Middlemarch is a Victorian novel by George Eliot (the penname of Mary Ann Evans) that explores the lives, relationships, and social dynamics in the small English town of Middlemarch. The story follows Dorothea Brooke, an idealistic young woman who marries the much-older Reverend Edward Casaubon, hoping to support his scholarly ambitions. However, she soon discovers that Casaubon is a flawed and jealous man, and their marriage becomes increasingly strained. Meanwhile, the novel also traces the lives of other characters, including the young doctor Tertius Lydgate and his wife Rosamond, whose financial and emotional struggles echo Dorothea’s own. As these characters navigate complex relationships, moral dilemmas, and societal expectations, Middlemarch offers a profound commentary on ambition, love, and the limitations of personal ideals. Through its rich characterizations and social critique, the novel has been celebrated as one of the greatest works of English literature.
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