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Chapter 61
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
Mirah, leaving a concert, becomes aware that she is being followed and immediately fears it is her father, Lapidoth. Unable to avoid the encounter, she resolves to face him before reaching her home. When he confronts her, grasping her wrist and addressing her with a mixture of persuasion and self-pity, Mirah is overwhelmed by a mix of shame, pity, and grief. Shabby and manipulative, Lapidoth tries to justify his past actions and blames Mirah for leaving him, all while attempting to extract sympathy and financial help. Mirah refuses to give him more than a small amount of money, adhering to her promise not to secretly aid him. Despite his manipulations, she insists he must bear the consequences of his actions and face the reality of his life.
Mirah’s immediate fear when she realizes she is being followed shows how deeply her past still affects her. Even after finding safety and community, she remains vulnerable to the possibility that her father could reclaim some control over her life. Lapidoth’s approach relies on manipulation rather than force; he plays on guilt, framing himself as a victim rather than acknowledging his own failures. Mirah’s refusal to give him more than a token amount shows that she recognizes his tactics, but her distress suggests that severing emotional ties is far harder than refusing financial support.
Themes
After Lapidoth leaves with her purse, Mirah returns home deeply shaken. She collapses before Mordecai and tearfully tells him about the encounter. Mordecai reassures her with gentle words and emphasizes that their shared suffering reflects the intertwined grief and glory of their heritage. Despite their father’s reappearance, Mordecai sees their trials as part of a greater purpose, framing their struggles within the context of faith and destiny. Mordecai promises her that they will get through this difficult reunion together.
Lapidoth’s reappearance forces Mirah to relive emotions she has tried to suppress. Though she stands firm in front of him, she breaks down once she reaches Mordecai, showing that strength in the moment does not erase the deeper wounds left by her past. Mordecai, always seeking meaning in suffering, interprets their father’s return as part of a larger narrative, tying their personal struggles to a broader sense of endurance and purpose.
Themes
