Adam Bede

Context

The name George Eliot was the pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans. Eliot was born in 1819 at theestate of her fathers employer in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, England. Because of herfathers important role as the manager, Eliot was given permission to spend time in the estateslibrary, where she expanded her knowledge by reading. As a young girl she was educated at thelocal school and then at boarding school. Eliot was deeply religious throughout her childhoodand adolescence because of her pious family background and the influence of the evangelicalMaria Lewes, one of her instructors at boarding school.

When Eliot was seventeen, her mother died and Eliot came home to care for her father. In 1841,Eliot and her father moved to Coventry. While living in Coventry, Eliot met Charles andCaroline Bray, who led her to question her faith by introducing her to new religious andpolitical ideas. Eliot began reading rationalist works in 1841, which prompted her to rejectformalized religion. She also became acquainted with intellectuals in Coventry who broadenedher mind. To her fathers dismay, she stopped going to church. This renunciation put a strain ontheir relationship until his death in 1849. Eliot identified herself as a rationalist for theremainder of her life. In 1844, she was commissioned to translate David Strausss Life of Jesusfrom German into English. She completed the translation in 1846. After traveling abroad inEurope for two years, she returned to England and became acquainted with a group ofrationalists, among them John Chapman.

In 1851, Eliot became the assistant editor at Chapmans Westminster Review, a position thatwas important both for her career and her personal life. Through her work on the Review, shemet several prominent philosophers and theologians of the time, including Herbert Spencer,who introduced her to George Henry Lewes, a drama critic and philosopher. The pair fell inlove but could not marry because Lewes already had a wife, from whom he was estranged. In arather scandalous move for the age, Eliot and Lewes later lived together in 1854, even thoughLewes was married and could not divorce his wife. At this point in her life, Eliot was stillprimarily interested in philosophy, but Lewes encouraged her to focus on fiction. Becausewriting was considered a male profession, Eliot chose a male pseudonym, George Eliot. Underthe pen name, Eliot published her first collection of short stories in 1858, bringing immediateacclaim from critics as prestigious as Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.Eliot began working on Adam Bede on October 22, 1857, and completed the novel on November16, 1858. The book was published in 1859, and its success led a number of imposters to claimauthorship. In response, Eliot asserted herself as the true author, causing quite a stir in a societythat still regarded women as incapable of serious writing.

Eliots personal life likely influenced Adam Bede in several ways. First, the portrayal ofMethodists as a positive social force possibly stems from Eliots own rejection of someorganized religions. While Methodism is an organized religion, Eliot was particularly drawn tothe religions belief that salvation is possible for all people through personal effort. Second, thecharacter of Dinah, who is strong and powerful beyond normal social conventions, is perhapsinspired by Eliots own willingness to step outside normal social convention in her common-

law marriage to Lewes and her novel writing. Finally, the sardonic tone that the narrator takestoward social convention and the lady reader suggests a rejection of tradition. Such arejection fits with Eliots life, in which she was criticized for moving in with her lover andrejecting traditional religion because its tenets could not be derived by reason.

Eliot drew the plot of Adam Bede from the death of Mary Voce, who was executed in 1802 forkilling her child. Eliots Methodist aunt told her about Voce, whom her aunt visited andconverted in jail. According to Eliots account of the writing of the novel, the character ofDinah Morris is based very loosely on Eliots aunt, and Adam Bede himself is based veryloosely on Eliots father as a young man. Eliots detailed and insightful psychologicalportrayals of her characters, as well as her exploration of the complex ways these charactersconfront moral dilemmas, decisively broke from the plot-driven domestic melodrama that hadpreviously served as the standard for the Victorian novel.

Adam Bede is widely considered to be one of the best examples of realism in English literature.Realism concerns itself with recording life exactly as it is, not with inventing plots orcharacters to fit with a preconceived notion of how the world ought to be. Realist literaturedominated in England for about fifty years beginning around 1840. The American expatriateauthor Henry James, another realist writer, considered Eliot to be one of the most profoundinfluences in his writing. Realists usually focus more on characters than on plot, and AdamBede typifies this throughout. Methodism also plays an important role in Adam Bede. ThisProtestant movement began in England in 1729 and was founded by the preacher John Wesleyand his brother Charles. The religion rejects the doctrine of predestination, the idea that onlythose whom God has chosen can be saved. Wesley, like Dinah Morris, often preached in openfields because members of the Church of England prevented him from preaching in churches.Methodism was widely popular among the working classes of England in the late eighteenthcentury and largely derided by the upper classes, who saw it as simplistic. The characters inAdam Bede almost uniformly appear in this view: the more sophisticated, socialite characterslaugh at the Methodists and take a haughty view toward Dinah Morris, whereas the simplervillagers are attracted to the gentle love with which she preaches. Wesley encouraged workamong the poor, and his efforts have affected the work and doctrine of the Methodist churcheven today.

Eliot wrote several works of fiction under her pen name. Eliots best-known works are The Millon the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1872), and Daniel Deronda (1876).Lewes died in 1878, and in 1880 Eliot married a banker named John Walter Cross, who wastwenty-one years younger than she. Eliot died the same year from a throat infection and isburied in London.

Plot Overview

Dinah Morris, a Methodist preacher, arrives in Hayslope, a small village in England, in 1799.She stays with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Poyser, although she plans to return soon toSnowfield, where she normally lives. Seth Bede, a local carpenter, loves her and is learning tolive with her rejection of his marriage proposal. Seths brother, Adam Bede, also lives inHayslope and works as the foreman at the carpentry shop where he and his brother work. Adamloves a seventeen-year-old village beauty named Hetty Sorrel. Hetty, who is Mr. Poysersniece, lives with the Poysers and helps with the chores.

Thias Bede, the father of Seth and Adam, drowns in the river near their house after a drinkingbinge. Their mother, Lisbeth, is distraught. Dinah goes to comfort Lisbeth, and she is able tosoothe her where no one else can. Lisbeth wishes that Dinah could be her daughter-in-law.

The local landlord, Squire Donnithorne, rules the parish with an iron fist. His grandson andheir, Captain Donnithorne, who is a member of the regimental army, has broken his arm and isliving with the Squire. The villagers all respect and adore Captain Donnithorne, who considershimself a gallant man. Captain Donnithorne flirts secretively with Hetty after first meeting herat the Poysers. He asks her when she will next be visiting the Squires residence and arranges tomeet her alone in the woods when she passes through.

When Captain Donnithorne meets up with Hetty in the woods, they are alone for the first timeand both are bashful. Captain Donnithorne teases Hetty about her many suitors, and she cries.He puts his arms around her, but he then immediately panics at the inappropriateness of hisadvances and runs off. Later Captain Donnithorne meditates on what he has done and decideshe needs to see Hetty to clear up what happened. He meets her on her way back through thewoods, and they kiss. This encounter begins a summer-long affair, which only ends whenCaptain Donnithorne leaves to rejoin his regiment. Hetty believes that Captain Donnithornewill marry her and make her into the great socialite she dreams of being. Although she does notexactly love him, she loves the wealth and privilege he represents.

