# LXXI explained — Middlemarch

> Chapter companion for Middlemarch by George Eliot.

## What happens

The chapter details the spread of scandal in Middlemarch following Raffles's death, as suspicion falls on Bulstrode and Lydgate. Gossip intensifies after Lydgate's sudden financial relief is linked to Bulstrode, and a town meeting publicly condemns Bulstrode. Lydgate, feeling trapped, supports Bulstrode out of pity, further incriminating himself in public opinion. Dorothea, upon hearing the news, refuses to believe Lydgate guilty and resolves to uncover the truth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Gossip

The chapter vividly illustrates how gossip spreads and shapes public opinion, with Mrs. Dollop and others fueling suspicion and conjecture.

### Selfishness and Moral Compromise

Bulstrode's bribe and Lydgate's compromised position highlight moral failures driven by self-interest and desperation.

### Money and Economic Pressure

Lydgate's sudden financial relief from Bulstrode becomes the focal point of scandal, showing how money can corrupt and incriminate.

## Character check-ins

### Tertius Lydgate

Lydgate is under suspicion for accepting a bribe from Bulstrode; he supports Bulstrode physically and emotionally during the meeting, deepening his own implication.

### Nicholas Bulstrode

Bulstrode is publicly shamed at the meeting, his secret exposed; he leans on Lydgate for support, reinforcing the link between them.

### Camden Farebrother

Farebrother discusses the scandal with Mr. Hawley and later with Mr. Brooke, showing concern for Lydgate's reputation and the town's judgment.

### Dorothea Brooke

Dorothea returns from Yorkshire, hears the scandal, and declares her belief in Lydgate's innocence, vowing to find the truth.

### Mr. Brooke

Mr. Brooke shares the news with Dorothea, expressing unease about his own involvement with Bulstrode and hope that Lydgate is not guilty.

### Frank Hawley

Hawley organizes a select party to discuss the case, leads the public condemnation of Bulstrode, and voices suspicion of Lydgate.

## Key lines

> But the moral grounds of suspicion remained: the strong motives Bulstrode clearly had for wishing to be rid of Raffles, and the fact that at this critical moment he had given Lydgate the help which he must for some time have known the need for

Suspicion persisted because Bulstrode had a clear motive to get rid of Raffles and had just given Lydgate money he desperately needed.

_Highlights the circumstantial evidence linking Bulstrode's loan to Lydgate with Raffles's death._

> He now felt the conviction that this man who was leaning tremblingly on his arm, had given him the thousand pounds as a bribe, and that somehow the treatment of Raffles had been tampered with from an evil motive.

Lydgate now believed that Bulstrode's loan was a bribe and that Raffles's treatment had been deliberately compromised.

_Shows Lydgate's dawning realization of his own compromised position._

> You don't believe that Mr. Lydgate is guilty of anything base? I will not believe it. Let us find out the truth and clear him!

Dorothea refuses to accept Lydgate's guilt and insists on investigating to prove his innocence.

_Dorothea's defiance of public opinion and her determination to seek justice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/middlemarch_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters