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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Unhappy Marriages:
Unhappy marriages show up throughout Middlemarch, forming a motif. Dorothea and Casaubon are an example of the unhappiness that can come from marrying for love, as both parties end up disillusioned with what they initially viewed as compelling in the other. On the other hand, Rosamund and Lydgate are an example of the unhappiness that can come from marrying for wealth, as Lydgate ultimately does not provide Rosamond with the level of wealth she expects. In more minor plot points, Mr. and Mrs. Bulstrode struggle with Mr. Bulstrode’s hidden past and Mr. and Mrs. Garth argue about Mr. Garth’s low income.
With all of these unhappy marriages, Eliot is challenging romantic notions of marriage as an institution that guarantees a happily ever after (as other British authors like Jane Austen did). Inherent to this motif is Eliot’s belief that women are oppressed because of their gender. That is to say, women are forced into marriages in order to be financially secure and are not allowed to have ambitions or income of their own. If they were allowed to have other dreams, Eliot implicitly argues, they would not put so much pressure on romantic relationships to satisfy them and end up so disappointed in the process.
Related Themes:
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—Debt:
Debt shows up many times throughout Middlemarch, forming a motif. For example, Fred Vincy loses his money to gambling and disappoints his love interest’s father (Caleb Garth) who co-signed Fred’s loan when he was unable to repay it. Separately, Lydgate goes into debt, leading him to accept money from Bulstrode and become embroiled in a scandal. Raffles, in the meantime, is constantly begging for money (and even blackmailing Bulstrode), implying that he, too, is in debt or at least penniless.
Debt in the novel is a motivating force for characters to make necessary changes in their lives, even if those changes are not always positive. For example, Fred must confront his cavalier relationship to money and find a well-paying job, helping him to mature. Lydgate—in a more pessimistic twist—must ultimately give up his dreams of running the New Hospital in the aftermath of his scandal with Bulstrode, forcing him to face the fact that disappointment is often inevitable when one has big dreams. Raffles’s appearance (and desperation for money) unearths truths about Bulstrode’s past that force him to reckon with his harmful behavior.
Throughout the novel, Eliot uses debt as a way to force characters to make changes in their lives, showing how money—or lack thereof—is a primary focus for people in a community where class status says a lot about a person’s character.
Related Themes:
