birdienl | Middlemarch watch-along: episode 6

Here we are at the one-to-last episode of Middlemarch!

Last episode, we left Lydgate and Rosie in a very unhappy place and it doesn't get any better this episode. Lydgate tries to explain to Rosie they will have to live less luxurious, but Rosamund doesn't want to listen to him or help him. Meanwhile, she's visited by Ladislaw (who apparently is still hanging around Middlemarch). She airily talks about Casoubon's will and Dorothea's situation, without realizing Ladislaw knew nothing about this part of his relative's will. Ladislaw is mortified and when he meets Dorothea by accident, he tells her he will leave Middlemarch and never come back, because she is forbidden to him.

You're telling me whát?!

Dorothea meanwhile has rather revolutionary plans for Lowick. She wants to build a model village on the estate for the employees. Dorothea's family are not too thrilled about her 'social' leanings, but luckily Mr. Garth is very enthusiastic about the plan.
After working on it for a while, unfortunately he has to tell Dorothea there is not enough money for her plan. And so poor Dorothea again looses something she set her hopes to..

Oh dear, I have a common laborer for a son....

Frank, still jobless and without plans for his future asks Mr. Garth if he can learn the trade of estate managing from him. Mr. Garth is wary (and so should I be! I do really like Fred, but I seriously doubt his work ethics) but wants to give it a try. Fred hears that Mr. Farebrother is also in love with Mary which makes him very jealous. Mary gives him a fair scolding, but also tells him he has all her affections.

Visits to mother-in-law: always akward

The Lydgate situation has become so bad that Tertius and Rosamund have to move to a smaller house. Rosie begs Lydgate if they can't just leave Middlemarch instead. While Lydgate ponders all the plans he had to revolutionize medicine when he just came to Middlemarch there's some more bad news waiting for him. Mr. Bullstrode tells Lydgate he will withdraw himself from public business, which means also withdrawing his support for Lydgate's fever hospital. Bullstrode's excuse is his health, but Mr Raffles has visited Mr Bullstrode again and made more threats.

You lazy boy, you're late for school again!

Quote(s) of the week:
Fred: I know I have no claim on you Mr.Garth, quite the opposite.
Mr.Garth: No Fred, you have a claim. The young ones always have a claim on the old to help them further.

Discussion question(s):
- What do you think will come of Fred's plans to become an estate manager? Do you think he's suitable for such a type of job?
- Why do you think Ladislaw reacted so angrily to Dorothea? It was hardly her fault what Casoubon wrote in his will!