Middlemarch · Chapter
LXII explained
Will Ladislaw, determined to see Dorothea once more before leaving Middlemarch, writes to her requesting an interview.
What happens
Will Ladislaw, determined to see Dorothea once more before leaving Middlemarch, writes to her requesting an interview. Dorothea, unaware of his letter, visits Freshitt and the Grange, where she unexpectedly encounters Will. Their meeting is charged with unspoken emotion, as both feel the weight of impending separation and the complications of their circumstances.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage and Illusion
Dorothea's widowhood and the societal expectations surrounding her relationship with Will highlight the illusions and constraints of marriage.
Ambition and Frustration
Will's frustration with his social position and his desire to prove his worth to Dorothea reflect the theme of thwarted ambition.
Community and Gossip
Sir James's surveillance of Will's movements and the potential for 'bitter sneers' illustrate the power of gossip in Middlemarch society.
Characters to notice
- Will Ladislaw
Determined to see Dorothea again before leaving Middlemarch; writes a letter requesting an interview and later meets her at the Grange.
- Dorothea Brooke
Visits Freshitt and the Grange; is deeply affected by the encounter with Will, feeling both anger and a passionate defense of him.
- Sir James Chettam
Anxiously watches Ladislaw's movements and is relieved to hear news that may nullify danger regarding Dorothea.
- Tertius Lydgate
Will spends an evening with the Lydgates before his departure.
- Rosamond Vincy
Will's visit to the Lydgates includes her; Dorothea recalls finding Will with Mrs. Lydgate.
Key passages
“Will’s certainty as the carriage grew smaller in the distance, had much more bitterness in it. Very slight matters were enough to gall him in his sensitive mood, and the sight of Dorothea driving past him while he felt himself plodding along as a poor devil seeking a position in a world which in his present temper offered him little that he coveted, made his conduct seem a mere matter of necessity, and took away the sustainment of resolve.”
Will's bitterness intensified as he watched Dorothea's carriage recede, feeling like a poor wretch struggling for a place in a world that offered him little, which made his actions seem forced and drained his determination.
Highlights Will's emotional turmoil and sense of inadequacy.
“The world, it seemed, was turning ugly and hateful, and there was no place for her trustfulness. “It is not true—it is not true!” was the voice within her that she listened to; but all the while a remembrance to which there had always clung a vague uneasiness would thrust itself on her attention—the remembrance of that day when she had found Will Ladislaw with Mrs. Lydgate, and had heard his voice accompanied by the piano.”
Dorothea felt the world becoming ugly and hateful, and her trust was shaken; she internally denied the accusations against Will, yet a troubling memory of finding him with Mrs. Lydgate persisted.
Reveals Dorothea's inner conflict between defending Will and her lingering doubts.
“Dorothea’s heart seemed to turn over as if it had had a blow, but she was not perceptibly checked: in truth, the sense that Will was there was for the moment all-satisfying to her, like the sight of something precious that one has lost.”
Dorothea's heart leaped as if struck, but she outwardly remained composed; the mere presence of Will was momentarily deeply satisfying, like finding a lost treasure.
Captures the intense emotional impact of their unexpected meeting.