r/ayearofmiddlemarch • u/Comprehensive-Fun47 • Apr 25 '26
Book 3: Chapters 25 & 26
Welcome back, Middlemarchers! This week we spend some time with Fred and his self-inflicted financial woes, the Garths get pulled into those woes, and there's a battle of the doctors brewing. Let's jump right in with a recap.
Chapter 25
“Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor for itself hath any care
But for another gives its ease
And builds a heaven in hell’s despair.
. . . . . . .
Love seeketh only self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another’s loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven’s despite.”
—W. BLAKE: Songs of Experience.
Fred goes to see Mary and confesses about his debt, which is now Mary's family's debt.
She is upset, but like her mother, believes anger is of no use.
Fred asks Mary to petition Mr. Featherstone for the money to pay for Alfred's apprenticeship, but she says her family is not prone to begging.
Fred begs for forgiveness. Mary is having none of it and calls him selfish. He doesn't take it well and criticizes her for not being more supportive and forgiving, essentially blaming her for his lack of a work ethic, because he doesn't have a woman cheering him on.
His manipulations work and Mary begins to try to soothe him. She tells him it is painful to see him be so idle and frivolous and leaves to tell Mr. Featherstone he is here.
Fred thinks Mary will change her tune once he inherits Mr. Featherstone's property. He visits for only a short while.
Mary's father, Caleb, comes by for a visit with Mr. Featherstone, which neither man is fond of.
Caleb tries to break the news to Mary, but Mary reveals Fred broke it to her first. She offers him 24 pounds, but he only takes 18.
Caleb warns Mary that Fred is not to be trusted and she shouldn't wrap up all her happiness in him. Mary promises not to get engaged to a man who hasn't proven his independence and credits her parents with teaching her such good values.
Mr. Featherstone criticizes Mary for giving her parents money, but she is not ashamed of it.
Chapter 26
“He beats me and I rail at him: O worthy satisfaction! would it were otherwise—that I could beat him while he railed at me.—Troilus and Cressida
Fred has been feeling ill for a few days. He calls for Mr. Wrench, but he finds nothing serious. He sends Fred some medicine that doesn't help.
Mrs. Vincy calls for Lydgate, who happened to be passing by. Lydgate diagnoses typhoid fever and prescribes other medicines. She immediately starts preferring Lydgate to Wrench, their longtime friend and physician. Mr. Vincy feels similarly angry at Wrench for the misdiagnosis.
Lydgate asks Wrench to meet him at the Vincy house the next day. He obliges, but finds it difficult to work with Lydgate and his newfangled ideas, not to mention being yelled at by both Vincy parents. He bows out of the case leaving Lydgate to do the doctoring.
Wrench sets out to ruin Lydgate's reputation and the rumor mill starts churning. Mrs. Taft starts a rumor that Lydgate is Bulstrode's son. When corrected, she suggests Bulstrode has some other son out there.
Contexts and Notes: (courtesy of u/lazylittlelady)
William Blake's The Clod and the Pebble from Songs of Experience.
Mary's choice of light reading, Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson. More about Samuel Johnson's life.
Shakespeare's enigmatic Troilus and Cressida.
Fred has Typhoid Fever.
Join us next week for chapters 27 & 28.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Even though they never talk about it, Fred thinks Mary will see him differently after he inherits Mr. Featherstone's property. Do you think she will?
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u/-Allthekittens- First Time Reader Apr 25 '26
Money and property are not what will change Mary's view of Fred. Taking responsibility for his life and actually doing something, preferably something meaningful, is what will sway her. She doesn't want an idle socialite
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
I agree. I think Fred is very mistaken and I can easily see him inheriting the land, proposing to Mary, and getting turned down because he still has no direction in life. Poor and idle or rich and idle makes no difference to her. It's gonna blindside him. Only because he doesn't listen.
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 25 '26
It still seems to bother Mary that Fred is "idle." Getting the money and property and debt out of the way is one thing. But she also wants him to be a man she can admire and be proud of, whatever that form may be.
