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mady2518 's review for:
The Mill On The Floss
by George Eliot
This book was disappointing, to say the least.
"The men of St Ogg's were not at all brave my any means: some of them were even fond of scandal - and to an extent that might have given their conversation an effeminate character, if it had not been distinguished by masculine jokes, and by an occasional shrug of the shoulders at the mutual hatred of women."
The themes Eliot touched upon were ground breaking, and to some extent are still relevant. However, the sexism and racism that pervades the life of St Ogg's residents do not make the plot of the novel anymore interesting. The life of Maggie Tulliver, it seems, is the basis of the entire novel; which would make a captivating read (the life of Jane Eyre is an excellent example), except nothing of note happens to her.
The theme of misogyny reoccurs throughout the text. Eliot has remarkable insight into the prejudices and barriers that faced the women of her time. I'm sure she would have been astonished to find these 19th century values are still prominent in the 21st century. The four men the story centres around, Mr Tulliver, Phillip Wakem, Tom Tulliver and Stephen Guest, all serve to disappoint Maggie and complicate her life. In this way, the novel perfectly captures the complex relationship shared between a woman and the male influences in her life.
Additionally, the ending is incredibly frustrating! Many subplots remain unanswered, and the narrative arc is undermined.
I understand how this book has been elevated into the literary canon, however, it does not make it any easier to read in a modern context.
"The men of St Ogg's were not at all brave my any means: some of them were even fond of scandal - and to an extent that might have given their conversation an effeminate character, if it had not been distinguished by masculine jokes, and by an occasional shrug of the shoulders at the mutual hatred of women."
The themes Eliot touched upon were ground breaking, and to some extent are still relevant. However, the sexism and racism that pervades the life of St Ogg's residents do not make the plot of the novel anymore interesting. The life of Maggie Tulliver, it seems, is the basis of the entire novel; which would make a captivating read (the life of Jane Eyre is an excellent example), except nothing of note happens to her.
The theme of misogyny reoccurs throughout the text. Eliot has remarkable insight into the prejudices and barriers that faced the women of her time. I'm sure she would have been astonished to find these 19th century values are still prominent in the 21st century. The four men the story centres around, Mr Tulliver, Phillip Wakem, Tom Tulliver and Stephen Guest, all serve to disappoint Maggie and complicate her life. In this way, the novel perfectly captures the complex relationship shared between a woman and the male influences in her life.
Additionally, the ending is incredibly frustrating! Many subplots remain unanswered, and the narrative arc is undermined.
I understand how this book has been elevated into the literary canon, however, it does not make it any easier to read in a modern context.