Captain Donnithorne throws a coming-of-age party for himself to which he invites all themembers in the parish. Everyone comes and has a wonderful time with a feast, dancing, andgames. Adam discovers that Hetty is wearing a locket that Captain Donnithorne gave her. Hebecomes suspicious that she might have a secret lover but concludes that it would not bepossible for her to conceal such a thing from the Poysers.

On the last night Captain Donnithorne is in town, Adam catches him kissing Hetty in thewoods. Adam and he have a fight, which Adam wins. Captain Donnithorne lies to Adam thatthe affair was no more than a little flirtation. At his response, Adam tells him he must write aletter to Hetty letting her know that the affair is over. Captain Donnithorne does so, and Adamdelivers the letter. Hetty is crushed, but after some time she resolves to marry Adam as a wayout of her current life. Adam proposes, and Hetty accepts. By the time Captain Donnithorneleaves, Hetty is pregnant, although neither of them knows it. She resolves to go out to findCaptain Donnithorne because she cannot bear to have those who know her find out about hershame. She believes that Captain Donnithorne will help her, even though she feels he can never

erase her shame.

Hetty sets out to locate Captain Donnithorne. At the end of an arduous journey, she learns thathe has gone to Ireland. She heads in the direction of home, more or less intending to visitDinah, who she believes will help her without judging her. Along the way, she gives birth to herchild. Distraught, she takes the child into the woods and buries it under a tree. Hetty goes away,but she cannot escape the sound of the childs cry. She returns to where she left the baby. Afarm laborer and the Stoniton constable discover her, and the constable takes her into custodyfor the murder of her child.

Adam is distraught when he cannot find Hetty and concludes that Captain Donnithorne musthave lured her away from their upcoming marriage. Before traveling to Ireland to find him, hefirst goes to Mr. Irwine to inform him of his plan. Mr. Irwine tells Adam that Hetty is in jail formurder. Adam goes to her trial, even though the situation troubles him. Dinah arrives and isable to reach Hetty through her depression and convince her that she must repent to save hersoul. Hetty is convicted and sentenced to die.

At the last possible moment, Captain Donnithorne arrives with a stay of execution. Hetty istransported, meaning that she is sent away from England for her crimes. She dies just beforeshe is set to return to Hayslope. Captain Donnithorne goes away for a few years because of theshame he has brought on the Poysers and Adam. Adam realizes that he is in love with Dinah.He proposes, but she rejects him until she comes to realize that it is Gods will that she marryAdam. They are married, and they have two children. Seth lives with them and does not marry.Captain Donnithorne ultimately returns to Hayslope, and he and Adam meet one last time at theconclusion of the novel. They are able to stay friends despite all that has come between them.

Character List

Adam Bede - A carpenter and the protagonist of the novel. Adam is strong, intelligent, andfairly well educated for a peasant. He is industrious and loyal. Throughout the story, Adamspride forms the central movement of the book. Adam believes that working hard is a way ofdoing Gods work and is at least as important as religion itself. He hates all evil and does notunderstand how a man could decide that something is evil and then do it anyway. Adam isadmired by his peers, but he is not motivated by their admiration. For him, a job well done isits own reward.

Read an in-depth analysis of Adam Bede.

Dinah Morris - A Methodist preacher who seeks to bring Gods love to all those around her.Dinahs gentle demeanor and selfless attitude bring comfort to the other characters, includingHetty in the hours before she is scheduled to die. Dinahs outer beauty matches her inner calmand draws all the other characters to her. She feels compelled to help those in greatest need,even when it results in the denial of her own happiness. Eventually she comes to believe thather own happiness and Gods will are not necessarily incompatible.

Read an in-depth analysis of Dinah Morris.

Hetty Sorrel - A startlingly beautiful young peasant girl. Her downfall is the primary action ofthe novel. Hetty is selfish and shallow. Although her humiliation changes her somewhat, evento the end she is more concerned with her own suffering than anyone elses. Hetty is alsofoolish. She has no sense of the way the world really is and no appreciation for Mr. and Mrs.Poyser for taking her in and raising her when she was orphaned. Hetty wants everyone to noticeher beauty. Hetty is a foil to Dinahs character.

Read an in-depth analysis of Hetty Sorrel.

Captain Arthur Donnithorne - A young regimental soldier, heir to the Chase. His arrogantbelief in his own good character leads him to disgrace Hetty. Captain Donnithorne believes thathe is fundamentally a good man, no matter what else happens and even when events show thathis evil actions have consequences. He tries to buy his way out of every situation. Even hisdesire to do good is really a desire to be seen by others as one who does good. CaptainDonnithorne cares for Adam, although not enough to tell him the truth about Hetty. Althoughhe loves Hetty, his love is not strong enough to break the class boundaries that separate them.Aldophous Irwine - The rector of Broxton, the confidante of Captain Donnithorne. Mr. Irwineis tolerant and compassionate. Although he is a religious man, he believes that little good isdone by chastising people for their wrong-doings. Instead, he teaches patience and gentleness.Mr. Irwine has never married and prefers to live with his mother and two sisters. Although hedoes not pry into others inner lives, he offers sage advice when his advice is sought. He lovesCaptain Donnithorne like a son and is deeply wounded by Hettys disgrace. Mr. Irwine knowsthe details of the lives of the people in the parish and does his best to encourage what hebelieves will make them happy.Seth Bede - Adams brother, a Methodist carpenter. Seth gives freely of himself, even to the

point of giving up his love of Dinah when he believes it is for the good of others. Although Sethis not as intelligent as Adam, he is motivated by love and acts well in all things as a result.Both gentle and kind, he is comparable to Dinah but lacks her education and intelligence. A bitof a dreamer, Seth likes to sit and think rather than do, although he works very hard at his jobas well.Rachel Poyser - A country farmwoman. She has a sharp tongue and a deep love for her familyand friends. Mrs. Poyser is an indulgent mother to Totty, her three-year-old daughter. A motherfigure to both Hetty and Dinah, she repeatedly warns Hetty against the dangers of vanity. Shebelieves she knows more than most people, stands up to authority when she believes it iswrong, and criticizes freely when she believes others are in error.Martin Poyser - A farmer and tenant of the Squires. Mr. Poyser is deeply traditional andvalues his land and good name above all else. A simple man, he cherishes his wife and believesin her wisdom.Bartle Massey - The schoolteacher and Adams best friend. Unbeknownst to his friends, notonly does Mr. Massey care deeply for his students, but he exhibits a patience with them that heseldom shows in the company of friends. Mr. Massey rails against the stupidity of women andsays everything twice. During Hettys trial, he is a tactful comfort to Adam because he is ableto see when it is best not to speak.Lisbeth Bede - The mother of Adam and Seth, the wife of Thias. Lisbeth shrieks at herchildren, complains incessantly about the wrongs the world does to her, and wishes for deathwhen her husband dies. For all that, she loves Adam and Seth, although she favors Adam overSeth and never spares Seths feelings on the subject. She is the first to remark on Adam andDinahs love for each other.Thias Bede - A drunkard, the father of Adam and Seth. Thias fell from a straight life sometimebefore the opening of the novel. Until his death, he is only a burden to his family.Squire Donnithorne - The old, spendthrift landlord of the Chase. He takes no interest in histenants as people but only as a source income and therefore his comfort.Mrs. Irwine - An old socialite, mother of Mr. Irwine. Mrs. Irwines sense of superiority overthe peasants leads her to bring misery even when she ostensively seeks to bring happiness. Aproud and arrogant woman, she belittles the peasants, believing that they are beneath herbecause they do not have her wealth.Wiry Ben - A carpenter who works with Adam and Seth. Wiry Ben is a simple man, who isuneducated, likes his ale, and can dance very well.Mr. Casson - The proprietor of the village inn. Mr. Casson knows everyones business andaffects great airs of nobility, even in the way he speaks.Gyp - Adams tailless, faithful dog. Gyp follows Adam everywhere. How other characters treatGyp is often an indication of how they react to helpless creatures.Joshua Rann - The parish clerk who is so proud of his own voice and musical talent that heflaunts them at every turn. He also takes great offense at the coming of Methodists into theparish.Will Maskery - The Methodist wheelwright. Maskery is outspoken and self-righteous.Sarah Stone - A Methodist widow from Stoniton. She lets Hetty stay with her when she looksfor Captain Donnithorne. She later testifies at Hettys trial.John Olding - Farm laborer who lives near Stoniton. At Hettys trial, he testifies that he sawHetty one morning and heard a baby crying.

