Middlemarch MCQs and Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 4, 2025

Summary:

Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life is a novel written by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) and published in 1871-1872 as a serial before being compiled into a book in 1874. The novel is set in the fictional town of Middlemarch in the early 1830s, depicting a wide range of characters from different social classes and exploring themes of marriage, ambition, politics, reform, and the role of women in society. The novel follows multiple interwoven storylines, but the two central narratives focus on Dorothea Brooke and Tertius Lydgate. Dorothea, an intelligent and idealistic young woman, desires a meaningful life and marries the much older Edward Casaubon, a dry and uninspiring scholar, believing that she can assist him in his great intellectual work. However, her marriage soon proves disappointing. Meanwhile, Lydgate, an ambitious doctor, arrives in Middlemarch with the goal of advancing medical science but finds himself entangled in local politics and financial troubles due to his marriage to the beautiful yet materialistic Rosamond Vincy. The novel portrays the complexities of human relationships, social expectations, and personal aspirations. It critically examines women’s roles in society, the impact of political reform, and the struggles of individuals against societal norms. Eliot’s work is realistic and psychological, offering deep character studies and moral dilemmas, making Middlemarch one of the greatest novels in English literature.