evans, was an overseer at the Arbury Hall estate, and Eliot kept house for him...
Victoria Louis Perspective Through the Eyes of George Eliot What separates The Mill on the Floss from other novels of the Victorian era is its unique narrative style. The narrator gives readers a detailed insight into all of the characters and tells us their thoughts and feelings. However, the...
This page intentionally left blank The Study of Language Designed for beginners, this best-selling textbook provides a lively introduction to the study of language. Starting from the basics, it provides a solid foundation in all of the essential topics, and introduces the analysis of the key...