Analysis of Major Characters

Adam Bede

Adam is the imperfect hero of the novel. At the outset of the novel, he is a proud man whoconsiders himself a good carpenter and a hard worker. But he is judgmental toward his father,whose death causes him to examine his heart. Adam has a soft spot for all helpless creatures,including his dog, Gyp, and his brother, Seth. However, he has no tolerance for evil because hecannot understand temptation. Adam believes that when a man decides that something iswrong, it is easy to avoid that action. Obsessed with Hetty Sorrel, Adam only sees the best inher. Blinded by her physical beauty, he cannot see that she is really a shallow, vain young girl.Upon finding out about the affair between Hetty and Captain Donnithorne, Adam blamesCaptain Donnithorne and continues to believe only the best about Hetty, even to the point ofproposing to her in spite of her tarnished honor. But Hettys arrest for murder nearly crushesAdam, especially as he comes to realize that Hetty actually did kill her infant, a crime heconsiders to be completely against all human and female intuition and nature. He struggles withthe irreparable nature of the crime she has committed and the evil that has been committedagainst her. After he recovers from the shock of Hettys crime, however, Adams character ismellowed by the experience. His pride is largely humbled, and he is less judgmental of others.

Dinah Morris

A woman who lives for others, Dinah is unable to take anything from life for herself until theconclusion of the novel. Dinah works tirelessly for anything she believes will benefit others.Like Adam, she sees the best in people but is also able to see their imperfections and to urgethem toward a better life and toward God. She preaches, but she is never preachy, and becauseof her simplicity and gentleness, she is able to convert even the hardest of hearts. Dinah isnever judgmental toward others. When Dinah falls in love with Adam, she finally wantssomething from life for herselfspecifically, to be with Adam. Even then, Dinah cannot accepta life of happiness for herself until she believes that it is Gods will, but she comes to trust herown heart when it comes to her desires. By marrying Adam, Dinah gives up her independenceand freedom, a change that is difficult for her to make.

Hetty Sorrel

Hetty never changes through the book, even after her religious conversion in the jail, and sheremains a vain and selfish creature. Hetty only wants what is best for herself. Throughout thenovel, Hetty has no concern for how her actions will affect others. Yet because her desires andfears are childlike, it is hard to condemn her. Hettys defining moment in the novel comeswhen she kills her child. Feeling no love for the child, she acts out of self-preservation and fearof shame. Her fear of condemnation after death drives her to forgive Captain Donnithorne afterDinah tells her that God will not forgive her if she does not forgive Captain Donnithorne. ButHetty never expresses any regret for the loss of the child, and she never demonstrates anymaternal instinct. The lack of feeling toward those who love her comes as a result of twofactors. First, she is a child, who needs coddling and admiration. Second, she is consumed byher pride and vanity to the point of being unable to reach out for help even when she

desperately needs it. Hetty is a tragic figure.

Captain Donnithorne

Captain Donnithorne is a weak, rich, self-absorbed man. The captain is obsessed with his ownself-image, which he gleans from his perceived image among the villagers. A snob, he views allthose socially beneath him, even Adam, whom he claims to respect, as children. It is uncertainwhether Captain Donnithorne is actually changed by his experience with Hetty. When he goesaway from Hayslope, there is no question that Captain Donnithorne is uncomfortable, but it isnot apparent whether he was motivated by a genuine desire to help the Poysers and Adam or bya desire not to be seen as the villain. Captain Donnithorne does not foresee the consequences ofhis actions, which partly mitigates his culpability, and he does his best to help Hetty when hefinds out about her plight.

Themes, Motifs & Symbols

Themes

Inner vs. Outer Beauty

Eliot contrasts inner and outer beauty throughout the novel to express the idea that external andinternal realities do not always correspond. Although Hetty is more physically beautiful thanDinah, she is cold and ugly inside. Hettys outer beauty masks her inner ugliness, especially toCaptain Donnithorne and Adam. Even when Hetty cries or is angry, she still appears lovely toboth men. Adam is so blinded by Hettys appearance that he often misinterprets her tears andexcitement as love for him. Hettys outer beauty also blinds Captain Donnithorne such that heloses control when she cries and he kisses her. Unlike Hetty, Dinah has an inner beauty becauseshe helps and cares for those around her. She comforts Lisbeth through the mourning of herdead husband, and Adam takes notice of this. Adam does not think Dinah is as physicallybeautiful as Hetty, but he is drawn to her love and mission to help those around her. Hisfeelings for Dinah change after he witnesses Dinah consoling Hetty, and Adam begins to seeDinah as outwardly beautiful. Eliots description of the natural beauty of the Englishcountryside also shows the contrast between internal and external beauty. On the day Hettywanders off to find Captain Donnithorne, the day is beautiful and the countryside ismagnificent. However, Hetty suffers enormously under the weight of her plight. Eliot uses thiscontrast to encourage the reader to look beyond the surface and explore a deeper meaning.

The Value of Hard Work

One of the chief differences between the good characters and the evil characters is theircommitment to working hard. Most of the characters in Adam Bede are hard-working peasantswho spend their days laboring on farms, in mills, or in shops. Those characters are generallycharacterized by gentle intelligence and simple habits. They do their best not to harm others,and they produce goods others can use and value. Examples are Mrs. Poyser, whose dairysupplies the other villagers and whose cream cheese is renowned in the area; Adam, whoseskills in carpentry are unmatched and who is a good and fair manager of people and resources;and Dinah, who works in a mill. By contrast, those few malingerers in the novel are generallyevil as well as lazy. The strongest example of laziness is Captain Donnithorne, who oftencomplains that he has nothing to do, and whose boredom may well have contributedsignificantly to Hettys downfall. If Captain Donnithorne had been busy sowing fields, hemight not have engaged in his illicit and unwise affair. Those who work hard take pride in theirwork, and they do not harm others because they are careful and meticulous and do not havetime for idle self-indulgence.

