A review by suzw13
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Interesting plot that centers around love and forgiveness of character flaws, loyalty, duty.
I read this as a sophomore in high school. Now, almost 40 years later, I found the paper I wrote about it--I said I liked the book. Setting: St Oggs, a town in England located at the junction of two rivers. Main family is the Tulliver, older brother Tom and younger sister Maggie. Tom is conscientious and honorable, but harsh to wrongdoers. Maggie adores him but does she cannot live up to his expectations. Water is symbolic--Maggie's personal life is swept along as if caught up in moving water. Tom is still and calm, like a pond. The tension of the plot revolves around the impetuous Maggie who has drama in her love for three very different men. She loves her older brother Tom, but life pulls them apart. She has two romantic interests, but they are complicated by a family feud and impropriety. In the end, a flood threatens all. Maggie gets a boat and is able to rescue Tom. The boat is hit by floating debris and they both die "in each other's arms." I wrote at the end of my high school paper, "The most important theme, however, is that it is never too late to make amends for a wrong. Maggie was constantly repenting from mistakes. Even though people did not always accept her on the same grounds as before she made the mistake, repenting made it easier to accept herself. No conflict has to last forever. No matter how bad it is, something can be done."
I read this as a sophomore in high school. Now, almost 40 years later, I found the paper I wrote about it--I said I liked the book. Setting: St Oggs, a town in England located at the junction of two rivers. Main family is the Tulliver, older brother Tom and younger sister Maggie. Tom is conscientious and honorable, but harsh to wrongdoers. Maggie adores him but does she cannot live up to his expectations. Water is symbolic--Maggie's personal life is swept along as if caught up in moving water. Tom is still and calm, like a pond. The tension of the plot revolves around the impetuous Maggie who has drama in her love for three very different men. She loves her older brother Tom, but life pulls them apart. She has two romantic interests, but they are complicated by a family feud and impropriety. In the end, a flood threatens all. Maggie gets a boat and is able to rescue Tom. The boat is hit by floating debris and they both die "in each other's arms." I wrote at the end of my high school paper, "The most important theme, however, is that it is never too late to make amends for a wrong. Maggie was constantly repenting from mistakes. Even though people did not always accept her on the same grounds as before she made the mistake, repenting made it easier to accept herself. No conflict has to last forever. No matter how bad it is, something can be done."