Middlemarch Readathon: Book 3 – Waiting for Death

Paul’s thoughts on Book 3 of Middlemarch

This blog post contains some spoilers if you haven’t already read Book 3.

George Eliot is really playing with my emotions! Poor Fred Vincy: rejected in love by Mary Garth, and then desperately and misguidedly trying to make good his debts, but only making things worse by ruining his friends, the Garths, along the way. To top it all, he catches typhoid fever! I have really been rooting for Fred and truly believed he was destined for a sad end. After all, the title of this section, ‘Waiting for Death’, really led me to think that. Apparently not: enter Dr Lydgate to save the day (and get an excuse to be nearer Fred’s sister, Rosamond). Will Fred live to redeem himself, I wonder?

As you can probably tell, I have become totally absorbed into Middlemarch life, and these ninety-plus pages flew by. Testament to a great storyteller, I think. I still trip up on sections where George Eliot indulges in solid prose description and I agree with Amanda’s comment on the last blog post that she can be a little preachy. Eliot’s great skill lies in her rich painting of even minor characters and wonderful dialogue.

I haven’t made my mind up about Dr Lydgate yet; he seems a little full of himself and his prowess as a modern medic. It is interesting to note that Eliot’s insights into early nineteenth-century medicine, and the change in the status of doctors that Lydgate represents, have been the source of much discussion amongst the medical profession ever since the book was published. What are your thoughts on Lydgate?

Just when you think Casaubon can’t get any worse, George Eliot continues to relish passages illustrating just how dreadful he is. Dorothea unsurprisingly seems a bit frustrated, but tries to maintain her beatific persona. You really hope Dorothea will be released from her nightmare marriage, and there is a glimpse of light as Casaubon seems to be ill through overwork. I love the fact that Lydgate suggests he varies his interests, maybe learning to turn wood. Well, I suppose he is already a dry stick so he is halfway there! However, Casaubon doesn’t meet his demise either.

In the end, the ‘death’ alluded to in the section title is Mr Featherstone’s. His dreadful relatives circle like vultures, hoping for a legacy. Dickens had previously achieved fame as the of master of the lingering deathbed scene, especially in The Old Curiosity Shop, but George Eliot proves to be his equal. Featherstone dies the perfect skinflint’s death:

“In a very little while there was no longer any doubt that Peter Featherstone was dead, with his right hand clasping the keys, and his left hand lying of the heap of notes and gold.”

Does this open the door that might save Fred Vincy and Mary Garth? I can’t wait to find out.

Do share your views in the comments below and let us know how you are getting on.