Love as a Transformative Force

Love has the power to transform characters in the novel. The characters who love are portrayedas gentle, kind, and accepting. Dinah, for example, is a preacher but is never preachy. Sheaccepts Hetty as she is, even when Hetty is peevish and selfish toward her. Dinahs lovetransforms Hetty in jail because she comforts and listens to Hetty and does not judge her.Before, Hetty was selfish and only thought about her own happiness. After, she is sincerely

sorry for the shame she caused her family and even apologizes to Adam. Another example isMrs. Poyser, and how she can be harsh toward those she loves. When Hettys crime comes tolight, Mrs. Poyser is the only one in her family who does not seem to judge Hetty. Here, Mrs.Poyser transforms from strict and critical to a loving and accepting woman. The one characterthat is not transformed by love is Mrs. Irwine, who is critical and sharp and never manages tohelp others. She does not feel, and so she is neither transformed by love nor capable oftransforming others. For example, at Captain Donnithornes coming-of-age party, one of herpresents to a peasant girl is an ugly gown and a piece of flannel. This gift only aggravates thegirl and makes her reject the present. Mrs. Irwine thinks she is giving the girls only what theydeserve, and therefore she is not transformed by love because she does not care for anyone.Love only transforms the characters that want to help people other than themselves.

The Consequences of Bad Behavior

Bad behavior and wrongdoing have consequences that extend beyond the wrong-doer, and evenrelatively small transgressions can have massive collateral effects. The central lesson fromHettys experience with Captain Donnithorne is that doing the right thing is important becausedoing the wrong thing might hurt others in ways that cannot be controlled. Though CaptainDonnithorne is not inherently evil, he provokes bad behavior in Hetty because she cannot go tohim for help when she learns that she is pregnant. Hetty is ashamed and only thinks of herselfwhen she commits her crime. As she awaits the trial, Hetty does not think about how her badbehavior affected anyone else: she does not consider the shame she has caused the Poysers orthe effect her crime has on Adam. Hetty feels no real remorse for her sins and just wishes to notbe reminded of any wrong she has done. Eventually, she apologizes to Adam and asks God forforgiveness, but the lesson of the story is that bad behavior, evil, and wrongdoing cannot beundone.

Motifs

Natural Beauty

Eliots description of the natural beauty of the English countryside, especially in scenes ofgreat sadness or evil, expresses the idea that external and internal realities do not alwayscorrespond. For example, when Hetty wanders off toward Windsor to find CaptainDonnithorne, the day is beautiful and the countryside is magnificent. The reader would thinkHettys stunning looks combined with the sunny countryside backdrop would describe anequally joyful scene in the book. However, unbeknownst to the reader, Hetty suffersenormously under the weight of her plight. Although Hetty herself is beautiful, her appearancecontrasts with her internal character, which is weak, selfish, and ugly. Unlike Dinah, who isbeautiful both externally and internally, Hetty has no inner beauty. Eliot uses the contrastbetween internal and external beauty to encourage the reader to look beyond the surface ofpeople and things to their deeper characteristics and meanings.

Dogs

The dogs in the novel reflect the temperament of the characters with respect to helpless beings.Adams dog, Gyp, loves his master. He is happy and trusting and devoted to Adam. Gypscondition reflects Adams love of the helpless and his desire to help and care for those who

depend on him. Mr. Masseys dog is also healthy but cowers whenever Mr. Massey displays hissplit personality. As one who deeply cares for the helpless, Mr. Massey can be grouchy andcrotchety even while he provides nourishment and assistance to those in need. Mr. Irwine hasdogs, who are happy and contented. They laze around the hearth. As his relationship with hisdogs suggests, Mr. Irwine is kind and gentle toward those who depend on him, but he is a littlelazy and cares more for the comforts of his home.

Narrative Sarcasm

The narrator in Adam Bede butts into the story to provide ironic and often sarcasticcommentary on the characters and the readers impression of them. The narrator pokes fun atthe reader, especially the imagined, haughty reader who has a low opinion of such simplecharacters as Adam and Mr. Irwine. Making fun of the reader has two effects. First, it feeds theidea that the nobility is frivolous and a bad judge of character. The narrator clearly approves ofthe characters, and the narrator calls into question the readers judgment by suggesting that thereader does not. Second, the satire keeps the narrative brisk and the tone light. The narratorpushes the heavy idea that readers should not judge others and that they should love theirneighbors. To avoid becoming preachy, the narrator uses humor, and a big part of that humor isin the sarcasm.

Symbols

Gates

The characters in the novel frequently linger around gates and pass through gates outsidehomes and in the fields. The gates suggest major changes in the characters lives, as whenHetty passes through the gates as she walks toward the Chase to meet Captain Donnithorne,leaving the innocence of childhood behind and walking into a very adult situation. The gatesoutside the characters homes also represent the attempt to keep the affairs of the heart private.Those who are allowed to pass through those gates are allowed into the heart of the family andinto its most intimate secrets. Adam does not create any disturbance when he comes throughthe gates at Hall Farm: he is an accepted and beloved member of the community, and he entersquietly and respectfully. In contrast, Captain Donnithorne creates a huge ruckus whenever heenters. He loudly calls to Dinah at one point, and at other points he arrogantly makes hispresence known. Adam comes quietly into the Poysers confidence while Captain Donnithornebrings noise, disturbances, and, ultimately, shame.

Hearth and Home

The hearth and home are the sources of nourishment in the novel, and their images recurrepeatedly as the grounding force of the characters lives. The most prominent example ofhearth and home is Hall Farm, the home of the Poysers. Each of the scenes at the farm returnsto the hearth, where the grandfather sits and around which the whole family gathers. Problemsare discussed and conflicts are resolved around the hearth. In the same way, at the Bedeshome, life revolves around the hearth in the kitchen. Lisbeths whole day is spent there, andDinah is useful and praised when she visits because of her ability to clean, cook, and do choresnear the fireplace. The strongest and most worthwhile characters are those who spend the mosttime around the hearth.

Clothing

The characters choice of clothing represents important qualities of their nature, showing on theoutside how they choose to represent themselves to the world. Hetty, for example, dresses inthe best finery she can get, whereas Dinah dresses all in black with a simple cap. Hettysostentatious dress symbolizes the shallow, flashy nature of her character, and when her dressfalls into disrepair on her trip, it tracks the disintegration of her spirit. By contrast, Dinahsblack gown and simple dress symbolize her practical love of simple things. She chooses not toput herself forward but to shrink into the background and come forward only when she can helpothers. Characters clothing choices reflect fundamental truths about their natures.

Book First: Chapters 14

Summary: Chapter 1

The narrator promises to show the reader a workshop as it was in Hayslope on June 18, 1799.Inside the workshop, Adam Bede; his brother, Seth Bede; Wiry Ben; and two other carpenterschat as they complete their work for the day. Seth finishes a door he has been working on, buthe forgets to put panels in the door, because his mind is occupied with Dinah Morris, aMethodist preacher. Dinah will preach on the village lawn that evening, and Seth plans to seeher. When he encourages the others to come with him to the preaching, they tease him aboutDinah and about the inappropriateness of a womans preaching. They also have a discussionabout religion, which Seth defends as the most important thing in the world. Adam claims thatdoing practical good in the world, such as tending to a garden or building an oven, is asimportant as religion. After the workday is over, Adam heads home with his dog, Gyp.

Summary: Chapter 2

In the village, people gather to hear Dinahs preaching. The tavern manager, Mr. Casson, comesoutside to see what the commotion is, and he meets a stranger on a horse. He and the strangerhave a discussion about Dinah, and Mr. Casson says he believes it is inappropriate for a womanto preach on the village green. As Dinah begins to preach, she draws in the villagers with hersoft, loving voice, and the stranger stays to listen to her despite his reservations about a womanpreacher. Dinahs sermon tells about the love Jesus has for the poor and encourages thetownspeople to give up their sins and do good in the world. The villagers accept her slowly, andby the time she concludes her preaching, many of them are moved to tears.

Summary: Chapter 3

Seth walks Dinah home after her preaching. Dinah plans to go back to Snowfield to take care ofan ailing old woman and regrets that she cannot stay in Hayslope to be with her aunt and tolook after Hetty Sorrel, for whom she says she has been praying. Seth remarks that it is too badAdam is in love with Hetty. Dinah says she cannot stay in Hayslope because God has told herthat her place is in Snowfield. Arguing that together they can better serve God, Seth proposesmarriage to Dinah. Declining, she says that God has destined that she should not marry or havechildren, even though she would like to do both. Dinah knows Gods will because she hasprayed for guidance and has opened up the Bible and the first line she sees supports her beliefthat her calling is to help others. Although crying on the way home, Seth accepts Dinahsrejection. The narrator defends Seths love for Dinah and says that although they are poor,unsophisticated Methodists, Seth and Dinah may have sublime feelings and should not bedisregarded.

Summary: Chapter 4

Adam and Gyp arrive home, where Adams mother, Lisbeth, waits for them. Adam discoversthat his father, who is a drunkard, has gone out without building the coffin he had promised tobuild for a family in town. After railing against his father, Adam stays up all night to finish the

coffin, despite Seths offer of help and Lisbeths attempts to make him eat. Lisbeth and Sethtalk while Adam eats dinner, and they both lament that Adam is in love with Hetty. Lisbethbecomes hysterical at the idea of Adams leaving her. While Adam works, he hears a rap on thedoor twice, a sound he recalls his mother often referring to as an omen of death. The nextmorning, Adam and Seth take the coffin to town and, on their way home, find their fatherdrowned in the stream by their house. Adam immediately feels guilty for the harshness withwhich he has treated his wayward father.

Analysis: Chapters 14

The village of Hayslope and the villagers who live there form a running and richly texturedcommentary to the main action of the novel, which will involve only a few characters. Eliottakes care to describe even the most incidental characters with great attention to detail, and herdepth of description suggests the importance of even the most minor views in the novel.Through their dialogue, Eliot exposes important themes and plot points that the main charactersmight have missed. The other villagers are important because they fill in gaps in the maincharacters knowledge and sensibilities. For example, in the carpenters shop, although onlyAdam and Seth will be continuing main characters, the others each express an opinion aboutreligion, about Seths love for Dinah, and about the propriety of a womans preaching. Seth hasnot told Adam about his love for Dinah, and Adam has not been paying enough attention toSeth to really take note of his infatuation. The teasing of the fellow carpenters, however,introduces the information to the reader in a subtle way while still leaving Adams characterwith his limited knowledge.

Dinahs conversion of the villagers shows how simplicity, kindness, and love can affect greatchange in her peers where flashiness and preachiness would fail. Dinahs preaching is directand understated, and it moves the villagers to tears and touches their hearts for precisely thisreason. Dinahs gentle touch mirrors Eliots own view of love of neighbor. Specifically, itreflects the idea that love is best used on those closest, and too much attachment to ideals onlybreeds discontent. Dinahs foil to this characteristic will be Hetty, whose attachment to the ideaof becoming a rich lady will only bring her unhappiness.

Eliots treatment of the unknown and unseen, as they direct the actions of the characters,reveals sympathy with the idea that there are forces in the world no one can control. Althoughthe narrator repeatedly suggests that readers would be too sophisticated to indulge in a belief inthe unknown and might even scoff at it, the characters who believe are treated gently and aregenerally directed by those forces for the better. First, Dinahs belief in Gods will pushes herto leave Hayslope and, as the reader later learns, was the reason she became a preacher in thefirst place. Eliot does not mock Dinah for her belief that God is speaking to her but rather treatsit as a part of her fundamental good nature. Similarly, Adams sense of foreboding at theknocking on the door is fulfilled in the drowning of his father. Although his superstition marksAdam as a peasant without sophisticated opinions and cynical worldviews, the fulfillment ofthat superstition suggests that Adams rural sensibilities are more relevant than they mightappear.

The narrator tells the story of Adam Bede in two ways. Most of the time, the narrator seems tostand apart from the characters and report only what is seen, not necessarily the characters

thoughts. But as a person telling the story, the narrator also makes judgments and leaves scenesand details out. Here, as a character, the narrator seems to participate in the story but does notknow the details behind these scenes and is therefore only able to narrate through the othercharacters personal accounts. These untold scenes allow the reader to imagine or elaborate onwhat happened (mostly those scenes surrounding Hetty). The narrator explains these scenesthrough other characters accounts or by Adams and Captain Donnithornes reactions to theunfolding events. The narrator also sometimes knows and reports on what the other charactersare thinking. A couple of examples are when Captain Donnithorne tries to fight his feelings forHetty, and when Hetty chooses to leave Hayslope to find the captain. By portraying the narratoras a character, Eliot presents a moral perspective because the narrator is a real person who isjudgmental throughout the story.

Book First: Chapters 58

Summary: Chapter 5

The narrator takes the reader to the home of Mr. Aldophous Irwine, the rector of Broxton,where Hayslope is located. Mr. Irwine is playing chess with his mother, Mrs. Irwine, asocialite. Mr. Irwine is a bachelor because he has chosen to take care of his mother and twounmarried sisters, one of whom is chronically ill, rather than have his own family. JoshuaRann, the cobbler and parish clerk of Hayslope, comes to see Mr. Irwine to complain about theMethodists and Dinah. In particular, Mr. Rann complains about the wheelwright, Will Maskery,who is a Methodist and has made disparaging remarks about Mr. Irwine and Rann. Mr. Irwinelaughs off the insults and tells Rann to leave Maskery to his own business. As Rann is leaving,Captain Arthur Donnithorne arrives to ask Mr. Irwine to go riding with him. CaptainDonnithorne is the grandson and heir of the local landlord, Squire Donnithorne. Knownthroughout the village as the young squire, he is a dashing man who is staying at the Squiresestate to recover from an injury in the army. Rann tells both Mr. Irwine and CaptainDonnithorne about the death of Thias Bede, Adams father.

