Answer the following questions (be brief)
a) Mr Tulliver
and Tom share many personality traits, yet Tom succeeds where Mr Tulliver
fails. Why?
b)
Who
is your favourite Victorian novelist, and why? Relate your discussion to the
novels included in your course.
c)
If
you were the author of The Mill on the Floss, how would you end the
story? Briefly outline the reasons.
a) Mr. Tulliver and Tom are father and son who share some personality traits, such as being proud, stubborn, and loyal. However, Tom succeeds whereas Mr. Tulliver fails because he is more practical, rational, and hardworking. Mr. Tulliver is an intelligent and intellectual man, but he behaves impulsively and recklessly in many situations. For example, he gets into a quarrel with his wife’s sister over Tom’s education, which alienates him from his family. He also engages in a costly lawsuit against Mr. Pivart, a neighboring farmer, over water rights, which results in his bankruptcy and the loss of his mill. He is short-tempered and vindictive, as shown by his attack on Mr. Wakem, the lawyer who buys his mill after he pays off his debts. In contrast, Tom is a practical man who focuses more on action than emotion. He tackles situations more rationally and never lets his feelings overwhelm his judgment. Although he is not good at studying, he possesses good practical knowledge and skills that help him succeed in business and trade. His hard work and honesty earn him t respect and trust from his employers and creditors, which enable him to pay off his father’s debts and reclaim his mill.
b) George Eliot is one of my favourite novelists of the Victorian era because she explores the psychological and social challenges faced by women in her time. She depicts the inner conflicts and struggles of her female characters, who have to deal with the limitations and expectations imposed by a patriarchal society. She also writes for the women of her era, who were often controlled by men and had to adjust their lives according to their wishes and norms. In her novels included in this course, such as The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda, she portrays different types of women and their fates. For example, in The Mill on the Floss, Maggie Tulliver is a passionate and intelligent young woman who yearns for freedom and love, but she is constantly repressed by her family and society. She sacrifices her love for Philip Wakem, the son of her father’s enemy, and later for Stephen Guest, the fiancé of her cousin Lucy. When she returns to her hometown after eloping with Stephen, she is shunned and scorned by everyone, while Stephen suffers no consequences. In Middlemarch, Dorothea Brooke is a noble and idealistic woman who marries Edward Casaubon, an older scholar whom she admires. However, she soon realizes that he is a cold and selfish man who does not appreciate or respect her. She finds solace in Will Ladislaw, Casaubon’s young cousin who shares her interests and values. However, she is bound by her husband’s will, which forbids her from marrying Ladislaw after his death. In Daniel Deronda, Gwendolen Harleth is a beautiful and spoiled woman who marries Henleigh Grandcourt, a wealthy but cruel aristocrat who dominates and torments her. She meets Daniel Deronda, a kind and generous man who helps her cope with her misery. However, she cannot escape from her marriage or pursue her love for Daniel, who discovers his Jewish identity and falls in love with Mirah Lapidoth, a Jewish singer.
Eliot uses these novels to show how women suffer emotionally and mentally under the oppression of men and society. She also criticizes the double standards and hypocrisy that govern the relations between men and women. She sympathizes with her female characters and their dilemmas, but she does not offer them easy solutions or happy endings. She challenges her readers to think about the role and rights of women in the Victorian era and beyond (Eliot).
c) If I were the author of Mill on the Floss, I would like to end the story with a happy ending, instead of the death of the main characters. I think that after so much hardship and misfortune in their lives, they deserve a better fate. I would like to save Tom and Maggie from the flood on the river floss and give them a chance to start anew. I would make the ending like this: after the flood, Tom and Maggie are rescued by some villagers and taken to a nearby town. There, they are reunited with their family and friends, who forgive them for their past mistakes and welcome them back. Tom and Maggie also forgive each other for their conflicts and misunderstandings and renew their bond of love and loyalty. They decide to leave their hometown and travel to a different place, where they can pursue their dreams and happiness. Tom becomes a successful businessman and marries Lucy, his childhood sweetheart. Maggie becomes a writer and marries Philip, her intellectual companion. They keep in touch with each other and visit each other often. They live happily ever after.
In conclusion, I would change the ending of Mill on the Floss to make it more optimistic and satisfying for the readers. I think that Eliot's original ending is too tragic and pessimistic, and does not do justice to the characters' development and potential. I would like to give them a chance to overcome their difficulties and enjoy their lives.