Examine Dorothea’s ideas of Marriage in Middlemarch. [British Novel]

     In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Dorothea Brooke's ideas of marriage are complex and evolve throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Dorothea views marriage as a means of fulfilling her desire for a meaningful life and a husband who can fill the role of the father she lost . However, she learns that her initial idea of marriage to an older man, Mr. Casaubon, is a bad idea as she finds herself attracted to Will Ladislaw .

    Dorothea's ideas of marriage change after she learns of a clause in Mr. Casaubon's will that forbids her from marrying Ladislaw. She feels betrayed and returns to her independent, pre-marriage self . Her marriage to Ladislaw is described as thriving because they both work on their relationship, and found acceptance of each other's self prior to marriage .

    The theme of marriage is central to "Middlemarch" and the novel has been argued to be a treatise in favor of divorce. Middlemarch society has very defined ideas of what people of each gender should do within the society, and individuals, especially women, who deviate from this norm, face criticism . Dorothea's ideas of marriage are influenced by these societal expectations and the pressure to conform to them. However, despite this pressure, Dorothea remains a strong-willed, passionate, and rebellious character, committed to social reform and her own independence