Summary, characterization, and themes of "the mill on the floss"
- 1. “THE MILL ON THE FLOSS” BY GEORGE ELIOT
- 2. SUMMARY BY SANIA KHAN • The novel centers on the childhood and young adulthood of Maggie and tom Tulliver, two siblings, living in a fictional town St. Ogg’s, Lincolnshire, England.The gender of the narrator is not specified.The narrator was dreaming of Darlocot mill, ancestoral home of Tulliver, and sees a little girl playing outside.The little girl is Maggie, and inside the house Mr. And Mrs.Tulliver are talking about their son, tom, to send him to the boarding school, on the recommendation of a family friend, Mr. Riley. Mr.Tulliver want to educate his son in a way that tom become able to handle their family business, Mrs.Tulliver agrees without objection. • Maggie feels happy when Tom comes home from school, as they both are very close to each other. However, upon his visit he gets disappoint of, Maggie , because she failed to take care of tom’s rabbits in his absence. He points out that he carefully saved his money to buy a gift for her, and she carelessly forgot to feed the rabbits and let them die. But then Tom forgives Maggie.
- 3. • One day their aunt, Mrs.Tulliver’s sister, Mrs. Glegg , come to their home for a visit. Both the children,Tom and Maggie dislike her, because of her constant criticism on them. She predicts the will come to bad end. However, both children love to play with her daughter, Lucy Dane, their sweet and pretty cousin. Mrs. Glegg‘ criticism of Maggie’s dark skin and hair makes her so irritated and she runs upstairs and cuts off her hair with scissors. However, she felt remorse when mocked by her family. Eventually Mr.Tulliver gets in an argument with Mrs. Glegg, and decided to try to pay back the 300 pounds Mrs. Glegg has lent the family, since he doesn’t want to be beholden to anyone, and especially not his wife’s sister. • Mrs.Tulliver pays a visit to her sister Mrs. Pullet and asks for help.When their mother, Mrs.Tulliver is not at home , Maggie makes spectacle of herself, because of jealousy that Tom and Lucy are playing together without her, she Pushes Lucy into the mud, terrifying the adults.After feeling utterly unwanted, she departs from her home and resolves to live among gypsies.Who brings her back to her parents, the same evening. Mr.Tulliver visits his sister in the hope of getting that significant amount of money, which his sister lent from him. But as he sees her sister in the worst situations than earlier, he comes back without expressing the reasons behind this visit. He takes out a large loan in order to repay Mrs. Glegg.
- 4. At school with Mr. Stelling,Tom’s teacher,Tom is having a rather difficult time He is ill-suited for the Latin and geometry, the “gentlemanly” subjects Mr. Stelling tries to teach him. Over the Christmas vacation, Mr.Tulliver initiated a lawsuit against his neighbor, Mr. Pivart, claiming that Mr. Pivart was supposedly infringing on his water rights. Mr.Pivart hires a successful and skillful lawyer, Mr.Wakem, for that case. Mr.Tulliver has developed a deep-seated hatred for Mr. Pivart, so Tom is surprised when returns from school to find that his fellow student is Philip Wakem, son of Mr.Wakem. Philip has natural aptitude for study than Tom. However, Philip has physical disability,Tom looks at him with hatred. When Maggie visits Tom before going to boarding school, she and Philip connects over their shared love for books. Tom has an accident while play sword-fight Philip helps him to get back to health.Their golden days of school comes to an abrupt end. Maggie tells Tom that Mr.Tulliver has lost the lawsuit against Mr. Pivart and, will lose his mill, money, and property. Tom also fallen from his horse and becomes so ill and he doesn’t recognize anyone save for Maggie. Mr.Tulliver’s debts have now mounted so high and now, he has become so helpless that they are forced to sell the furniture of their house.This is humiliating for Tom, who is the new head of household, and very distressing for Mrs. Tulliver who is obsessed of their house’s furniture. Despite these suffering,Tom decides to respect Mr.Tulliver’s wish and not to call in the loan from Mrs. Moss. He decides to make his fortune and payback all the debts, in order to this he goes to his well-off uncle Mr. Dean to ask for a job. His uncle says to him he can only get this job if he has accounting and bookkeeping skills, and that his gentlemanly education will be little use to him.
