Book Four: Three Love Problems Summary and Analysis
Chapter 34
Peter Featherstone is buried in May. His funeral is a lavish one, arranged according to his precise written directions. There are three mourning coaches, pall-bearers on horseback, and numerous “trappings of woe which were of a good well-priced quality.” Mr. Cadwallader officiates, while Mrs. Cadwallader watches from the window of Lowick Manor, along with Dorothea, Celia, Sir James, and the Dowager Lady Chettam. Celia dislikes funerals and does not want to watch the proceedings but comments that Dorothea probably likes it, as she is “fond of melancholy things and ugly people.”
Mr. Brooke joins the group and tells them that he has just looked into the library and seen Casaubon working, which Mr. Brooke thinks must be bad for his health. When Casaubon is in the room, Celia comments on the presence of Will, saying that she had no idea he had returned to Middlemarch. Mr. Brooke says that he is staying at Tipton Grange, which irritates Casaubon and alarms Dorothea. Casaubon hides his annoyance and thanks Mr. Brooke with cold politeness for extending this hospitality to his cousin.
Chapter 35
Featherstone’s relations squabble over their expectations of an inheritance, venting their envy of Fred Vincy, who is expected to inherit the land, and Mary Garth, of whom they are more vaguely jealous. However, their conjectures are disturbed by the presence of a frog-faced stranger at the funeral. The man is identified as Joshua Rigg, and Fred hears one of Featherstone’s relatives describe him as the old man’s “love-child,” an expression he finds amusing.
When Mr. Standish, Featherstone’s lawyer, comes to read the will, there are numerous small bequests and ten thousand pounds for Fred. However, the land and the bulk of the estate go to Joshua Rigg, who is also the sole executor and is to take the name of Featherstone. Standish then reads the second will, which supersedes the first. This document revokes the bequest to Fred and leaves the land, livestock, and furniture to Rigg, with the residue to be used for the endowment of almshouses for old men.
Mr. Vincy indignantly says that Featherstone must have been out of his mind when he made the second will but Mr. Standish thinks it perfectly valid. Mary tells Fred that she thinks he is better without the money, but he is unhappy to think that he now has no option but to become a clergyman. Mary will have to find a new situation as soon as possible.
Chapter 36
Mr. Vincy angrily tells Fred that he must pass his examination at college, as he now has no prospect of becoming a landowner, then withdraws his consent to Rosamond marrying Lydgate. Rosamond, however, does not take this seriously. She calmly says that her father gave his consent to the marriage seven weeks ago; as such, it will proceed as planned. Lydgate decides that they must be married soon, within a year or six months. When he speaks to Rosamond, he impetuously tells her that they need not wait even this long and can marry in six weeks, waiting until after the wedding to buy new clothes. Rosamond would prefer to have everything prepared, but agrees to make haste and feels that no one has ever loved anyone as much as she loves Lydgate.
When Rosamond informs her father that the wedding is to be brought forward, he initially tells her to give up the engagement because Lydgate is a poor man. They argue, and Vincy relents, stipulating that Lydgate must insure his life, which Lydgate does. Rosamond is looking forward to meeting Lydgate’s titled relations and asks...
(This entire section contains 1006 words.)
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which of them he likes best. Lydgate says that his uncle Godwin is “a good-natured old fellow,” but his cousins are bores. Rosamond is impressed by the fact that he speaks so contemptuously of his aristocratic connections but is worried that they will look down on her family.
Chapter 37
There is gossip in Middlemarch that Mr. Brooke has secretly acquired the local progressive newspaper, The Pioneer, and has appointed a brilliant young man—Will Ladislaw—as editor. Brooke tells Casaubon that he regards Ladislaw as “a kind of Shelley,” though without any of the objectionable aspects of Shelley’s character and beliefs, such as atheism. Casaubon has never liked Will, but now that he is no longer paying for Will’s education, he finds that his antipathy has increased. Will has never liked Casaubon either, and he now feels that his cousin has behaved badly in marrying Dorothea when he should have known that he could not make her happy.
Will goes to Lowick while Casaubon is out and speaks to Dorothea, who is glad to see him. She says that she wanted to talk to him again and that it seems strange how many things she said to him when they met in Rome. They talk of Casaubon’s work, and Will says that he should get a secretary rather than rely on Dorothea. However, he knows that Casaubon will not do this because he is too unsure of his scholarship to allow anyone else to inspect it closely. Dorothea is quiet when he says this, not indignant as she had been the last time he disparaged her husband’s work.
Will says that Mr. Brooke has asked him to stay in Middlemarch and edit The Pioneer; he adds that he intends to do so unless Dorothea objects. When Will has left and Casaubon returns, Dorothea tells him of this. Casaubon writes to Will, telling him not to return to Lowick and saying that he does not want him to stay in Middlemarch. Will writes back and says that while he is grateful for Casaubon’s support in the past, he is not obliged to leave Middlemarch because of his wishes. This increases Casaubon’s dislike of Ladislaw and he considers appealing to Mr. Brooke to revoke his proposal. However, he is not at all confident that Brooke or anyone else would be on his side.