Hey Middlemarchers, this is my last post for this reading of Middlemarch in 2023. It's been a pleasure taking part in this!

Summary:

Chapter 84:

Mr. Brooke breaks the news of Dorothea's engagement to Will to the Chettams and the Cadwalladers, and it's met with a unanimous disapproval. Sir James goes as far as saying he won't even entertain the idea of ever speaking to Dorothea again if she proceeds with the marriage. While Mr. Brooke reluctantly gives his approval, he offers to limit or even cut off Dorothea's inheritance, if it would please Sir James.

Mrs. Cadwallader remarks that she had foreseen Dorothea and Will's union, as no other eligible suitors had come into the picture. Interestingly, it becomes apparent that Sir James and Mr. Brooke might have had an ulterior motive – they appeared to hope that Dorothea would remain unmarried, allowing Sir James and Celia's son to inherit the Casaubon properties and fortune.

Throughout the conversation, Celia remains mostly silent, but afterward, she secures permission from Sir James to visit Dorothea. During her visit, she attempts to dissuade Dorothea from the marriage, threatening that she won't be able to see her if Dorothea goes through with it, citing Sir James and the distance as reasons. Dorothea, however, stands her ground and refuses to give up on Will.

Chapter 85:

We revisit the Bulstrode and his wife, who are in the process of settling their affairs and leaving Middlemarch. Bulstrode has come to terms with what he did to Raffles – internally he accepts that it was murder. However, he is scared to ever confess it to his wife and resolves to maybe tell her when he is on his deathbed. He seems humbled and sort of ashamed that she has stood by him and believes that she is too good for him.

While discussing property, Mrs. Bulstrode suggests that they should help the Vincys, namely Rosamond and Lydgate. Mr. Bulstrode feels guilty about Lydgate’s situation but tells her that Lydgate has and will continue to refuse any help from him, now that Dorothea has covered the thousand-pound debt for him. The pair settle on helping Fred instead, going back to Caleb Garth’s earlier idea that Fred and Mary could become tenants at Stone Court and begin farming there, paying for the property based off the profits they make.

References:

• The epigraph to chapter 84 is from 'The Not-Browne Mayde', a fifteenth-century ballad.
• The House of Lords had the Reform Bill 'thrown out' when they amended it in May 1832.
• A 'Draco)' and a 'Jeffreys' are references to two historically harsh judges.
• Entail is another word for 'inheritance'
• The epigraph for chapter 85 is an excerpt from 'Pilgrim's Progress' and shows the Vanity Fair judges martyring the character Faithful.