Piyangie's Reviews > The Mill on the Floss

The Mill on the Floss is said to be a semi biographical novel by George Eliot. The story is said to resemble some of her own struggles and her deep attachment and yearn for approval of her brother.

Among the various themes of the book, sibling love between Tom and Maggie and Maggie's constant struggle to win the wholehearted love and acceptance of her brother were the strongest. Basically the story flows on the above said theme with Eliot's satire on society closely accompanying it.

The female protagonist Maggie Tulliver struggles with conflicting interests; to be loved and accepted, and to live according to her own free will disregarding the rigid social norms. She cannot have both as they contradict each other. This struggle spans throughout the story ultimately taking Maggie on a destructive path making her character one of the tragic heroines in the history of classics. I had a love and hate relationship with Maggie. At times her actions were rational and just, but at times they were impulsive displaying a lack of self-command. Tom Tulliver, too, aroused mixed feelings. His sense of duty was commendable but his lack of understanding of her sister and his rigid authority distances him from Maggie which ultimately leads to some dire consequences. He was a dutiful brother but not a caring one and Maggie, being sensitive, was driven to find brotherly love elsewhere.

Philip was a loyal and caring friend. He stood by Maggie even though he himself was a victim of her impetuous conduct. He finally understands Maggie's feelings towards him as more brotherly than of a lover and readily forgives her. The sweet tempered Lucy was kind and caring towards Maggie and forgives her for her rash conduct. The self-centered Stephen is a man catering only to his needs regardless of the consequences his conduct may have on others.

The story is somewhat a tragedy, but the author expresses her apology for the tragic ending by finally uniting Tom and Maggie and throwing a hint at the concluding paragraphs that Maggie's yearning for acceptance, approval and love was finally fulfilled. The inclusion of a short conclusion by the narrator fills some questions that were unanswered.

This is a reread for me and perhaps I perceived the story and characters better this time around. Yet, it was such a tedious read and I had to practically drag me through many a chapters. This may be an important work of Eliot. But it's certainly not for me. I disliked this in school. And I'm sorry to say that I still feel the same.