Originally appearing in 1982's George Eliot: A Century Tribute, Robert B. Helman's review "Stealthy Convergence," touched on the idea of convergence and parallels in Eliot's infamous novel. The definition of converging being when "(of several people or things) come together from different directions so as eventually to meet" (google). The idea of convergence is extremely prevalent in George Eliot's innovative novel Middlemarch with many characters with different aspirations, goals, and interests forming relationships and ultimately a sense of community. Helman writes "Actionally, of course, the parallel lines alter to convergent lines: as characters fall into unexpected relationships, the plots gradually blend in a massive dramatic movement that includes all participants, major and minor-Dorothea and Ladislaw, Lydgate and Rosamond, Vincys, Bulstrodes, Garths, Featherstone, Raffles. Perhaps no other novel so well symbolises, by its merging streams of narrative, the inevitability of linkages that forge an unanticipated community within, and involving much of, the literal community of Middlemarch" (Heilman 619). Through incorporating convergence Eliot ultimately creates an ingenious and remarkable historical novel about morality, humanity, and community.
In his 1982 review, Heilman introduces an idea that a multitude of prior critics failed to recognize, the idea of convergence in response to George Eliot's Middlemarch. Through exploring and applying this idea to the characters in Eliot's novel one is able to understand Eliot's flawlessness in taking a plethora of different and interesting (albeit at times frustrating) characters and melding them into a historical and beautiful novel about the human condition.
I feel like one of Eliot's main purposes in her novel was that of community. Throughout Middlemarch, there are many different relationships between characters of the town, and Eliot, almost flawlessly, interconnects them one way or another. She also shows how such a tight knit community reacts to new people that come into their town. Each character seemed to have their own niche in the community, although some may be more important and accepted than others.
ReplyDeleteReading this I am reminded of the comments that were made about Lydgate when he first arrived to town and the rumors started about him letting people die because he wanted to cut them open. The way Eliot reflects on community is eye opening. The closeness of all the residents is accurately portrayed by her and for the first time I can see why she would decide to write the story with no clear main character. This story might not have been meant for the individual but more for the way a community deals with the individuals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kathryn in the idea that the novel is about community. Even with different sections where we at times don't see characters, we do get a sense that the characters are connected in one way or another. Through this Eliot was able to show flaws in the system on these small towns. She was also able to suggest changes to these communities in this way.
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