Summary: Chapter 6

Dinah repairs linens at her aunts home, called Hall Farm. Mrs. Poyser, Dinahs aunt, scolds themaid for being lazy, even though the maid has been very industrious all day. She laughs whenreminiscing about how much Dinah looks like the aunt who raised her after her mother died.Mr. Irwine and Captain Donnithorne arrive, and Captain Donnithorne asks Mrs. Poyser to showhim her dairy.

Summary: Chapter 7

Captain Donnithorne and Mrs. Poyser go to the dairy, where Captain Donnithorne first layseyes on Hetty. A beautiful young girl, Hetty is the seventeen-year-old niece of Mr. Poyser. ThePoysers took her in after she was orphaned, and she lives with them at Hall Farm and helpsMrs. Poyser with household chores. Captain Donnithorne flirts with Hetty, even going so far asto ask Mrs. Poyser to go get her small daughter, Totty, in order to have a few moments alonewith Hetty. Hetty responds coquettishly to his advances. Captain Donnithorne asks Hetty whenshe will next be at the Chase, where Captain Donnithorne lives, and Hetty reveals her plans tovisit a housekeeper at the estate the next day.

Summary: Chapter 8

While the others are in the dairy, Mr. Irwine chats with Dinah and asks her how she became apreacher. Dinah explains that she was once going to a nearby village with a preacher when thatpreacher fell ill. Because she felt moved by God, she stood in for him and has been a preachereven since. She explains that she chooses to live in the rougher country around Snowfieldbecause she is called to alleviate the suffering of those who live there. Dinah also reveals thatshe works in the mill in Snowfield. Mr. Irwine does not chastise Dinah for her beliefs but treatsher gently. When Mr. Irwine tells Dinah about the death of Thias Bede, she tells Mrs. Poyser

and Hetty. Hetty is unaffected by the news, but Dinah resolves to go visit Lisbeth to try tocomfort her.

Analysis: Chapter 58

Chapters 7 and 8 display Hetty as Dinahs foil by the way they each interact with men. Theconversation between Captain Donnithorne and Hetty in chapter 7 directly contrasts with theconversation between Mr. Irwine and Dinah in chapter 8. Where Captain Donnithorne andHetty speak of nothing in particular and yet intend another meaning entirely, Mr. Irwine andDinah speak of very personal things and are straightforward and unflinching. From the verybeginning, then, Dinah and Hetty are set in opposition. Dinah focuses on others, and she isserious and calm. Hetty focuses entirely on herself and is flirtatious and capricious. Her lack ofconcern on learning of Thiass death, when she should care more than Dinah because she is atleast friends with Adam and knows he loves her, suggests in Hetty a deep selfishness thatcontrasts with Dinahs desire to help others. Dinah and Hetty also share several similarities,which heighten the contrast between the two of them. Both are intensely beautiful women whowere orphaned and raised by an aunt. They are of similar ages and class, and both are single.Both will come to have a very important role in the life of Adam Bede, although how they feeltoward him will be different. The differences in the characters of Hetty and Dinah lead to theirdifferent ends and make Hetty the closest thing the novel has to a villain, whereas Dinah is itsheroine.

Mr. Irwine and Captain Donnithorne are also in contrast with each other, despite superficialsimilarities. Both men are single, but Mr. Irwine behaves chastely and with propriety towardDinah, a beautiful woman, whereas Captain Donnithorne flirts shamelessly with Hetty. Theyare from the upper class, but both are poor because the Squire does not give them more money.Mr. Irwine takes a genuine interest in the villagers, however, whereas Captain Donnithornethinks of them more like amusing children. Both men seek to do good for others, but there is acritical difference in their attempts at charity. Where Captain Donnithorne desires to be thoughtof as one who does good, Mr. Irwine actually just does good wherever he can, regardless of therecognition involved. Mr. Irwine cares for his ailing spinster sister when no one else does.Captain Donnithorne largely ignores his spinster aunt. The presence of both CaptainDonnithorne and Mr. Irwine in the novel is important because without Mr. Irwine, the novelmight merely be a critique of the upper class. With Mr. Irwines presence, however, Eliotmakes it clear that good and bad are found in the upper classes of society.

The characters in Adam Bede speak with the peculiar dialect of the region at that time, but eachof their accents also reflects their class and their self-perception. Adam, for example, speaksclear and strong English when he is in the presence of Captain Donnithorne, Mr. Irwine, ormost of the villagers. At home, however, his speech lapses into peasant speech, which ismore heavily accented and less grammatically proper. This shift reflects his desire to please hismother, as the narrator tells the reader, but it also reflects the fundamental fact about Adam:although he was raised a peasant, and the marks of poverty and a simple country upbringing arealways on him, he has largely outpaced his more simple-minded family. He belongs both to theworld of the lower class, in terms of his morality and his beliefs, and to the world of the upperclass, in terms of his intellect and sophistication. Mr. Massey, the schoolteacher, speaksrelatively clear English, but he says everything twice. This idiosyncrasy may stem from his life

as a teacher of poor students. In his professional career, he must always repeat everything hesays. Mrs. Poyser has the thickest accent in the novel, and her wisdom matches her homespunknowledge. Her idioms are usually original, and their insight is profound. Her character, likeher accent, represents the wisdom of the country peasant in the novel. Eliots representation ofthe accent is phonetic, so that any difficulties the readers many have with the accents can beresolved by sounding out the words. The different accents are important because they reflectthe characters true natures.

Book First: Chapters 912

Summary: Chapter 9

As Hetty continues to churn the butter, she daydreams about Captain Donnithorne and thelifestyle his wealth can afford. Although she is aware that Adam is in love with her, she doesnot return the affection because she is not attracted to his poor and simple lifestyle. She prefersthe dashing figure cut by Captain Donnithorne. Captain Donnithorne and Mr. Irwine ride awayfrom Hall Farm, and Mr. Irwine urges Captain Donnithorne not to encourage Hettys vanity.Mr. Irwine also expresses his hope that Adam will marry Mary Burge, the daughter of thecarpenter to whom Adam is foreman, because he believes they would make a good match andbecause the marriage would put Adam in a position to become the carpenters partner.

Summary: Chapter 10

Seth strives to comfort Lisbeth, who grieves for her dead husband to such an extreme that sherefuses to clean up or to eat and often expresses her wish that she were dead with him. Dinahcomes to visit the Bedes to help Lisbeth in her grief. Although Lisbeth resists Dinahs kindnessat first, she gradually comes around to calling Dinah her daughter and says she loves her verymuch. Dinah draws Lisbeth out by talking to her of her own childhood. She coaxes Lisbeth toeat, helps clean up around the kitchen, and sleeps with her. Seth is very glad to have Dinah inthe house and very much relieved by her ability to calm Lisbeth.

Summary: Chapter 11

Early in the morning, Adam rises to begin working and he hears Dinah in the kitchen, sweepingand preparing breakfast. He does not know who is in the house because he was asleep whenDinah arrived, and he secretly hopes that it is Hetty. Then he comes into the kitchen and meetsDinah, paying attention to her for the first time. He realizes how beautiful she is and is happyfor Seth, who Adam suspects loves Dinah. Dinah blushes under his attentions and turns to patGyp, telling Adam that she believes the dog has things to say that he is unable to articulate.Lisbeth insists that Adam be the only person to touch his fathers coffin, so Adam stays hometo make the coffin while Seth goes out to work. Dinah comes in to wish Seth a good day and toask him to walk her home that night. Adam encourages Seth not to lose heart, that somedayDinah may come around to loving him.

