Fred and Mary is the most interesting relationship. Perhaps, not being 19th century girls, they will never quite understand Dorothea, but they may come to understand that the ambition to change the world for the better is not one limited to young men, young women possess it in equal measure - and both have to learn, as Dorothea did, that no one can change the world, but they can make life a little better for those around them, and enough people doing that will eventually change the world.
Honestly, Dorothea bugged me too when I read it. I identified more with her jewelry-loving sister. 😂 That was many years ago -- maybe I need to go back and try it again?
I'm very envious that you could get two teenage boys to read any classic novel! Well done!
The fact that they could not understand Dorothea at all says a lot about the difference between teenage boys and teenage girls. When I was a teenage girl, I had exactly the kinds of enormous ambition to do great things that animates Dorothea (although, as a 19th century woman, her ambition would have to be fulfilled through a man's work).
I'm sure they'll revisit and Dorothea's tragedy and triumph will click for them. As a teenager my family watched the excellent miniseries and I felt toward her like your sons do. When I read the book for the first time a few years ago I felt a lot more empathy for her and her character really resonated with me
Thank you for this post. What excellent goals you have for your sons, Shemaiah—and look at the results now. Independent, analytical, thoughtful responses—they’re engaged and thinking. So love this as an ex-Brit lit teacher—loved and taught Silas Marner—such a tough sell.
Fred and Mary is the most interesting relationship. Perhaps, not being 19th century girls, they will never quite understand Dorothea, but they may come to understand that the ambition to change the world for the better is not one limited to young men, young women possess it in equal measure - and both have to learn, as Dorothea did, that no one can change the world, but they can make life a little better for those around them, and enough people doing that will eventually change the world.
Great post - now I need to go read Middlemarch with my boys (15 and 20)!
Do it! And report back
I’ve never read it either - will do!
🤣I love learning the meaning of the word “chud”
I'm learning new things every day!
Honestly, Dorothea bugged me too when I read it. I identified more with her jewelry-loving sister. 😂 That was many years ago -- maybe I need to go back and try it again?
My sons will appreciate this comment :)
#TeamSons :-D
I do love that line you quoted, though. It's one of literature's great last lines.
And I love that you're doing this project with your sons!
The oldest goes off to college next year so I wonder if our bookclub will survive!
I'm very envious that you could get two teenage boys to read any classic novel! Well done!
The fact that they could not understand Dorothea at all says a lot about the difference between teenage boys and teenage girls. When I was a teenage girl, I had exactly the kinds of enormous ambition to do great things that animates Dorothea (although, as a 19th century woman, her ambition would have to be fulfilled through a man's work).
I'm sure they'll revisit and Dorothea's tragedy and triumph will click for them. As a teenager my family watched the excellent miniseries and I felt toward her like your sons do. When I read the book for the first time a few years ago I felt a lot more empathy for her and her character really resonated with me
Thank you for this post. What excellent goals you have for your sons, Shemaiah—and look at the results now. Independent, analytical, thoughtful responses—they’re engaged and thinking. So love this as an ex-Brit lit teacher—loved and taught Silas Marner—such a tough sell.