MARY CATHERINE BATESON: “WE ARE NOT WHAT WE KNOW BUT WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO LEARN.” 1998 English Literature Middlemarch (1871)

What The Author’s Sarcastic attitude uses the paradox of Dorthea Brooke’s worldly beauty and ethereal naiveté to satirize her blind and urgent quest for knowledge in the face of social ineptitude.

How Devices  Allusion to the Bible  Organization  Juxtaposition/Comparison  Word choice  Personification  Sarcasm  Narration type

Personification “Miss Brooke had that kind of beauty which seems to be thrown in to relief by poor dress” (Line 1) Highlights Beauty Organization from simple to complex

Allusions to the Bible demonstrate Dorothea’s worldly beauty and hints at her naïveté. Comparing to “blessed Mary” creates out of this world beauty. Hints at the extensive naïveté that Miss Brooke possesses. (Virgin Mary naïve) Wants knowledge, but is limited by her religion. “Her hands and wrists were So finely formed that she could wear sleeves not less bear of style than those Of which the blessed Mary appeared To Italian painters” (Eliot Line 4) “Her mind was theoretic and yearned by its nature after some lofty conception of the world which might frankly include the parish of Tipton and her own rule of conduct there” (Eliot line 23)

Organization Begins with describing superficial worldly beauty Discussion of Dorothea’s desire for knowledge Transitions to her lack of social skills Shows her misguided desire for marriage Author describes Dorothea in a familiar, yet omniscient way. Peels back layers of Dorothea Builds her up (most women don’t desire knowledge— different from most women) but sarcastically pokes fun at her social ineptitude Shows irony on Eliot’s part Last line sums it up Gets inside Dorothea’s head

Juxtaposition and comparison between Celia and Dorothea highlights Dorothea’s knowledge “She was usually spoken as being remarkably clever, but with the addition that her sister Celia had more common sense” (Lines 10). “Poor Dorothea! compared with her, the innocent-looking Celia was knowing and worldly-wise” (Line 46) Comparison…Celia (ideal woman.) Dorothea (Knowledge) Also highlights her naiveté. Highlights the difference between Celia (who knows about the world) and Dorothea (who has no clue as to the social norms).

Word Choice “some lofty conception” (line 24). “enamoured” (line 26) “rash in embracing [intensity and greatness]” (line 27) “Large eyes like her religion, too unusual and striking” (line 45) “Pagan sensuous way” (line 59) Vague, doesn’t know what such an intelligent view entails. Naïve way of approaching knowledge Childlike quick decision Wide eyes: an image that evokes naïveté. Also shows social ineptitude (doesn’t act like other women). Alludes to pagan rituals and compares sexual context of situation.

The use of sarcasm highlights Dorothea’s innocent quest for knowledge “Dorothea knew many passages of Pascal’s Pensees and of Jeremy Taylor by heart… made solicitudes of feminine fashion appear an occupation for Bedlam” (17-20) “Dorothea, with all her eagerness to know the truths of life, retained very childlike ideas about marriage.”(line 70/73) “Riding was an indulgence which she allowed herself in spite of conscientious qualms; she felt that she enjoyed it in a pagan sensuous way, and always looked forward to renouncing it.”(line 56-59) “The really delightful marriage must be where your husband was a sort of father, and could teach you even Hebrew, if you wished it.” (line 79-83)

Contextual Application The theme of quest for knowledge in women is historically significant in real life George Eliot is in fact a woman  This reflects her own struggle of being a successful woman in this time period. Satirizes the fervent pursuit of knowledge with the socially awkward, yet stunningly brilliant Dorothea