Prelude and Book One: Miss Brooke
Prelude
The prelude focuses on a renowned historical figure, implying that Miss Dorothea Brooke is of a similar character. This brief introduction focuses on Saint Theresa of Avila and tells of her life and demeanor. She was a passionate idealist, and the story of her life has something of an epic quality to it. Many women who lived after Saint Theresa have shared her nature and ideals, but their lives have often been obscure and disappointing, their “spiritual grandeur ill-matched with the meanness of opportunity.” These women are like cygnets reared among ducklings, who never find other swans with which to swim. Most women like Saint Theresa strive for goodness but go through life without any lasting achievement.
Chapter 1
Miss Dorothea Brooke is a young woman of nineteen from a good family, whose beauty is increased by the simplicity of her dress. She is generally known to be highly intelligent, well-educated, and earnest in her desire to do good in the world. Her parents are dead, so she lives at a house called Tipton Grange with her uncle, Mr. Brooke, a vague-minded bachelor of almost sixty, and her younger sister, Celia, who is not as clever as Dorothea but has more common sense.
Dorothea is beautiful and moderately wealthy, so it is generally assumed that she will soon marry. However, she is not interested in the type of men she meets, such as Mr. Brooke’s neighbor, the amiable baronet Sir James Chettam. Instead, Dorothea dreams of marrying a learned man like Hooker or Milton and helping him in his noble life’s work. One evening, the Reverend Edward Casaubon, a scholar who is working on a book about the history of religion, comes to dine with the Brookes.
Before Casaubon arrives, Celia suggests that she and Dorothea should divide their mother’s jewels between them. Dorothea says she does not want any, though she is drawn to the beautiful colors of the stones. She eventually selects two pieces and gives Celia the rest. Celia is exasperated, thinking that Dorothea should either take half the jewelry or if she is too unworldly to wear such adornments, renounce it altogether.
Chapter 2
At dinner, Dorothea worries that Mr. Casaubon may think the trivial, diffuse nature of her uncle’s conversation beneath him. She finds Casaubon impressive and dignified, and his appearance reminds her of the philosopher John Locke. When he speaks of his work, she thinks him the most interesting man she has ever met, and believes it would be a great honor to assist him in his quest for knowledge “though only as a lamp-holder.”
Sir James Chettam has decided that he wants to marry Dorothea, though she is unaware of his interest and thinks only that he would be a good match for Celia. It does not occur to either of them that Dorothea would have any interest in Casaubon, who is almost fifty and whom Celia regards as ugly. Nonetheless, after dinner, Dorothea engages in earnest conversation with the serious clergyman, while Sir James talks easily and agreeably to Celia.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Mr. Casaubon explains the scope of his scholarly work to Dorothea. He aims to show that all the mythologies of the world are corruptions of a single tradition. Once this is elucidated, it will be possible to interpret the meaning of every mythological system with new accuracy. Dorothea is enthralled by this idea and also finds Casaubon sympathetic to her ideas about spirituality as the essence of religion. She quickly comes to trust him and regards him as a great man.
Before he leaves Tipton Grange,...
(This entire section contains 1180 words.)
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Mr. Casaubon tells Dorothea that he is lonely and in need of a companion to assist him in his work. This plants in her mind the idea that he might want to marry her, which she thinks would be a great privilege. Sir James Chettam continues to pay attention to her and agrees to make improvements to the cottages on his estate in line with the plans she has drawn up. Dorothea is enthusiastic about these improvements, but Sir James mistakes her eagerness for romantic interest in him.
Chapter 4
After Dorothea and Celia have inspected the building sites for the cottages, Celia pulls Dorothea aside and tells her that Sir James loves her and intends to propose marriage. Dorothea is so upset at the prospect of Sir James’s interest in her that she bursts into tears but soon recovers her spirits when she returns to Tipton Grange to find that Mr. Casaubon has left some pamphlets about church history for her to read. She is reading them in the library when Mr. Brooke enters and tells her that Casaubon has asked his permission to propose to her.
Dorothea replies ardently, assuring her uncle that if Casaubon makes her an offer, she will accept him and adding that she admires him more than any man she has ever seen. Mr. Brooke is surprised and says that he thought she would have preferred Sir James Chettam. He tells Dorothea that she can take her time in making her choice and gives her a letter entrusted to him by Casaubon.
Chapter 5
Dorothea reads Casaubon’s letter, in which he asks her to be his wife and assist him in his work. The tone is cold and ceremonious, but Dorothea is not inclined to be critical and immediately writes a letter accepting Casaubon’s proposal. She gives it to Mr. Brooke, who says he thinks she is being hasty but adds that people should be allowed to marry whomever they wish as long as there is no strong moral or social objection.
The next day, Mr. Casaubon replies to Dorothea’s letter, saying that he will come to dinner at Tipton Grange that evening. Dorothea decides to tell Celia that she is going to marry, which shocks Celia because she has formed an unfavorable impression of the middle-aged clergyman. Casaubon and Dorothea, however, are both delighted by the prospect of their marriage and imminent collaboration on his work. As Casaubon has a large house that is ready to receive his wife, they decide that the wedding should take place within the next six weeks.
Chapter 6
Mrs. Cadwallader, the wife of the local rector, is a woman of aristocratic descent and eccentric conduct. She comes to call on Mr. Brooke and, after she mentions Sir James Chettam as Dorothea’s future husband, she learns from Celia that Dorothea is engaged to marry Casaubon. Mrs. Cadwallader goes straight to Freshitt Hall to tell Sir James of this development and finds him about to ride to Tipton Grange. He is appalled and hurt that Dorothea has chosen to marry such an old, dull man, devoid of any obvious attraction. Mrs. Cadwallader, while she shares his feelings, suggests that Celia would make a better wife for him and observes that she is already well-disposed towards him. Sir James resolves to hide his feelings for Dorothea and pay more attention to Celia in the future.