A Summary and Analysis of a Background to George Eliot and Middlemarch

Summary:

The first two letters I looked at in the background to George Eliot and Middlemarch titled “From The Natural History of German Life” and “From Amos Barton Chapter V” shared a common sentiment. They both praised the ideas of a truthful portrayal of human life. The first article focused on the idea that an artist is capable of creating an “extension of our sympathies,” and how through art we are able to relate to our “fellow man” (520). In addition, the articles stress that the importance of knowing people is crucial; knowing people’s habits and ideas connects us. The second article takes this idea further and describes the importance of even the plainest character. The article says, “Yet these commonplace people—many of them—bear a conscious, and have felt the sublime prompting to do the painful right; they have their unspoken sorrows, and their sacred joys, their hearts have perhaps gone out towards their first-born, and they have mourned over the irreclaimable dead” (522). This idea of sharing universal human experience resonates through the two articles. In a similar direction the other letter I examined was one written by Eliot to Charles Bray. She expresses the sadness it causes her to see others ignore human realities. She understands that people want to see the ‘lovely,’ but she believes unless art can “enlarge men’s sympathies, it does nothing morally”(526).

Analysis:

One of the first things I found interesting was the connection these letters had to Mary Barton by Susan Gaskell, for she was also praised for her attention to truth. I think Eliot was successful in detailing human traits and morals. This attention to detail has made her work relatable to readers. If we focused only on the flowery aspects of life and ignored the realities of life, society could not progress. The idea of extending or sympathies I think is very important. When you can feel the same sorrows as the characters Eliot writes about, a special bond is created. The common human experiences such as love, death, sorrow, hardship, happiness, and illness connect people. Not everyone is a hero or obtains some characteristic that makes them special; the common man is often plain.  

Blog #1 Contemporary Reviews Summary and Analysis of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

Blog #1 Contemporary Reviews Summary and Analysis of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

Summary:

In the review, Anthenaeum  writer Henry Fothergill Chorly gives a very positive opinion about the novel Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. He focuses on the realness of the text in terms of character and ‘life-like’ dialogue. Chorly also describes Gaskell’s use of ‘Agitation’ and the success at which she achieves a portrait of truth. Similarly the Manchester Literary Times review praises Mary Barton for its truthful nature. In this review the unsigned author says, “Everything is plain, simple, and truthful, both in its descriptive passages, and those of passion—its sunlight or its storm.” The focus on truth and sincerity is also discussed in the reviews towards the portrayal of the lower class. We read in the review Examiner by John Forster that the novel is achieves greatness by the way the good and bad are depicted. He writes, “the book is an ungilded and sorrowful picture of the life of the class of the workpeople,” and that portrayal of real people struggling to survive against all odds is relatable and valid. In contrast to the reviews that offer mostly praise, other examinations explored the novels shortcomings. In the unsigned review in the British Quarterly the author argues that Gaskell did not have a complete understanding of the relationships between the factory workers and the mill owners. The discussion of her work as being one-sided is explored further. Her portrayal of so many deaths is also questioned.

Analysis:

I really enjoyed this novel and I shared the opinions of most of the contemporary reviews when it came to realness of the unmasked darkness of the working class. I think the gritty authenticity we see in Mary Barton allows us as readers to connect to the characters. We all share the common human experiences of loss, struggle, and heartbreak. I understood that some critics did not agree with her unsympathetic view of mill owners and upper class people but I think that was her purpose. The characters in her novel never saw the other class’s side, so it makes sense that Gaskell doesn’t include their strife. I also didn’t think that Gaskell could have forgone the death of the twins, as one reviewer said would have been preferred. Leaving out unpleasant realities would be contradicting her entire purpose of chronicling the truth and unfaltering realities of life.