This is my last post for this reading of Middlemarch in 2022! It's been a pleasure taking part in this reading with you all.

Summary:

Chapter 84:

Mr. Brooke tells the Chettams and the Cadwalladers about Dorothea’s engagement to Will. There is a general state of disapproval, with Sir James refusing to even meet with or speak to Dorothea ever again if she goes through with the marriage. Mr. Brooke claims to have no choice but to give his approval to it, but he offers to limit and/or cut off Dorothea’s inheritance, if it pleases Sir James.

Mrs. Cadwallader comments that she predicted that Dorothea and Will would happen, because no one brought any other suitable bachelors to visit her. Interestingly, we see that Sir James and Mr. Brooke may have had an underlying motive for this – they seem to have hoped Dorothea would remain single, so that Sir James and Celia’s son could inherit the Casaubon properties and fortune from her.

Celia remains quiet throughout most of the conversation but afterwards she gains permission from Sir James to visit Dorothea. She tries to talk Dorothea out of the marriage and claims that she will be unable to see her if Dorothea goes through with it, because of Sir James and because of distance. Dorothea counters her well 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 64 is taken from 'The Not-Browne Mayde', a fifteenth centaury 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.