Summary: Chapter 12

Captain Donnithorne dresses for the day and decides not to be at home when Hetty arrives tosee the housekeeper. Resolving to go on a trip, he goes to the stable to order his horse ready butlearns that she is lame. Then the captain chooses to visit a friend for lunch and not be back untilafter Hetty has left. After lunch with his friend, he changes his mind about seeing Hetty.Galloping back as fast as he can, Captain Donnithorne tries to catch Hetty when she walksthrough the woods on the way to the house. He meets her in the woods and speaks with her.When he mentions another of her suitors, Hetty begins to cry, and Captain Donnithorne is somoved by her distress that he puts his arm around her. He quickly recovers himself, however,

when Hetty drops her basket, and he rudely and abruptly leaves her, at first vowing not to seeher again when she walks back that evening. After thinking alone for an hour, however, CaptainDonnithorne decides that he must see her after all, to correct the impression he gave her thatafternoon, when he may have seemed to be a lover.

Analysis: Chapters 912

Captain Donnithornes inability to control himself and his rationalizations about hisrelationship with Hetty represent the consequences of bad behavior and carelessness in thenovel, but they are portrayed in a manner that makes it hard to dislike Captain Donnithorne.The affair with Hetty is a very human failing, and Eliots portrayal of Captain Donnithorne isnot vilifying, even though his actions bring about the worst events in the story. Self-control andhonesty with oneself are portrayed as important traits in Eliots main characters. UnlikeCaptain Donnithorne and Hetty, Adam and Dinah are both deeply honest with themselves andwith everyone else about their motivations and desires, and this characteristic distinguishesthem from the minor characters. Captain Donnithornes biggest failures are portrayed in agentle way. The description of his meeting with Hetty is fraught with tenderness, especially inthe description of the scenery. Captain Donnithornes attempts to seduce Hetty could possiblybe seen as despicable. Hetty is, after all, younger, less experienced, and in a socially inferiorposition to him. It is hard to see Captain Donnithorne as a predator, however, when the firstmove he makes toward her is to comfort her in response to her tears. The sympathy Eliotengenders for Captain Donnithorne, even as he commits the actions that bring about the crisisof the novel, is consistent with the idea that it is human obligation to love all neighbors withtheir faults.

The interaction between Adam and Dinah in the Bedes kitchen foreshadows their love. Eventhough Adam makes her aware of her own body, Dinah does not lose her composure, as she willnever allow her feelings for Adam to interfere with her feelings for Seth and her compassionfor Hetty. The blush and the idea that Dinah can feel as a young woman also add an importantcomponent to her character. Her love for Adam, which really starts as more of a crush, makesher a full character, one capable of every human feeling. Adams awareness of Dinahs beautyand his happiness for Seth suggests the way he will eventually come to love her, first as a sisterand only later as a lover and wife. Adams love for Hetty is foolish, but his love for Dinahredeems him, proving that he can love the better things in a woman and partner. Although hislove of Hetty is based in his ability to see the best in her, it is also in no small part because ofher beauty. His love of Dinah, by contrast, is based only in her finer qualities. By including thisearly encounter, Eliot hints at Adams burgeoning love for Dinah, which will not come tofruition until the very last chapters of the novel.

The coincidences that keep Captain Donnithorne from getting away from Hetty before theirfirst meeting in the woods constitute the idea of tragedy in the novel. Because Hetty isconsidered to be within a lower social status than the captain, the reader assumes that a futurebetween the two is doubtful. A series of human errors, mostly on the part of CaptainDonnithorne, but also from Adam and the Poysers, combine with the coincidence of a horseslameness and a broken arm to set in motion events with undesirable consequences. If any oneof those elements had not been present, it is possible that the Hetty and Captain Donnithornenever would have interacted. This collusion of events make fate seem at fault for what is to

come instead of the actions of any one of the characters.

Book First: Chapters 1316

Summary: Chapter 13

Hetty walks home by the same route in the woods through which she came. At every turn, shehopes and prays to see Captain Donnithorne, but he is not there. She becomes so anxious thatshe begins to cry. She finally comes upon Captain Donnithorne, who is waiting for her. WhenCaptain Donnithorne sees Hettys tears, he asks her what is wrong, and she says that she wasafraid he would not come. He is so moved that he kisses her. Immediately after he kisses her,something bitter seems to come between them. When they part at the gate, CaptainDonnithorne seems sad, as he reflects on how much his emotions have gotten the better of him.He resolves to go to Mr. Irwine in the morning and tell him everything and in so doing tocleanse himself of the wrong he has committed.

Summary: Chapter 14

Dinah bids farewell to the Bede family, and Seth walks with her most of the way home. Adamand Lisbeth watch them leave, speculating on whether Dinah will ever come to love Seth.Adam thinks she will, and Lisbeth thinks not. Along the way, Dinah and Seth meet Hetty, andSeth turns back to his own home after shaking hands with Dinah. When they arrive at HallFarm, Martin Poyser greets them, and they all go in to have dinner. Hetty tries to refuse food,but she capitulates when Mrs. Poyser forces her. The Poysers ask Hetty to take Totty from Mrs.Poyser so that Mrs. Poyser can get some rest, but Hetty makes no effort to soothe the child.Dinah comes to Mrs. Poysers aid and puts Totty to bed. The whole family goes to bed.

Summary: Chapter 15

In her room, Hetty sneaks out some candles that she purchased at the fair and lights them sothat she can see herself in the mirror. She puts on some large, glass earrings and a black shawlin an attempt to make herself look like a grand lady. She struts around the room daydreamingabout the life she could have as Captain Donnithornes wife. The narrator reflects that Hettysphysical beauty, although beguiling to most men, Adam included, may not indicate that she hasa gentle nature. Meanwhile, in the room next door, Dinah sits looking out her window at thepeaceful moonlit hills. She prays for Hetty and becomes so worried about her that she decidesto go to her and impart some wisdom. Dinah goes and knocks on Hettys door, startling Hetty.The two girls talk for a short time. Dinah tries to warn Hetty that life will not always be easyand that she should seek God in good times so that she can lean on him in bad times. Hetty,however, is too upset to receive the advice gently and becomes hysterical and snaps at Dinah toget out.

Summary: Chapter 16

Captain Donnithorne sets out to have breakfast with Mr. Irwine and tell him about whathappened with Hetty. On the road, he meets Adam, who is walking to work. Adam treatsCaptain Donnithorne with great respect, in part because of his rank and because he believes hewill be a good manager. They recall the days when Captain Donnithorne played with Adam,

who is five years older. Captain Donnithorne offers to finance Adam anytime he wants to starthis own business. Adam declines for now. Captain Donnithorne says to Adam that he thinksAdam could beat him in a fight and that he must never have internal struggles. Adam agreesthat once he has made up his mind about something, he generally does not struggle over theissue anymore. Then Captain Donnithorne continues on to Mr. Irwines house. At breakfastwith Mr. Irwine, he comes close to revealing his affair with Hetty but does not tell Mr. Irwine.Instead, he merely philosophizes that a man who struggles with his good intentions cannotreally be a bad man. Mr. Irwine suspects that Captain Donnithorne wants to tell him somethingimportant, but he does not push the issue any further and makes some general statements aboutthe nature of a ones character.

