Summary
George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss, first published in 1860, is a sweeping tale of family, love, and societal expectations. Set in rural England, the novel follows the lives of siblings Maggie and Tom Tulliver as they navigate the complexities of growing up in a rapidly changing world. With its rich character development and exploration of themes like gender roles and social class, The Mill on the Floss is considered one of Eliot's most powerful and autobiographical works. While often praised for its psychological depth and nuanced portrayal of sibling relationships, the novel is also a poignant examination of the societal constraints faced by intelligent, passionate women in the 19th century. Through Maggie's struggles and triumphs, Eliot offers a critique of the limited options available to women of her time, making the novel as relevant today as it was over 160 years ago.
Plot
Set in the fictional English village of St. Ogg's, The Mill on the Floss follows the life of Maggie Tulliver from childhood to young adulthood. Maggie is a passionate, intelligent girl who struggles to fit in with her family's expectations. She has a close but complex relationship with her older brother Tom, who disapproves of her impulsive nature. When their father loses the family mill in a lawsuit and falls ill, Tom leaves school to work and support the family, while Maggie is left isolated at home.
As she grows up, Maggie forms a secret friendship with Philip Wakem, the sensitive son of her father's rival. Their relationship blossoms into romance, but Tom forbids Maggie from seeing Philip when he discovers their meetings. Some years later, after her father's death, Maggie visits her cousin Lucy and meets Stephen Guest, Lucy's wealthy and charming suitor. Despite her initial resistance, Maggie finds herself drawn to Stephen.
Maggie and Stephen's mutual attraction leads to a crisis when they accidentally drift too far downriver during an outing. Stephen proposes they elope to the nearby city of Mudport, but after a night of internal struggle, Maggie rejects him and returns home alone. Her reputation in St. Ogg's is ruined by the scandal. Though Lucy and Philip eventually forgive her, Tom disowns Maggie and turns her away from their home.
The novel reaches its climax when a massive flood strikes the town. Maggie rushes to save Tom at the old mill, and the siblings reconcile as they attempt to rescue others. However, their boat capsizes in the raging waters. In a final, poignant moment, Tom and Maggie drown in each other's arms, united in death as they often were not in life.
Themes
Conflict between duty and desire
Sibling relationships and family loyalty
Social expectations and gender roles
Coming of age and loss of innocence
The power of memory and childhood
Nature vs. society
Fate and free will
Setting
The Mill on the Floss is set in the fictional town of St. Ogg's, located in the English county of Lincolnshire. The story takes place in the late 1820s to early 1830s, during a period of significant social and economic change in rural England. The novel's events unfold against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, which was transforming traditional agricultural communities like St. Ogg's.
At the heart of the narrative is Dorlcote Mill, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Floss and Ripple. This picturesque setting serves as both home and livelihood for the Tulliver family. The mill represents the old way of life, increasingly threatened by modernization and changing economic realities. Beyond the mill, Eliot vividly portrays the surrounding countryside, with its woods, fields, and winding river, which play a crucial role in Maggie's emotional and spiritual development.
While St. Ogg's and its immediate surroundings form the primary backdrop, the novel also touches on nearby locations such as Basset, home to Moss Farm, and the more distant town of Mudport. These places help to illustrate the limited horizons of provincial life and the social constraints faced by the characters, particularly Maggie in her quest for personal fulfillment and intellectual growth.
Characters
Maggie Tulliver: The protagonist and central character. Intelligent, passionate, and impulsive, Maggie struggles against the confines of her family's expectations and societal norms. She has a deep bond with her brother Tom but also yearns for intellectual stimulation and romantic love. Maggie's inner conflicts between duty and desire drive much of the novel's drama.
Tom Tulliver: Maggie's older brother. Practical and stubborn, Tom has a strong sense of family loyalty and morality. He often clashes with Maggie's more passionate nature. Tom works to restore his family's fortunes after their financial ruin. His relationship with Maggie is complex, marked by both love and disapproval.
Philip Wakem: A sensitive, intellectual young man with a physical deformity. Philip befriends Maggie and develops romantic feelings for her. His father's enmity with the Tullivers complicates their relationship. Philip represents the intellectual and artistic world Maggie longs for.
Stephen Guest: A charming, wealthy young man engaged to Maggie's cousin Lucy. He becomes infatuated with Maggie, creating a moral dilemma for her. Stephen represents the temptation of passion and a life of ease for Maggie.
Lucy Deane: Maggie's pretty, good-natured cousin. She is engaged to Stephen Guest and befriends Maggie. Lucy's kindness and social standing contrast with Maggie's struggles.
Mr. Tulliver: Maggie and Tom's father, owner of Dorlcote Mill. His rash decision to enter a lawsuit leads to the family's financial ruin. Mr. Tulliver is proud and stubborn, with a particular fondness for Maggie.
Mrs. Tulliver: Maggie and Tom's mother. She is a simple, conventional woman preoccupied with social status and material possessions. Mrs. Tulliver often fails to understand Maggie's nature.
Mr. Wakem: A lawyer and Philip's father. His legal victory over Mr. Tulliver creates enmity between the families. Mr. Wakem later purchases Dorlcote Mill, further angering the Tullivers.
Bob Jakin: A childhood friend of Tom who later helps him in business. Bob provides support and friendship to both Tom and Maggie at different times.
Mrs. Glegg: Maggie's domineering aunt. She is critical of the Tullivers but ultimately stands up for Maggie after her scandal with Stephen.
Quick facts
The Mill on the Floss was George Eliot's second full-length novel.
Many aspects of the story are autobiographical, based on Eliot's own childhood experiences growing up in rural England.
The novel spans about 15 years, from the late 1820s to early 1840s.
The fictional town of St. Ogg's was inspired by the real town of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire.
The character of Maggie Tulliver was largely based on Eliot herself.
The Mill on the Floss was one of the first novels in English literature to feature a female protagonist's coming of age as its primary theme.
The book's original working title was “Sister Maggie."
Eliot wrote much of the novel while living in Italy with her partner George Henry Lewes.
The flood scene at the end of the novel was inspired by real floods Eliot had witnessed as a child.
The novel has inspired several adaptations, including a 1997 television film starring Emily Watson as Maggie Tulliver.
The Mill on the Floss is now considered one of Eliot's finest works and a classic of English literature.
About the Author
George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, was one of the leading English novelists of the Victorian era. Born in 1819 in Warwickshire, she adopted a male pseudonym to ensure her work would be taken seriously and to shield her private life from public scrutiny. Eliot is renowned for novels like Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, and her masterpiece Middlemarch, which are celebrated for their realism, psychological insight, and nuanced portrayals of English provincial life.
Eliot's unconventional personal life was a source of controversy in her time. For over two decades, she lived with the married philosopher George Henry Lewes in an openly acknowledged relationship, defying the social norms of the era. This arrangement allowed her the stability and encouragement to pursue her literary career, though it initially led to her ostracism from polite society. Despite the scandals, Eliot's novels were widely read and admired for their moral seriousness and intellectual depth.
As a writer, Eliot was deeply influenced by the social and philosophical currents of her time. Her early work as a translator and journalist exposed her to German philosophy and higher criticism of the Bible, shaping her agnostic worldview. This intellectual background is reflected in her fiction, which often grapples with questions of morality, social reform, and the role of religion in society. Eliot's novels are notable for their sympathetic portrayals of ordinary people and their struggles, as well as their exploration of complex ethical dilemmas. George Eliot died in 1880.
