The Mill on the Floss · Chapter
IV: Another Love-Scene explained
Nearly a year after their previous meeting, Maggie and Philip meet again in the Red Deeps.
What happens
Nearly a year after their previous meeting, Maggie and Philip meet again in the Red Deeps. They discuss a book, Corinne, and Maggie expresses her sympathy for dark-haired heroines. Philip confesses his love and asks for reassurance; Maggie admits she loves him but refuses to do anything that would wound her father. They kiss and part, with Maggie feeling a bittersweet happiness tempered by the knowledge of sacrifice.
Themes in this chapter
Passion vs. Duty
Maggie struggles between her love for Philip and her duty to her father, ultimately vowing not to wound him.
Gender Roles and Limitations
Maggie's identification with dark, unhappy heroines and her sense of being overshadowed by Lucy reflect the limited roles available to women.
Family Obligation and Conflict
Maggie's promise to never hurt her father highlights the tension between personal desire and familial loyalty.
Characters to notice
- Maggie Tulliver
Maggie meets Philip in the Red Deeps, discusses literature, and confesses her love for him while vowing not to wound her father.
- Philip Wakem
Philip expresses his love for Maggie, asks for her commitment, and is reassured by her affection, though he senses her hesitation.
- Lucy Deane
Maggie mentions Lucy as her dear cousin, contrasting her own dark looks with Lucy's fair beauty and accomplishments.
- Tom Tulliver
Maggie recalls the days when Tom was good to her, linking her happiness with Philip to those childhood memories.
- Mr. Tulliver
Maggie declares she will never do anything to wound her father, setting a boundary on her relationship with Philip.
Key passages
“I want to avenge Rebecca and Flora MacIvor and Minna, and all the rest of the dark unhappy ones.”
Maggie wishes to see dark-haired heroines triumph in stories, as she feels they are often wronged.
Maggie expresses her sympathy for marginalized characters, reflecting her own sense of otherness.
“I will never do anything to wound my father. You must never ask that from me.”
Maggie sets a firm boundary, saying her love for Philip cannot come at the cost of hurting her father.
This vow underscores the central conflict between passion and duty in the chapter.
“She had a moment of real happiness then—a moment of belief that, if there were sacrifice in this love, it was all the richer and more satisfying.”
Maggie briefly feels that the sacrifice inherent in her love for Philip makes it more meaningful.
The narrator highlights Maggie's complex emotional state, blending joy with resignation.