birdienl | Middlemarch watch-along: episode 3

Oh dear, almost two weeks have passed since I posted my previous Middlemarch episode recap. That was not what I'd planned! But there was a conference for work and then a busy weekend with lots of family visits and suddenly it's Wednesday again....

A lot has happened in Middlemarch as well since the last time. Dorothea and Casoubon have returned from their honeymoon and are welcomed home by Celia and Mr. Brooke. Celia has some exciting news, she and Sir James are engaged! Now I know a trip to Rome usually took longer in the 19th century than it would today, but still, that was one fast engagement! Seems to run in the family.

Well, that was fast!

Dorothea and Casoubon have another row about Dorothea's wish to help him with his work. Soon afterwards, Casoubon gets a heart attack and his prospects seem bad. Mr. Brooke invites Ladislaw to work for him, even though Casoubon prefers not to have his 'wayward' nephew around. Dorothea doesn't seem to mind visits from the lively young Will however.

Booooring...

Rosamund and dr. Lydgate flirt openly at a party, which gets tongues wagging in town. Lydgate is warned by Mr. Bulstrode to stay away from Rosamund and he tries to do so. Rosamund is confused by his stand-offish behaviour, but a moment of insight (or weakness?) brings Lydgate to declare his love for Rosamund. The happy young couple marry soon and Lydgate buys a house in the fashionable part of town.

If I'd known having a wife would be so tiring...

Meanwhile, Fred has recoverd from his typhoid, just in time to go to the funeral of his uncle Featherstone and the reading of the will. This turns out to be a big disappointment for Fred, as he does not get anything. He is at a loss at how to go on with his life.

Just get a job already!

Quote of the week:
Mr Hawley: 'Ladislaw's his name. Some foreigner I gather. He'll begin with a flourish about the rights of men and end up murdering some poor wench!'

Discussion question(s):
- I think Rosamund is genuinly fond of Lydgate, though very naive about who he is and what he wants from life. Do you think Rosamund's outburst was genuine or simply a clever device to get Lydgate to propose?