Summary:
Adam Bede is a novel written by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) and published in 1859. The story is set in the rural English village of Hayslope in 1799 and follows the lives of four central characters: Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Arthur Donnithorne, and Dinah Morris. Adam Bede, a hardworking and moral carpenter, is in love with Hetty Sorrel, a beautiful but vain and immature dairymaid. However, Hetty is seduced by Arthur Donnithorne, the wealthy grandson of the local squire. When she becomes pregnant, Arthur abandons her, and Hetty, in despair, tries to abandon her newborn child, leading to the baby’s death. She is arrested, sentenced to death for infanticide, but at the last moment, her sentence is commuted to transportation (exile to a penal colony) due to Arthur’s intervention. Meanwhile, Adam finds love and peace with Dinah Morris, a kind and devout Methodist preacher, and the novel ends with their marriage. The novel explores moral integrity, social class, religion, justice, and redemption, showcasing George Eliot’s deep understanding of human emotions and rural life.
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Question | Answer |
Novel Name | Adam Bede |
Author | George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) |
Year Published | 1859 |
Main Themes | Morality, justice, religion, social class, redemption |
Literary Style | Realism |
Setting | Hayslope, rural England |
Main Characters | Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Arthur Donnithorne, Dinah Morris, Seth Bede |
Key Message | The consequences of moral weakness and the power of integrity and redemption |