- 5. • Mr.Wakem decides to take revenge with Mr.Tulliver by, buying Darlocot mill, and retaining him as an employee.This arrangement is humiliating, but Mr.Tulliver follow in order to support his family. However he asks Tom to swear of Bible, that he will one day take revenge on Mr.Wakem. After bankruptcy, life at Darlocot mill is miserable, Mr.Tulliver is depressed and ashamed that he is working in this mill as an employee, which once was under his authority.Tom works all the time and want to pay back all the debts. Fed up with loneliness, Maggie secretly begins meeting Philip, in the wooded area behind the mill. Philip confesses that he loves her, and she also expresses the same feelings for him.After a year of these secret meetings, one day Tom finds out and is furious .Then,Tom angrily confronts Philip and makes Maggie promise to never see Philip again without his permission. • A few weeks later,Tom gives his family a good news that he has finally earned enough money to pay back all the debts by investing in a shipping venture with his old friend Bob Jakin.Tom tells that creditors will be paid back at a dinner 1at a local pub.That night, Mr.Tulliver is overjoyed that finally their hard work and suffering paid off. On the way back to Darlocot mill, Mr.Tulliver runs into Mr.Wakem and refuses to work for him anymore. Mr.Tulliver’s long-supressed rage burst out and he brutally attacks Mr.Wakem and beats him with his horsewhip. Shortly afterwards Mr.Tulliver collapses and becomes very ill. Just before he dies, he tells Tom to get back the “old mill”. Since the loss of Darlocot mill, Maggie starts teaching. During a visit to Lucy’ house, she meets with a charming guy, Stephen.There is heir between Lucy and Stephen‘s families, also they are connected through their business. Stephen and Maggie fell for each other but they both repress their feelings out of consideration of Lucy and Philip. Philip also visits Dean household in an attempt to rekindle his romantic relationship with Maggie, and tells her once again that he loves her and also persuades Mr.Wakem to sell the mill back to Guest and co, making Tom the owner of the mill once again. Despite these attemptsTom is still against the marriage between Maggie and Philip.
- 6. • Maggie continues to struggle with her feelings for Philip and Stephen.At the ball event given at Guest House, Stephen comes to Maggie and expresses his feeling and says that it is wrong to them to marry other people if they have feelings for each other. Maggie resists, telling him that she can’t be the reason of unhappiness for others. One day Stephen and Maggie runs far away from St, Ogg’s, through the boat. Stephen spreads the rumor that he and Maggie elope and get married. Maggie is shocked, but agrees to take passage with him to mudport, a near by town.After reaching there, Maggie takes the path back despite Stephen's countless attempts to stop her. • Back in St Ogg’s, Maggie flees to Tom for comfort. However, he rejects her as sister and tells her that he finds her behavior “disgusting”. Maggie starts stay with Bob Jakin and her mother. She finds employment as a governess with Dr. Kenn, a kind local vicar, but is an outcast in St ogg’s.That rumor ruined her reputation, even though she had returned unmarried. However, it had spread widely that she had slept with Stephen. Stephen writes a letter to Lucy exonerating Maggie from any part in elopement, at which point she visits Maggie and tells her she forgive her. Philip, too writes a letter to Maggie in which he expresses his continuity love and assures her that he believes her side of the story. • One night, after days of heavy rain, Maggie wakes to find that the river has broken through the dams, and St Ogg’s has flooded. She dashes to a boat rows to Darlocot mill to rescue Tom.Tom astonished to see that his sister on her own come to rescue him, and they have a moving reconciliation in the boat.As they embrace, they are swept away by the current, leading to a final, tragic end. Lucy and Philip visits shared grave of Maggie and Tom Tulliver, which reads,“in their death they were not divided”.
