The Mill on the Floss: SummaryThe Mill on the Floss is a book written by George Eliot, whose real nameis Mary Anne (later Marian) Evans.
There is a great deal of autobiography inthis book. The facts of Mary Anne’s life do not match Maggie Tulliver, butthere is an obvious reflection of her own life. Book One: Chapter1-13The novel opens up with a description of the countryside around the townof St. Ogg’s and the river Floss. In the second chapter Maggie, Mr. Tulliver,Mrs.
Tulliver, and Mr. Riley are introduced. Mr. Tulliver states his intentionto send Tom to a different school. In the third chapter Mr.
Riley gives hisadvice about a school for Tom. In the forth chapter Mr. Tulliver goes after Tom,while Mr. Tulliver is gone you learn about that Maggie’s mother is concernedmainly with what her family thinks. In the fifth chapter Tom is home and youlearn that he cares for his sister Maggie deeply, and that Tom’s opinion is veryimportant to Maggie.
In the sixth chapter the Tulliver’s are getting ready forthe aunts and uncles to arrive. In the seventh chapter the family arrives andyou are introduced to Mrs. Glegg, Mrs. Pullet, Mrs.
Deane and Maggie’s cousinLucy. Mr. Tulliver states his intention to send Tom to school and it is metwith opposition. In the eighth chapter he goes to his brother-in-laws house todemand the money that he owes him so that he can pay his wife’s sister Mrs.
Glegg. In chapter nine you read about the Tullivers going to visit the Pullets. In the tenth chapter Maggie pushed Lucy in the mud because she is receivingmost of Tom’s attention. When Tom goes to tell on her she runs off and can’t befound.
In the eleventh chapter Maggie decides to run away to the gypsies, butafter learning how poor they were and how little of food they had she decides togo back home. In the twelfth chapter you read that St. Ogg is named for it’spatron saint who showed pity on a woman and child. St. Ogg is the town wherethe Gleggs live.
In the thirteenth chapter Mr. Tulliver borrows money from aclient of his old enemy Wakem. Book One: Chapter 1-7In the first chapter of this book Tom is at school, and he is Stelling’sonly student. Maggie goes to visit him in October. In the second chapter Tomgets to come home for Christmas. Mr.
Tulliver has a lawsuit against Mr. Pivart ,his next door neighbor. It has also become known that Wakem’s son will be sentto school with Tom. In the third chapter Tom is back at school and meetsPhillip Wakem. Philip Wakem is a small, deformed youth with a hump on his back,but is an exceptional artist and story teller. In the forth chapter read thatTom feels that Philip is an enemy.
Tom and Philip get in an argument that leftPhillip crying bitterly. Tom bribes Mr. Poulter to let him borrow his sword andkeep it under his bed. In the fifth chapter Tom tries to make up the quarrelwith Philip, but Wakem does not respond.
Tom tries to impress Maggie and dropsthe sword on his foot. Also Maggie becomes very fond of Philip Wakem. In thesixth chapter Philip sends all his extra time with Tom and Maggie. Maggiekisses Philip in the library and promises to do so again next time she sees him. In the seventh chapter Tom goes on at King’s Lorton until his fifth half year,and Maggie is sent to boarding school with Lucy.
Also Mr. Tulliver loses hislawsuit against Mr. Pivart. Book Three: Chapters 1-9In the first chapter Mr.
Tullver falls off of his horse and is foundinsensible by the roadside. Tom ventures that Wakem is responsible and vows tomake him “feel for it”. In the second chapter Mr. Tulliver is found cryingover the things that she has to sell to pay the mortgage. Maggie reproaches hermother for caring more about her possessions than Mr.
Tulliver. In the thirdchapter the aunts and uncles gather for consultation. They help by buying someof Mrs. Tullivers good things.
In the forth chapter Mr. Tulliver wakes up for awhile and becomes excited, but soon falls back to bed. In the sixth chapter Tomgoes to see his uncle Deane about a job. Mr.
Deane gives him a job for nobetter reason than he is his nephew. . In the sixth chapter the sale of Mrs. Tullivers household goods is finally over.
Bob Jakin, one of Tom’s childhoodfriends, comes back to repay a favor. He offers them money, but they refuse itsaying that it is not nearly enough to help. In the seventh chapter Mr. Tulliver slowly recovers but has lost track of time. Also Wakem decided that itwould be a good investment to buy the mill. In the eighth chapter the land andthe mill are sold to Wakem, and Mr.
Tulliver agrees to be employed by Wakem as amanager. In the ninth chapter Mr. Tulliver struggles with himself to keep hispromise to work for Wakem. Mr. Tulliver also has Tom write in the family biblethat he will never forgive Wakem, and that Tom must make him feel for it whenthe chance comes.
Book Four: Chapters 1-3In the first chapter you read that the religion of the Dodsons andTullivers is “of a simple, semi-pagan kind. ” Family life on the Floss os muchlike before. In the second chapter you read that Maggie is old for her years butlacks Tom’s self command. Mrs. Tullivers uncontentment in this empty life isless painful to Maggie than her father’s sullenness.
