The Mill on the Floss · Chapter
Mr. and Mrs. Glegg at Home explained
This chapter delves into the domestic life of Mr.
What happens
This chapter delves into the domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Glegg, portraying their habitual quarrels and the underlying affection that sustains their marriage. Mrs. Glegg's lingering anger over her dispute with Mr. Tulliver is evident, and she reproaches Mr. Glegg for not siding with her. Mr. Glegg, though kind-hearted, is not meek and defends himself, but ultimately they reconcile enough to discuss the Tullivers' troubles amicably. The chapter highlights Mrs. Glegg's pride in her household management and her sense of family decorum, while Mr. Glegg reflects on the peculiarities of the female mind.
Themes in this chapter
Family Obligation and Conflict
The chapter centers on the quarrel between Mr. and Mrs. Glegg, which stems from Mrs. Glegg's dispute with Mr. Tulliver, highlighting tensions within the extended family.
Gender Roles and Limitations
Mrs. Glegg expects her husband to side with her, reflecting traditional gender roles, while Mr. Glegg's reflections on the 'female mind' underscore contemporary views on women's temperament.
Pride and Fall
Mrs. Glegg's pride in her household management and her insistence on being respected are central, and her quarrel with Mr. Tulliver touches on his potential financial downfall.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Glegg
Shows her quarrelsome nature and pride in her household management; she is upset with Mr. Tulliver and chides Mr. Glegg for not supporting her.
- Mr. Glegg
Kind-hearted but not meek; he tries to avoid conflict but eventually defends himself, and reflects on his wife's temperament.
- Mr. Tulliver
Mentioned as the source of Mrs. Glegg's anger; he quarreled with her and drove her out of the house.
- Mrs. Tulliver
Referenced indirectly as Mrs. Glegg's sister, for whose sake Mrs. Glegg might let Mr. Tulliver keep the money.
Key passages
“Mr. Glegg went the length of admitting that Tulliver was a sad man for getting into hot water, and was like enough to run through his property; and Mrs. Glegg, meeting this acknowledgment halfway, declared that it was beneath her to take notice of such a man's conduct, and that, for her sister's sake, she would let him keep the five hundred a while longer”
Mr. Glegg conceded that Mr. Tulliver was prone to trouble and might lose his wealth, and Mrs. Glegg partially agreed, saying she would ignore his behavior for her sister's sake and not demand repayment of the five hundred pounds immediately.
This exchange shows the couple's tentative reconciliation and their shared concern over Mr. Tulliver's financial troubles.
“It struck him as a pitiable irregularity in other women if they did not roll up their table-napkins with the same tightness and emphasis as Mrs. Glegg did, if their pastry had a less leathery consistence, and their damson cheese a less venerable hardness than hers”
Mr. Glegg considered it a sad flaw in other women if they did not match Mrs. Glegg's exacting standards in household tasks like rolling napkins tightly and making firm pastry and cheese.
This illustrates Mr. Glegg's admiration for his wife's domestic skills despite their quarrels.