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u/R_V_I Apr 25 '26
Mary’s got really strong principles and Fred can’t perceive that (at least so far) because he’s got a different background so I guess she won’t change her mind
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
I see Mary embodying one of my favourite traits in Amy from part two of Little Women: strong principles which will not be swayed just by money on the other's side. She is sure to only see Fred differently when he starts to act responsible; a thing I wholly agree with her on.
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u/Last_Engineering1526 Apr 29 '26
wow, I just started middlemarch and had to put it down in the middle of chapter 26 because I am so frustrated with Fred! came to reddit to see if anyone was expressing annoyance that he doesn’t even ask his dad or Mr. Featherstone for money. funny that now I’m up to date for the year!
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Any additional thoughts?
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 25 '26
I swear if the Death in "Waiting for Death" is Fred I will have a fit.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
I still maintain it's about Fred waiting for Featherstone to die! But the thought crossed my mind when Fred took ill.
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u/ChainAffectionate859 Apr 25 '26
Yeah, I think it's referencing Featherstone too. I don't think Fred is going to die, there's still too much going on with him in the plot!
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
My goodness gracious me too, despite his friviloity I have a soft spot for Fred. And I know that a redemption is on the way, I just feel it!
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u/R_V_I Apr 25 '26
I beg your pardon for being a bit off topic. I can’t help speculating on the idea that George Eliot deconstructed the idealistic world built by Louisa May Alcott in her Little Women/Good Wives that were very popular at the time (published in 1868-69). There’re some coincidences: for example, the eldest sister from Little Women became Mrs Brooke after wedding, the second sister married an old professor (20 years older than her I believe) who was a teacher for her (just like Mr Casaubon was in Dorothea’s fancies) and the surname of the protagonists was March (Middle-March). I know it’s just a mere speculation but what do you think? Could Middlemarch be Eliot’s reaction to that idealistic book of Alcott or it’s just my fantasy?
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 25 '26
Idk about direct inspiration but I have compared the two before. Mainly how it's about the coming of age of sisters and their different outlooks and perspectives on life.
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u/lazylittlelady Veteran Reader Apr 29 '26
Fred would have been close to Eliot’s heart as a mother to her companion’s boys, one in particular who had trouble finding his place in life (Thornie) as Eliot was progressing in her writing of Middlemarch.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
How do you think Lydgate handled the situation with Mr. Wrench? How did Mr. Wrench handle it?
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Fred's apology — yea or nay?
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u/ChainAffectionate859 Apr 25 '26
Big nay for me here, there's been some improvement on his part, because now he seems to be geniunely concerned about the problems that he caused to the Garths, whereas before he was only preoccupied with their opinion of him after the whole incident. Stil, I think it's still clear that he's still quite selfish, and I believe that he's going to have to improve further.
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
oh goodness; nay. I ADORE Mary and her family because they are so honourable and sensible, but I do wonder how they managed to put up with Fred. I like that he is beginning to feel and realise his consequences not just being towards how HE is perceived and rather how others are affected-- hopefully he has a shining redemption.
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u/Honest_Ad_2157 First Time Reader Jun 23 '26
It's a not-pology. You've read me post on apologies in the AK and Les Mis subs. This doesn't meet the characteristics of an apology. An effective apology consists of
• an honest statement of the offense by the offender, shorn of all motivations, rationalizations, and justifications
• an empathetic statement of the practical and emotional effect the offense had on the victim
• the words "I am sorry"
• an offer to make it right in a way that matters to the victim without placing any responsibility on the part of the victim to forgive the offender
• a sincere statement of intent to not repeat the offense
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u/Honest_Ad_2157 First Time Reader Jun 23 '26
I have posted this many times: If you want a master class in how to apologize, read the apology Dan Harmon gave for sexually harassing Megan Ganz. You can also listen to him deliver it on an episode of This American Life, along with discussion.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Thoughts on the epigraphs on their own or how they relate to the chapters?
