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Chapter 32
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Daniel Deronda, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Judaism and Zionism
Marriage, Gender, and Control
Familial Duty
Wealth and Social Class
Summary
Analysis
Daniel wanders through Jewish neighborhoods, observing people and customs, but he avoids actively seeking Mirah’s family. The reality of Mirah’s unknown relatives unsettles him. He knows her idealized vision of them may not match what he finds, and he dreads the moment when fantasy meets fact. His own uncertainty about his origins fuels this hesitation, making him painfully aware of how unexpected discoveries can unsettle a life.
Daniel’s reluctance to actively seek Mirah’s family stems from his own unresolved anxieties. He understands that Mirah’s idealized image of them may not match reality, and he dreads being the one to dismantle her hopes. His hesitation mirrors his own uncertainty about his origins, as he recognizes how deeply unsettling unexpected truths can be.
Themes
One morning, Daniel stops outside a shop displaying silver clasps and notices the name above the door: Mordecai Cohen. Though aware that many men share the name, the sight unnerves him. The young Jewish shopkeeper who greets him might be Mirah’s brother, but Daniel resists the idea, hoping that Mirah’s relatives, if found, do not belong to the trading class. He tells himself not to jump to conclusions and plans to return later to investigate discreetly. However, he also questions his right to withhold information from Mirah. She has a religious duty to honor her mother, even in death, and she longs to know whether her brother is alive. Daniel wonders if he has any right to keep that knowledge from her simply because he fears what it may mean for her happiness.
The sight of the name Mordecai Cohen unsettles Daniel more than he expects. The possibility that Mirah’s brother could be a simple shopkeeper challenges his assumptions, forcing him to reconsider what kind of future she deserves. His hesitation in investigating reflects his own internal bias, as he hopes Mirah’s family is not part of the working class, though he knows this thought is unfair. At the same time, he questions his right to withhold the truth. His awareness of Mirah’s religious duty makes him wonder whether protecting her from disappointment is an act of kindness or interference.
Themes
Delaying his return to the shop, Daniel becomes caught up in a debate with Sir Hugo, who urges him to enter politics. Sir Hugo believes public life is a matter of seizing opportunities and playing to people’s expectations, but Daniel resists. He refuses to pursue a career that requires constant compromise and self-promotion.
Sir Hugo’s push for Daniel to enter politics serves as a contrast to his search for Mirah’s family. Hugo sees success as a matter of maneuvering and adapting, but Daniel resists the idea of shaping himself to fit expectations. His unwillingness to compromise mirrors his hesitation in revealing the truth to Mirah; he does not want to manipulate reality to suit personal convenience.
Themes
When Daniel finally revisits Mordecai Cohen’s shop, he hesitates. Before entering, he browses a second-hand bookshop and encounters an unusual man with an intense, scholarly presence. The stranger, after questioning him about a book, suddenly asks if he is of Jewish descent. Daniel, caught off guard, says he is not. The man immediately withdraws, his interest disappearing, leaving Daniel with an unsettling sense of rejection. This encounter reinforces the nagging uncertainty about his own origins, deepening his reluctance to push forward in his search for Mirah’s family.
Daniel’s encounter with the mysterious scholar heightens his unease about his own origins. The abrupt shift in the man’s attitude, from curiosity to dismissal, stings more than Daniel expects. His automatic denial of Jewish heritage exposes his own uncertainty. Even though he has never identified as Jewish, the question lingers in his mind, reinforcing the discomfort he feels about the possibility of a hidden lineage.
Themes
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At the pawnshop, Daniel meets Mordecai Cohen and his family. Mordecai is cheerful, talkative, and comfortable in his work, far removed from Daniel’s romanticized vision of a lost Jewish brother. The lively household includes a robust mother, a chatty wife, and precocious children who entertain themselves with knives and trade talk. Observing them, Daniel feels a growing dread. The mother bears just enough resemblance to Mirah that he cannot dismiss the possibility that she is the woman Mirah longs to find. When he subtly asks about daughters, the question provokes discomfort. Mordecai’s mother avoids answering, turning away to hide her reaction. Mordecai, quick to deflect, changes the subject. This evasiveness strengthens Daniel’s suspicion that he has found Mirah’s family.
The visit to the pawnshop disrupts Daniel’s assumptions about Mirah’s long-lost family. Mordecai Cohen’s warmth and comfort in his trade challenge Daniel’s expectations of what Mirah’s relatives should be. The chaotic household, filled with laughter and business dealings, stands in stark contrast to Mirah’s refinement and quiet dignity. When Daniel subtly inquires about daughters, the evasive reaction confirms his fears. The mother’s discomfort, paired with Mordecai’s quick deflection, suggests that something has been buried—something that Daniel may not want to uncover.
Themes
Determined to learn more, Daniel devises a plan. He pretends to need a loan, offering to return with a diamond ring that evening, hoping the visit will give him another opportunity to observe them. The family, especially Jacob, one of the children, is delighted by his presence, and they eagerly anticipate his return. Yet, as Daniel leaves, his spirits sink. He cannot see how Mirah, with her refined nature and deep sense of duty, could reconcile herself to these relatives. If they truly are her family, he dreads the pain their reunion will bring. He clings to doubt, telling himself that the resemblance and shared name could be coincidences. However, if further knowledge confirms his worst fears, he knows he must decide whether to reveal the truth or protect Mirah from it. The weight of that choice presses on him, forcing him to confront not just Mirah’s fate but his own convictions about honesty and duty.
Daniel’s decision to return under the pretense of a loan signals his determination to confirm the truth. However, as he leaves, the weight of his discovery settles over him. The more he observes, the more convinced he becomes that Mirah’s family is not what she imagined. He dreads the disappointment she will face if his suspicions prove correct. His internal struggle shifts from whether to tell her to whether he should allow her to keep believing in the family she longs for. The burden of that decision forces him to confront not just his duty to Mirah, but his own deeper fears about the limits of honesty.
Themes
