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A review by monazaneefer
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
2.0
Started on audible : 2nd Dec
Started as an eBook: 3rd Dec
What a terrible way to end an almost good book.
So, I started this book via audible and the narrators were fantastic but I knew this abridged version was cutting a lot from the original story. I then dropped it and switched to text because I needed to savour everything. I felt like I could have a clearer idea of Tom and Maggie's characterisations if I read through their entire childhood. A lot of people found the starting and their childhood boring but I didn't, largely due to having initially experienced their childhood tale via the audiobook. (I did skip a few bits in the eBook however due to impatience of reaching the part where I stopped in the audiobook version.)
I really did think there were going to be two courses in this latter half of the story: duty vs love. Tom, her brother, represented the former while Philip represented the latter. She would have to choose between the two. But nope.
Throw in Stephen and all confusion and chaos break loose into my speculative yet neatly structured plot. What was the point of Stephen?? Who ever cared about him! He was such a SLEAZE. And Maggie never getting over him turns me sick. I can't tell you how angry - no, infuriated - I was at this Stephen plot.
But I think my review may be harsher were it not for that random ending. The randomness of the flood surprisingly has mellowed down my anger. Or, in filler words: "Umm...okay?...what! A random flood!" It makes me no longer have strong feelings towards this book simply because the ending was so casually placed in the story without much of a precursor that I'm left more annoyed than angry. Yes, I know there was foreshadowing going on but they weren't enough to symbolise and carry justification of the ending.
Maybe for the last 100 pages, the town should have been preparing for a flood; that would've made the ending come less out of the blue. But, noooo, Maggie was ruminating over her inner conflicts. Then, BAM! flood. BAM! dead. And within a matter of a few pages! It's like you're walking down the street, expecting, well, just to walk down the street when a stranger nonchalantly makes a fleeting comment about the universe's black hole as s/he passes you by. And you're left standing there, a bit bewildered.
Perhaps, there was no other way for Tom and Maggie to reconcile. Because even if Maggie gave up Stephen, there was no chance with Philip due to Tom's dislike towards him. Honestly, the more I think of it, the more I see these relationships were rendered pointless in the end. Maggie risked it for Philip - only to risk it for Stephen - only to further damage her relationship with Tom - which led all of them....nowhere. Like, what was the need for Maggie to take a risk with Philip when in the end George Eliot barely even had this relationship in mind for the latter half of the book and took a turn into a completely different route.
Characters
I actually had liked Maggie but her character made a 180 degree flip; her whole relation with Stephen was out of character. How could I not hate her after that? I started resenting when people were showing kindness to her in the form of resolution (like the way Aunt Glegg did).
Then there's Tom; unlike popular opinion I assume, I did like him. I liked his wants to uphold duty to his father and wanting to keep his family together. He didn't go about them in a nice manner but his rigidity was interesting to read. I only wish he loved his sister as much as she did. Her longing for his affection was quite sad to read. And there was a lot of potential in Tom's character development which was not explored except for maybe an arbitrary line hidden among other details that put the idea in my head to begin with. Throughout their childhood, Tom thought himself to be better and I think it was his interview with his uncle to look for a situation when that vision of himself was shattered and he realised he did not have everything he thought he had within his nature.
As for Philip Wakem .... :((((( C'mon! Okay, yes, he was a little too forward and imposing on Maggie but he was the only one I rooted for till the end! Yet, all that was written for him was just loneliness with a vague mention of him always coming to Maggie's grave alone? Absolutely nicht! So undeserving and, to be honest, such a deficient and lacking ending to one of the main characters.
Some positives
- Philip Wakem's hunchback element. I think it was quite beautiful and sad to read his troubles relating to his physical deformity; it enhanced his characterisation.
- The entire confrontation scene between Tom, Maggie and Philip. When Tom becomes suspicious of Maggie, confronts her and gives her the ultimatum upon her father's bible, then both of them go to Philip and Tom confronts him. Ah! This has to be one of my top favourite novel scenes of all time - up there with the scene in Villette where Lucy confides in the priest. Perhaps, this scene in TMOTF has the edge for now because the emotions were much more heightened and the conflict was a lot more intense since there were things at stake. Yet, I do think the novel ending will affect my perception of this scene in the future and deem it useless since Maggie later turns to be despicable and Philip loses his position as a suitor anyway. Nevertheless, we shall see.
Anyway, George Elliot, I could have written a better ending than this.
Update: 12/12/2020
- I remember how much I adored the scene in which Philip tells his father about Maggie. How quiet and calm Philip was. His father, whose character you only know through the vilification by the Tulliver family and assume is terrible, gets angry but comes around for his only son. His love and indulgent nature for his son was wonderful characterisation throughout. And in consequence, the addition of the little scene in which Mr Wakem speaks so kindly to Maggie at the bazaar. Sigh.
- The more I dwell on the novel, the more I absolutely love Philip. My heart :”( My favourite character of the novel...and possibly amongst my favourite novel characters of all time. Too bad he belongs and lives in a terribly constructed book.
- Reminds me of the confrontational scene in which Tom insults Philip. Stupid Tom; I can’t believe the author didn’t even resolve that! With some sort of redeeming scene involving Tom at least.
