Book Eight – Sunset and Sunrise
1) The Book opens with Dorothea wanting to provide assistance, both financial and in support of, Mr. Lydgate. Celia’s advice to her is:
"Now, Dodo, do listen to what James says," said Celia, "else you will be getting into a scrape. You always did, and you always will, when you set about doing as you please. And I think it is a mercy now after all that you have got James to think for you. He lets you have your plans, only he hinders you from being taken in. And that is the good of having a brother instead of a husband. A husband would not let you have your plans."..
"As if I wanted a husband!" said Dorothea. "I only want not to have my feelings checked at every turn." Mrs Casaubon was still undisciplined enough to burst into angry tears.
"Now, really, Dodo," said Celia, with rather a deeper guttural than usual, "you / are / contradictory: first one thing and then another. You used to submit to Mr Casaubon quite shamefully: I think you would have given up ever coming to see me if he had asked you."
"Of course I submitted to him, because it was my duty; it was my feeling for him." said Dorothea, looking through the prism of her tears.
"Then why can't you think it your duty to submit a little to what James wishes?" said Celia, with a sense of stringency in her argument. "Because he only wishes what is for your own good. And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better."
Dorothea laughed and forgot her tears.
"Well, I mean about babies and those things," explained Celia. "I should not give up to James when I knew he was wrong, as you used to do to Mr Casaubon."
What do you think of Dorothea’s plans, and of the discouragement that she receives from her family? What do you think of Celia’s advice to her, and of James “thinking for her”?
2) Chapter 74 opens with a quote from the Book of Tobit and describes the attitude of Middlemarch towards Mrs. Bulstrode and Rosamond, who are, perhaps ironically aunt and niece, as well as discussing Middlemarch “phraseology”
What do you think of how the wives in this storm are treated? Why do you suppose the quotation was used? Do you think there is a reason that Eliot had the two wives be related? And what did you think of the “phraseology”
3) At the end of Chapter 74, Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode have a discussion which ends:
she could not say, "How much is only slander and false suspicion?" and he did not say, "I am innocent."
What did you think of this ending to the chapter? Does it change your opinion of either of the characters?
4) Chapter 77 - Rosamond tries to flirt with Ladislaw, and is unsuccessful. However, Dorothea walks in on them, and it is a “compromising position”
What do you think of Ladislaw’s refusal of Rosamond? What did you think of Rosamond’s assurance that she could successfully flirt with him? What did you think of Dorothea’s reaction?
5) Rosamond has a breakdown in Chapter 78 as a result of the scene with Ladislaw. Lydgate comforts her, assuming that Dorothea said something to upset her.
What do you think this says about Rosamond? Do you think this is a turning point in her self-assessment? Do you think it is a turning point in her marriage to Lydgate?
6) Things start to move fast and furiously in the next few chapters. In Chapter 81 Rosamond reveals to Dorothea that Ladislaw loves her and in Chapter 83, Dorothea and Will decide to marry.
What do you think of this relationship? Did you think it was an inevitable decision? What did you think of their declarations of love?
7) In Chapter 84, Celia tries to talk Dorothea out of marrying Ladislaw.
Why? What do you think of the family’s reaction to the marriage? Of Middlemarch’s reaction?
8) Chapter 85 begins with a quotation from Pilgrim’s Progress, and has Dorothea loaning money to Lydgate, Fred’s assuming a (non-clergy) position, and marriages taking place in this and the last chapter.
What did you think about the usage of Pilgrim’s Progress at the beginning of this chapter? Did you find this to be a satisfying ending and good decisions made?
9) Why do you think this book is called "Sunset and Sunrise?"
1 Comments:
All I have to say, is that I really hated Rosamond at this point, and nothing satisfied me so much in this book as Will Ladislaw giving her a good and deserved tongue-lashing.
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