I am still ambivalent toward Tertius Lydgate (or, since I can't read numbers in Latin without translating them, Third Lydgate), whose general belief in his own superiority seems to color every action he takes. He cannot abide by the notion that he has to play by the rules of small-town England, and while that is something I can very much sympathize with (I know I hate having to deal with people who absolutely will not do things any other way but their own), the idea that he is willing to let his reputation and his standing in this society be diminished out of a ridiculously misplaced sense of pride...It seems silly. He has to know that the only way he's going to advance in a small town is to get on the good side of as many people as possible...but, no. He seems to believe that the inherent superiority of his medical skills (which...they are, indeed, superior) and his learning in general should be enough to get him everything he wants. Silly man. He's going to come to a very unhappy end, I think.
Now, a character of whom I had initially formed a bad opinion: Dorothea. I find I like her much more now that I understand her better. And while I still think she made a horrid decision in choosing to marry Casaubon, I find I am more forgiving of her youth and stubbornness. She was very young, and very much of the opinion that she could be of true use and do true good in helping Casaubon write his magnum opus. Dorothea's choice to spurn the "finer things in life" comes not from some sense of inherent superiority in denial of these things, but rather from the opinion that the time, effort, and money required to indulge in these niceties are better spent doing good and bettering one's mind. Her lack of aestheticism seems to stem from a belief in her own ignorance with regard to beauty and the appreciation thereof, whereas before it seemed a product of her own indifference to the beauties of the world. Dorothea is a truly nonjudgmental individual, except it seems of herself. She wanted so much to be of use to someone, and Casaubon's great work seemed to her the way she could contribute to the world (and, in the process, expand her horizons and lessen her own ignorance). And now that she is married, all of those hopes and dreams seem to be collapsing by the wayside. Casaubon does not want her help; in fact, he doesn't seem to be doing anything at all, much less writing the paradigm shifting opus we've been led to believe is his life's work. His own fear of criticism has effectively unmanned him, and while that is pitiable in and of itself, watching Dorothea come to this realization of him and realizing what a mistake she has made in marrying him (and more, still struggling to find some measure of faith in him and in his work, and to somehow shift the burden of fault unto her own shoulders)...is almost heartbreaking. She needs someone who appreciates her mind (which is not nearly as unenlightened as she thinks it is) and her giving nature; someone who will allow her to be of use to him and to everyone else. Man do I hope she finds that. I think she will...she seems to be a favorite of the author's. In fact, I think it will be young Ladislaw. No one tell me if I am right.
The final character about whom I wish to write: Fred Vincy. Oh Fred...when will you realize that you can't spend your life waiting for someone else to take care of you? Fred lives his whole life with the expectation that everything will be OK; that someone will swoop in and take care of everything, and undo every mistake he has ever made. I think Mary Garth (who is actually growing into one of my favorite characters, along with the rest of her family, even as the Vincy family sinks ever down...except for Fred) has the right of him: he means well, but he is very irresponsible and flighty. He always seem to be waiting for rescue. In fact, he seems to believe that his presumed inheritance from Uncle Featherstone will change everything; that Mary will suddenly love him and marry him, and that all of his problems will go away. Poor boy. He needs to do something...to accept responsibility for himself. To be a person upon whom others can rely instead of one who relies on others. This business with the debt...it's all well and good to be sorry, but his irresponsibility has cost the Garths all the extra money they had, and their son's apprenticeship. His fecklessness has cost the Garths dearly. And poor Caleb Garth; he takes the responsibility unto himself when all he did was trust an irresponsible young man. And Fred. I feel sorry for him because his sorrow is so genuine and his attempt to fix the problem definitely backfired on him, but he really needs to learn to be a better person. No, not a better person...a more reliable person. A person whose only pursuit in life isn't pleasure, but understands the responsibilities inherent in being a grown up. I hope he does learn it, because Mary Garth is such a solid, wonderful, even-headed woman and I think she would be good for Fred.
So these are my opinions thusfar. I shall continue to update everyone as these opinions grow and change!
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