Started as an eBook: 3rd Dec
What a terrible way to end an almost good book.
So, I started this book via audible and the narrators were fantastic but I knew this abridged version was cutting a lot from the original story. I then dropped it and switched to text because I needed to savour everything. I felt like I could have a clearer idea of Tom and Maggie's characterisations if I read through their entire childhood. A lot of people found the starting and their childhood boring but I didn't, largely due to having initially experienced their childhood tale via the audiobook. (I did skip a few bits in the eBook however due to impatience of reaching the part where I stopped in the audiobook version.)
I really did think there were going to be two courses in this latter half of the story: duty vs love. Tom, her brother, represented the former while Philip represented the latter. She would have to choose between the two. But nope.
Throw in Stephen and all confusion and chaos break loose into my speculative yet neatly structured plot. What was the point of Stephen?? Who ever cared about him! He was such a SLEAZE. And Maggie never getting over him turns me sick. I can't tell you how angry - no, infuriated - I was at this Stephen plot.
But I think my review may be harsher were it not for that random ending. The randomness of the flood surprisingly has mellowed down my anger. Or, in filler words: "Umm...okay?...what! A random flood!" It makes me no longer have strong feelings towards this book simply because the ending was so casually placed in the story without much of a precursor that I'm left more annoyed than angry. Yes, I know there was foreshadowing going on but they weren't enough to symbolise and carry justification of the ending.
Maybe for the last 100 pages, the town should have been preparing for a flood; that would've made the ending come less out of the blue. But, noooo, Maggie was ruminating over her inner conflicts. Then, BAM! flood. BAM! dead. And within a matter of a few pages! It's like you're walking down the street, expecting, well, just to walk down the street when a stranger nonchalantly makes a fleeting comment about the universe's black hole as s/he passes you by. And you're left standing there, a bit bewildered.
Perhaps, there was no other way for Tom and Maggie to reconcile. Because even if Maggie gave up Stephen, there was no chance with Philip due to Tom's dislike towards him. Honestly, the more I think of it, the more I see these relationships were rendered pointless in the end. Maggie risked it for Philip - only to risk it for Stephen - only to further damage her relationship with Tom - which led all of them....nowhere. Like, what was the need for Maggie to take a risk with Philip when in the end George Eliot barely even had this relationship in mind for the latter half of the book and took a turn into a completely different route.
Characters
I actually had liked Maggie but her character made a 180 degree flip; her whole relation with Stephen was out of character. How could I not hate her after that? I started resenting when people were showing kindness to her in the form of resolution (like the way Aunt Glegg did).
Then there's Tom; unlike popular opinion I assume, I did like him. I liked his wants to uphold duty to his father and wanting to keep his family together. He didn't go about them in a nice manner but his rigidity was interesting to read. I only wish he loved his sister as much as she did. Her longing for his affection was quite sad to read. And there was a lot of potential in Tom's character development which was not explored except for maybe an arbitrary line hidden among other details that put the idea in my head to begin with. Throughout their childhood, Tom thought himself to be better and I think it was his interview with his uncle to look for a situation when that vision of himself was shattered and he realised he did not have everything he thought he had within his nature.
As for Philip Wakem .... :((((( C'mon! Okay, yes, he was a little too forward and imposing on Maggie but he was the only one I rooted for till the end! Yet, all that was written for him was just loneliness with a vague mention of him always coming to Maggie's grave alone? Absolutely nicht! So undeserving and, to be honest, such a deficient and lacking ending to one of the main characters.
Some positives
- Philip Wakem's hunchback element. I think it was quite beautiful and sad to read his troubles relating to his physical deformity; it enhanced his characterisation.
- The entire confrontation scene between Tom, Maggie and Philip. When Tom becomes suspicious of Maggie, confronts her and gives her the ultimatum upon her father's bible, then both of them go to Philip and Tom confronts him. Ah! This has to be one of my top favourite novel scenes of all time - up there with the scene in Villette where Lucy confides in the priest. Perhaps, this scene in TMOTF has the edge for now because the emotions were much more heightened and the conflict was a lot more intense since there were things at stake. Yet, I do think the novel ending will affect my perception of this scene in the future and deem it useless since Maggie later turns to be despicable and Philip loses his position as a suitor anyway. Nevertheless, we shall see.
Anyway, George Elliot, I could have written a better ending than this.
Update: 12/12/2020
- I remember how much I adored the scene in which Philip tells his father about Maggie. How quiet and calm Philip was. His father, whose character you only know through the vilification by the Tulliver family and assume is terrible, gets angry but comes around for his only son. His love and indulgent nature for his son was wonderful characterisation throughout. And in consequence, the addition of the little scene in which Mr Wakem speaks so kindly to Maggie at the bazaar. Sigh.
- The more I dwell on the novel, the more I absolutely love Philip. My heart :”( My favourite character of the novel...and possibly amongst my favourite novel characters of all time. Too bad he belongs and lives in a terribly constructed book.
- Reminds me of the confrontational scene in which Tom insults Philip. Stupid Tom; I can’t believe the author didn’t even resolve that! With some sort of redeeming scene involving Tom at least.