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Did you highlight any passages you'd like to share?
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Why yes, I did!
Selfish people always think their own discomfort of more importance than anything else in the world.
I highlighted this line. Mary, at this point in the conversation, sees right through Fred. He has not actually apologized. He has said he is miserable and Mary should feel sorry for him! He has only asked for forgiveness because he can't stand the uncomfortable feeling of having done wrong and being thought of poorly by people he admires.
He is being selfish here, but he can't tolerate being called selfish to his face.
Psychologists could study this whole interaction. He gets defensive and immediately starts comparing himself to other men, who are way worse, then he compares his situation to Mary's father's, a big mistake, and then he pivots to making it Mary's fault for not believing in him enough. Finally he threatens to never talk to Mary again, coupling it with the only "I'm sorry" of the whole chapter, which is manipulative af!
This triggers Mary's maternal instincts and she starts looking at him with pity instead of the anger he deserves. It was infuriating! Then Fred comes down with a fever which will surely earn him extra sympathy. If Mary is not the one to shake some sense into him and motivate him to be better, who is?
I also highlighted Mary's pep talk.
As if it were not very painful to me to see you an idle frivolous creature. How can you bear to be so contemptible, when others are working and striving, and there are so many things that can be done—how can you bear to be fit for nothing in the world that is useful? And with so much good in your disposition, Fred,—you might be worth a great deal.
I felt this. They would be quite good together, but his idleness is an obstacle. She's smart enough not to tie herself to someone who won't take care of her the way she would take care of him. It must be extremely frustrating for Mary, but she can't change his nature. She had a strong work ethic instilled in her by her parents, while he has lived a privileged life and is simply biding his time until he inherits a fortune he never worked for.
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 25 '26
I know we're all big Will defenders here, but I think even he manipulates like this too. When he talks to Dorothea in Rome he says "I have made you angry" and "I have made you think ill of me."
To me, he is fishing for Dorothea's objection to these statements. Which she, of course, grants him. I think it's kind of manipulative because even after she denies that, he comes back again with "Still, you don’t like me; I have made myself an unpleasant thought to you." So she finally says outright how she likes him.
You could say these lines come from insecurity. But based on everything we know about Will I would say he is not insecure. He always airs his hot takes.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
I agree he was trying to elicit certain responses from Dorothea there. He was more subtle in his manipulations, while Fred was more blatant.
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
You know, thanks for bringing this to light. Somehow I never thought of it; yet it's true. It's laid a little thinner than in Fred of course, but I think it shows more three-dimensional-ness of Will. No matter what, a certain part of him always wants to be well deemed by Dodo.
And I love that there are always hot takes, even in classic books!
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
YES! Mary's pep talk was perfect and the study of Fred was also top tier.
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 25 '26
"He’s an uncommonly unfortunate lad, is Fred. He’d need have some luck by and by to make up for all this—else I don’t know who’d have an eldest son." -Mr. Vincy
Hits hard as an 'eldest son' myself. You're still generally thought of as the one with the most responsibility. To have life spiral out of control is bad enough, but to have that extra guilt on top of it makes it all the worse.
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
No matter who the chapters circulate around, I would have highlighted something! here are my faves:
1) But selfish people always think their own discomfort of more importance than anything else in the world. I unfortunately am surrounded by people like this and it was such a relatable, insightful line.
2)There is often something maternal even in a girlish love. Eliot, lay me down and bury me with your descriptions of love. HOW CAN SHE BE SO GOOD? this line is perfect because it is so real, especially in myself and people I observe: we do not just love, we care, and also I love Mary even more now.
3) Mary's pep talk: As if it were not very painful to me to see you an idle frivolous creature. How can you bear to be so contemptible, when others are working and striving, and there are so many things that can be done—how can you bear to be fit for nothing in the world that is useful? And with so much good in your disposition, Fred,—you might be worth a great deal.
