`Author:` `Availability:` > [!info] > ## Summary ## Key Takeaways In _Middlemarch_ (1871–72), [[Mary Ann Evans]] explores the contrast between **intellectual companionship and romantic attraction**, showing how relationships built on deep mutual understanding and shared ideals endure longer and provide greater fulfillment than those based on superficial passion. **Key Relationships That Illustrate This Theme** **Dorothea Brooke & Casaubon: The Failure of Intellectual Illusion** Dorothea, an idealistic young woman, longs for an intellectually fulfilling life and mistakenly believes that marriage to the elderly scholar **Rev. Edward Casaubon** will provide it. She sees him as a great thinker and envisions herself as his intellectual companion, helping with his grand but vague research project (_The Key to All Mythologies_). However, the marriage is cold and lifeless because Casaubon does not truly value Dorothea’s mind—he sees her only as an assistant, not an equal. This relationship critiques the **illusion of intellectual connection** when it is one-sided. Dorothea desires intellectual comradeship, but Casaubon’s insecurity and rigid nature prevent true companionship. **Dorothea Brooke & Will Ladislaw: The Triumph of Intellectual Companionship** In contrast, Dorothea finds genuine intellectual and emotional connection with **Will Ladislaw**, Casaubon’s young cousin. Will respects Dorothea’s intelligence and encourages her independent thinking. Their conversations are lively and stimulating, filled with shared ideals and curiosity. Unlike Casaubon, Will does not try to control or suppress Dorothea’s intellect; he values her for her mind as much as for her spirit. This relationship represents **intellectual equality as the foundation for enduring love**—one based on mutual respect, shared values, and free exchange of ideas, rather than duty or hierarchical power. **Lydgate & Rosamond Vincy: The Tragedy of a Non-Intellectual Bond** Dr. **Tertius Lydgate**, an ambitious young doctor, dreams of advancing medical science, but his marriage to **Rosamond Vincy**, a beautiful but shallow woman, becomes a disaster. Rosamond has no interest in Lydgate’s intellectual aspirations and only wants a conventional upper-class lifestyle. Their relationship deteriorates because they lack a shared intellectual or emotional foundation. This subplot highlights how a relationship without **intellectual companionship** can be stifling and destructive. Lydgate, much like Dorothea in her first marriage, realizes too late that he has married the wrong person. **Eliot’s Message on Intellectual Companionship vs. Romantic Attraction** Through these relationships, Eliot argues that **lasting fulfillment comes not from mere physical attraction or social ambition but from deep intellectual and emotional bonds**. While romance may fade, true companionship—built on shared ideals, curiosity, and mutual respect—provides lasting satisfaction. Dorothea’s ultimate happiness with Will, after her failed marriage to Casaubon, serves as a **vindication of intellectual love over mere admiration or duty**. ## Quotes - ## Notes `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]