- 7. 1.Maggie Tulliver: The protagonist of the novel, Maggie is a young woman who is kind-hearted and gentle, but also has a strong will and a desire for independence. 2.Tom Tulliver: Maggie’s brother, Tom is ambitious and determined, but also impulsive and hot-headed. 3.Philip Wakem: A family friend of the Tullivers, Philip is a wealthy and successful businessman who becomes romantically involved with Maggie. 4.Mr. Tulliver: Maggie and Tom’s father, Mr. Tulliver is a hard-working and ambitious miller who is determined to succeed in business. 5.Mrs. Tulliver: Maggie and Tom’s mother, Mrs. Tulliver is a kind and caring woman who is deeply devoted to her family. 6.Lucas Tulliver: A younger brother of Maggie and Tom, Lucas is a mischievous and troublesome character who often gets into trouble. 7.Bessy Tulliver: Another younger brother of Maggie and Tom, Bessy is a quiet and gentle character who is often overlooked. 8.Dr. Kennard: A family friend of the Tullivers, Dr. Kennard is a kind and wise doctor who provides medical care to the Tulliver family. 9.Mr. Riley: The owner of the local mill, Mr. Riley is a greedy and unscrupulous businessman who is determined to put the Tulliver family out of business. 10.Mr. Wakem: Philip’s father, Mr. Wakem is a wealthy and successful businessman who is determined to see his son marry Maggie. CHARACTERS:
- 8. • 11.Lucy Deane – Lucy isTom and Maggie Tulliver's charming cousin, portrayed as gentle, beautiful, and well-mannered. She often serves as a foil to Maggie, embodying the feminine virtues of the time. Despite her differences from Maggie, she’s a loyal friend, genuinely caring for her cousin’s welfare, even as they are entangled in complicated relationships with Stephen Guest. • 12. Stephen Guest – Stephen is an attractive, charming, and wealthy young man who is Lucy’s suitor and later becomes romantically interested in Maggie.Though he has affection for Lucy, he is drawn to Maggie’s intensity and intellect, leading to a scandal that puts both of them in a difficult social and emotional situation. Stephen’s character questions themes of passion versus duty. • 13. Mr. Stelling – Mr. Stelling isTom’s tutor, a clergyman with traditional views on education. He believes in classical studies as the only path to intellectual development, disregarding Tom’s lack of aptitude for these subjects. Mr. Stelling represents the limitations of a rigid, one-size-fits-all educational system that fails to cater to individual talents. • 14. Bob Jakin – Bob is a childhood friend of Tom, initially appearing as a mischievous but good-hearted boy. He grows up to be a resourceful and hardworking man who maintains loyalty to theTulliver family, especially helping Maggie during her difficult times. His character shows Eliot’s appreciation for genuine, working-class individuals who provide practical support over empty social appearances. • 15. Mr. and Mrs. Glegg – Mr. Glegg is a pragmatic, somewhat detached man, while Mrs. Glegg is headstrong, proud, and outspoken. Mrs. Glegg is very concerned with family respectability and has a contentious relationship with her brother-in-law, Mr.Tulliver.Their characters highlight the theme of familial pride, wealth, and the petty tensions among family members over financial and social issues. 1.6. Mr. and Mrs. Moss – Mr. Moss is Maggie’s uncle on her mother’s side, while Mrs. Moss is warm and kind-hearted.They struggle financially but maintain a stable and loving family life.Their relationship with the Tullivers reveals the impact of financial hardship and family loyalty, with Maggie often sympathizing with their difficult circumstances. • 17. Mr. and Mrs. Deane – Mr. Deane, Lucy’s father, is a successful businessman who takes a practical approach to life, valuing financial stability and upward mobility. Mrs. Deane, on the other hand, is more conventional and focused on social appearances.Together, they represent the rise of a new class of industrialists and merchants in contrast to the agricultural heritage of theTulliver family. • 18. Kezia – Kezia is a servant at theTulliver household.Although a minor character, she plays a role in the daily life of the family and represents the working class within the novel. Her presence highlights the class structure that supports the comfortable lives of theTullivers and other families in the story.
- 9. THEMES: • 1. Family Loyalty and Conflict – The Tulliver family’s dynamics reveal the complexities of loyalty, love, and duty. Maggie and Tom Tulliver’s bond is central to the novel; however, their relationship is tested by Tom’s rigid moral beliefs and Maggie’s desire for independence. Familial loyalty is both a source of strength and a source of conflict, especially in times of financial ruin. • 2.The Role of Women and Gender Expectations – The novel explores the limited roles and strict societal expectations placed on women in the 19th century. Maggie’s intelligence, passion, and curiosity clash with society’s expectations for women to be passive and obedient. Her struggles reflect the broader tension between personal desire and societal norms, highlighting the limited choices women faced. • 3. Class and Social Mobility – Class plays a significant role in the Tullivers’ lives, especially as they face financial decline.The novel shows how social status influences relationships and personal identity. Characters like Mr. Deane and Mr. Pivart represent the rising middle class and the economic changes brought by industrialization, challenging the Tullivers’ traditional way of life and their perception of self-worth. • 4. Education and Intellectual Freedom – Education is depicted as both an opportunity and a limitation.Tom’s lack of interest in classical education contrasts with Maggie’s intellectual curiosity, yet her thirst for knowledge is stifled by societal restrictions on women’s education.The novel questions the purpose of education and critiques the limited, class-based educational system of the time. • 5. Fate, Free Will, and Tragedy – The novel’s tragic tone reflects a broader theme of fate versus free will. Maggie often finds herself torn between her desires and moral expectations, leading to choices that ultimately result in misfortune.The recurring imagery of the river and the mill symbolizes the inescapable forces of nature and fate, suggesting that some outcomes are beyond the characters’ control.