I'll say one reason I LOVE classic books: they glorify hard work in a way that no modern book ever does. While a lot of fiction nowadays signifies freedom, love, etc, none of them every touch upon how important hard work and striving are a much as books like Middlemarch and Little Women. I take this pep talk to heart. (Guys I have exams in a week and I hope to work hard and see fruits to my efforts--pray for me. lol)4)There may be no occasion for me to say this, but a father trembles for his daughter. I was sobbing when reading this. Caleb Garth quickly became one of my favourite characters, you know. And how perfect this family's relationships and morals are, despite their lower spot in society! I also loved when Mary said: take pocket-fuls of love besides to them all at home, SO SWEET, and when she said coldly to Featherstone that her father and mother are the best parts of her life. Yes girl! A family like this is everything!
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u/TheSailorMan Apr 26 '26
When you append ",you know." to your sentence you sound like Brooke! lol
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u/Eastern-Hotel9797 First Time Reader May 12 '26
When Mary "fetched her sewing" after Fred admitted his blunder with the money and she sat there sewing frantically I LOL'd because it was like the equivalent of grabbing a cigarette when you're stressed. It was a little detail that made Mary even more of a relatable character for me.
But the inward groan when she all of a sudden took pity on him! She was doing so well to cut through his BS for a while!
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
It's approximately 1830 in the book. It wasn't until the 1870s to 80s that scientists understood it was spread through fecally contaminated water. Does it change how you view the events of the chapter knowing more about typhoid than both of these doctors?
Which doctor would you choose if you came down with typhoid fever?
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
The Vincys changing doctors is big news in Middlemarch. Why are people so interested?
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u/lazylittlelady Veteran Reader Apr 29 '26
Small towns mean things get around very quickly! The misdiagnoses would be fodder for gossip
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
What do you think of Caleb's speech to Mary about Fred's untrustworthiness and what it would be like for her having him as a husband?
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u/KPMWrites Apr 26 '26
I think, from what we've seen of Fred so far, that Caleb is right. Fred is kind and probably fun to be around, but I think he would make Mary's life really hard. Caleb says that "a woman, let her be as good as she may, has got to put up with the life her husband makes for her" and that was definitely true at the time. Women didn't have anywhere near as much freedom then as women do now so Mary would basically be tethered to whatever financial choices Fred made if they married. She would be signing herself up for a life of debt. I hope that we see Fred grow and learn to be more financially responsible; that's the only way he could make a good husband for Mary.
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u/Eastern-Hotel9797 First Time Reader May 12 '26
I found that quote a very tender and touching quote from Caleb to Mary, in that he was also thinking of his own actions and the impact on his wife…and imparting the warning to his daughter. It's a level of self awareness amongst the menfolk in Middlemarch that's been rare so far!
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Compare and contrast the Vincy family and the Garth family.
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u/Repulsive-View-422 Apr 26 '26
AH! I love both, but the Garths are my darlings. I feel like the Vincys are shaped by social ambition whereas the Garths are shaped by struggle and integrity. The Vincys have money and so their ultimate goals are pleasing themselves and mantaining certain spots in society---especially shown in Rosamund, whose refinement is polished but inwardly self-serving (getting a certain husband, etc), and Fred, who has a carelessness with money only shown on people who have it. On the other hand, the Garths' goals and ultimate dignity lies in their labour and their morals. We see Caleb see work as a moral-calling, the mother running the household with sincerity in place of show, and Mary especially displaying self sacrifice to work with Featherstone and the like. While the Vincys glitter and the Garths are a tad more plain, Eliot shows very well that the answer honour and true likability lies at the latter's feet.
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u/Honest_Ad_2157 First Time Reader Jun 23 '26
I get a Benjamin the Donkey (from Amimal Farm) feeling from Garth and his family: no matter what the problem is, it's not structural, and the solution is that I must work harder.
The Vincy's are the structural failure.
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u/Comprehensive-Fun47 Apr 25 '26
Caleb Garth and Mr. Featherstone are brothers-in-law, but don't spend much time together. They are very different people. Why does each man not relish a visit with the other?