In the third chapter BobJakin comes to the house and brings books for Maggie. One is by Thomas a Kempis,this book leads her to a new inner life . Book Five: Chapters 1-7In the first chapter Maggie who is now seventeen years old and darklybeautiful tells Philip that she is glad that he has come, and they start meetingsecretly. In the second chapter Tom borrows money from aunt and uncle Glegg torepay debts. In the third chapter Maggie feels that concealment is wrong andthat they should not meet secretly anymore.
In the forth chapter Maggie returnsa book to Philip saying she did not like it because once again the fair-hairedwoman stole all the love from the dark woman. Philip also declares his love forher, but she says that she can do nothing about it because she does not want tohurt her father. In the fifth chapter Tom finds out about her meeting Philipand goes with her to meet him. He makes Maggie swear never to meet him again.
In the sixth chapter the Tullivers finally have the money to pay off their debts. In the seventh chapter Tulliver meets with his creditors. He meets Wakem onhis way back home and knocks him off of his horse. Mr.
Tulliver is whippingWakem when Maggie comes to restrain him. Later that night Mr. Tulliver getsvery ill and dies, before his death he would not forgive Wakem. Book Six: Chapters 1-14In the first chapter you read about Lucy Deane being courted by StephenGuest. Also Maggie is coming to stay with her.
Mrs. Tulliver has been theirhousekeeper since Mrs. Deane died. Stephen feels that Lucy is the sort of womanto marry.
In the second chapter Maggie comes and meets Stephen who finds herbeautiful and intelligent. He finds Maggie interesting but believes he couldnever love her. In the third chapter Maggie tells Lucy she feels that Stephenis too self-confident. . She also tells her the story of herself and Philip.
Inthe forth chapter Maggie goes to visit Tom, who is lodging with Bob Jakin, andasked to be absolved of her promise not to see Philip. Tom agrees but says shemust give him up if she begins to think of Philip as a lover. In the fifthchapter Tom tries to get Mr. Guest to buy Dorlcote mill, and says if it can bebought he would like to buy it by working off the price.
In the sixth chapterMaggie is launched by Lucy into St. Ogg’s society. Also Maggie and Stephen arebecoming very aware of each other. In the seventh chapter Maggie sees Philip.
Philip recognizes that Maggie and Stephen are in love but he will not allowhimself to believe it. In chapter eight Philip tells his father that he wantsto marry Maggie. At first Wakem disapproves but then says that he can if shewill have him. In the ninth chapter Maggie helps Lucy in a booth selling large,plain articles. Mr. Wakem comes and speaks to Maggie amiably.
Maggie goes toaunt Moss’s house and has told Lucy that she will speak to Tom about marryingPhilip, but she is still in love with Stephen. In chapter ten Stephen kissesMaggie and she sends him away. She tells Philip she is leaving and will speakto her brother. In the eleventh chapter Maggie has stayed with her aunt fourdays before Stephen comes to see her. Stephen asks her hand in marriage and sherefuses, they exchange one kiss before he goes. In the twelfth chapter Tomrefuses to give his blessing for Maggie and Philip to get married.
In thethirteenth chapter Maggie tries to avoid Stephen but finds it impossible. Sheends up going rowing with him. Stephen asks Maggie once again to marry him andshe refuses. They rowed out way to far and ended up getting on a boat comingtoward them.
In the fourteenth chapter Maggie departs from Stephen telling himthey can never get married. Book Seven: Chapters 1-5In the first chapter Maggie returns home to Tom, but Tom hearing of heron the river with Stephen, and not being married, turned her out. Bob Jakintook her and her mother in. In the second chapter it becomes known that Maggiehas returned unwed and she is cast out of society. Dr. Kenn tries finds her aposition at the church.
In the third chapter aunt Pullet offers to take Maggiein but she declines. There is also word that Lucy is no longer ill. Maggiereceives a letter from Philip and it makes her sure that no happiness in lovecould make her forget the pain of others. In the forth chapter Dr. Kenn, unableto find her a position, employs her himself as a governess to his children. Lucy comes and visits Maggie and tells her that she is not angry with her andthat Maggie is better than she.
In the fifth chapter Dr. Kenn has to let Maggiebecause of rumors that he intends to marry her. Maggie receives another letterfrom Stephen asking her to come to him, but she resolves not to go. She iswondering how long it is until death. At that moment she feels water about herknees, knowing at once it is the flood.
Maggie is swept away in one of theboats while trying to help Bob ready the boats. She paddles to reach the mill. Tom climbs out into the boat. They set off to find Lucy.
Huge fragments arefloating and people in a boat shout a warning , but Tom and Maggie are bornedown by the drifting masses. They disappear under the current “in an embracenever to be parted.” Words/ Pages : 1,982 / 24
