Discussion Topic
The symbolism of the river and water in The Mill on the Floss
Summary:
The river and water in The Mill on the Floss symbolize the uncontrollable forces of nature and fate. They represent the constant flow of life and the inevitability of change, reflecting the turbulent lives of the characters. Water also signifies cleansing and renewal, but simultaneously, it can be destructive, mirroring the dual nature of the characters' experiences.
What does the river symbolize in The Mill on the Floss?
The river, and water in general, is a frequent symbol in George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss. In the novel, water takes on a symbolic Yin and Yang relationship. That's not so weird. Star Wars does the same thing with The Force. It just calls it "light" and "dark." Let me give you an example of how water can be both good and bad. First, people need water to live. Hydration is super important. People die without it. Of course people can die from drinking too much water too. That's called water toxicity poisoning. Water can be used for cleaning. Water can be used for fun, like swimming or water skiing, but that same body of water can cause drowning as well.
Eliot uses water in the same manner in The Mill on the Floss. Take for example this brief description of flooding:
"Nature repairs...
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her ravages – repairs them with her sunshine and with human labour. The desolation wrought by that flood, had left little visible trace on the face of the earth, five years after."
Flooding is quite destructive. It can ruin buildings, crops, and even kill people, but it is also cleansing to the land. The flood isn't a death sentence forever, and nature uses the flood to repair its own damages.
The river is symbolic for Maggie as well. For her, it is a place of peace. She frequently spends time by the river, and it is even a place for a peaceful, romantic boat ride with Stephen. That motif isn't unique to this novel. That peaceful/romantic river idea is probably why Venice is so revered. The river as peace idea is probably why so many people love fishing. But the river isn't all wonderful and good for Maggie. It does kill her.
What is the symbolism of water in The Mill on the Floss?
Water is a frequent symbol in "The Mill on the Floss." What is great about the water symbolism is that it is never only bad or only good. It is portrayed as two sides to the same coin. A very Yin and Yang type relationship. For example, all people need water to live. It's important to hydrate. But too much can lead to water toxicity poisoning, which can lead to death. Water can be incredibly cleansing, such as swimming in a river to get rid of grime, but you could also drown.
In "The Mill on the Floss," water and rivers are symbolized in this good and bad motif. For example the river is a place of peace and romance for Maggie and Stephen. They spend a day happily rowing around and enjoying each other's company. But in the end Maggie is killed by drowning in a flood.
The path of many rivers is also not known. Its end is known, but the path it takes is not known. That's true for the characters within the story as well. Their path and story arc is not known and reveals itself "like the course of an unmapped river."