Analysis: Chapters 1316

Totty, like the dogs throughout the book, is significant in how the other characters treat her,revealing much about themselves in their actions. Hetty has nothing but impatience for Totty,despite the fact that for her Totty represents an important household duty. In fact, later in herroom, Hetty reflects on what an inconvenience Totty is. She views Totty has nothing but anuisance and thinks the Poysers make too much of a fuss over the child. Hettys impatience andher inability or unwillingness to focus on Tottys needs reflect her own deep-seated selfishnessand shortsightedness. Captain Donnithorne uses Totty as a pawn in his efforts to get closer toHetty by asking Mrs. Poyser to bring her to him, not because he wants to see Totty but becausehe wants to be alone with Hetty. His use of Totty reflects his greater sense that the world isonly a tool for him and that other people are only important in so far as they offer a means ofattaining further greatness. Dinah, by contrast, receives Totty lovingly and gently. She coaxesTotty into doing the right thing, in this case going to bed so Mrs. Poyser can get some rest, withtenderness. Her treatment of Totty is emblematic of her treatment of everyone. Dinah respectsother characters deeper motivations and helps them to want to do right, rather than forcingthem to do it. Mrs. Poyser is over-indulgent of Totty, as she is of all those she loves. Totty is animportant character in the novel, then, even though she never speaks except in silly childishphrases, because she illuminates the characters of the other people in the novel.

The contrast between Hettys and Dinah's nighttime activities reflects the difference in theircharacters, and that difference will lead to the difference in their fates. Hettys vanity and self-absorption lead her to make bad decisions and suffer the consequences, whereas Dinahs gentlenature encourages her to go to Hetty now in an attempt to comfort her. Here, before the maintragedy of the novel, Eliot makes clear that the two women could not be more different, a factthat becomes especially important when they become the two main women in Adams life.Whereas Hetty prances before her own beauty, Dinah sits calmly and admires the beauty of thelandscape. Whereas Hetty lights her room with furtive candles, Dinah looks out at the world bymoonlight. Whereas Hetty rejects Totty, Dinah is naturally nurturing and maternal. In all ways,Dinah is the more natural, more selfless person. Her love of the world and whatever she finds init contrasts sharply with Hettys need to change her position in the world. Clearly, Hetty isheaded toward disaster and Dinah is headed to domestic tranquility. This distinction makesAdams ultimate marriage to Dinah a happy culmination of the novel.

The relationship between Adam and Captain Donnithorne is a complex mix of respect,affection, and disparity of social position. Adams admiration of Captain Donnithorne makes

up an important part of the disappointment and betrayal Adam feels when he learns of CaptainDonnithornes affair with Hetty. Adam feels for Captain Donnithorne as one does for achildhood friend, but Captain Donnithorne maintains at all times toward Adam a sense ofsuperiority based entirely on his class and wealth. Captain Donnithorne treats Adam like hedoes most of the peasantry in the parishalmost as a favored animal. Captain Donnithornedoes not mean to hurt anyone, but it is through his arrival in Hayslope that the story takes aturn. Although he is unaware of Adams feelings for Hetty when beginning the affair, he doesnot take them seriously when Adam reveals how he feels. Instead, Captain Donnithorne viewsAdam, his elder, as a child, whose feelings are amusing, even adorable, but not to be givenmuch weight. Adam, by contrast, always wants to see the best in Captain Donnithorne, and thatdesire is a big part of why Adam is able to reform a semblance of a friendship with him at theend of the novel. What Adam loses is his sense of awe at Captain Donnithornes authority.

Book Second: Chapters 1721

Summary: Chapter 17

The narrator pauses in the story to justify Mr. Irwines character. The characters in this novel,the narrator claims, are true to life and not the more sophisticated, better educated, moremoralistic characters that her lady readers might want. Mr. Irwine is well loved in Hayslope,the narrator says, and is more loved than his successor, who was a better preacher and moresevere teacher. The narrator claims to have gotten this knowledge from conversations withAdam several years after the action of the novel. The narrator urges readers to love theirneighbors as they find them and not to demand more beauty, intelligence, or wit than they findin them.

Summary: Chapter 18

The Poysers go to church to celebrate the Sunday Mass and the funeral service for Thias Bede.On the way, the Poysers talk about Hetty, Dinah, and the Methodists. Mr. Poyser meditates onhow pleased he is with Mrs. Poysers ability to run the farm. Hetty dresses herself especially,hoping to see Captain Donnithorne there. Captain Donnithorne, however, does not show up tothe service because, as she learns from his gardener, he has gone off fishing. Lisbeth feels thatthe service puts her more at ease with the death of Thias Bede because it is the last duty sheowes him and will help him to heaven. Seth hopes his father had one last moment ofreconciliation with God. Adam regrets his hardness toward his father, reflecting that he wasmotivated by pride when completing his fathers work earlier. He resolves he should have beengentler with his father. Adam also watches Hetty, and he misinterprets her sadness over theabsence of Captain Donnithorne as sympathy for the death of his father.

Summary: Chapter 19

Adam walks to work and thinks about Hetty. With the death of Thias Bede, Adam has a betterchance of making some money to marry. He decides that he and Seth should start making high-quality furniture in their spare time to make some extra money. He also decides that he will goto Hall Farm that evening after work to see Hetty and fix Mrs. Poysers spinning wheel. In theworkshop, Adam is at ease and in his element, and he softly hums hymns while he performs hiswork.

Summary: Chapter 20

Adam dresses in his Sunday best and heads out for Hall Farm. Lisbeth chases after him,harassing him about why he is wearing his good clothes, and Adam tells her that he will dowhat he wants with respect to Hetty. Adam goes to Mrs. Poyser in the dairy because the rest ofthe household is outside gathering the hay to take advantage of the good weather. Mrs. Poysersends Adam out to the garden to see Hetty, who is picking currants and is supposed to bewatching Totty. Adam finds Totty playing near the cherry tree and eating cherries, and he sendsher in to Mrs. Poyser. Then he joins Hetty and helps her gather the remaining currants. WhenHetty sees Adam, she starts and blushes because she has been thinking of Captain Donnithorne.

Adam, however, misinterprets her blush as an indication that she is finally falling in love withhim. Adam talks to Hetty about Captain Donnithornes offer to help finance his own business,and Hetty eagerly listens to any news about Captain Donnithorne. Again, Adam assumes she isshowing an increased attention to him and his affairs. Adam gives Hetty a rose, which shecoquettishly puts in her hair, and Adam chastises her that a beautiful woman needs noadornment but will look beautiful in even the plainest clothes. When they go in the house fordinner, Hetty goes upstairs and comes down dressed in Dinahs frock and hat, claiming that shehas dressed in this way to please Adam. Meanwhile, Mrs. Poyser scolds the maid, who breaksseveral mugs of beer because she has carried too many at once. Mrs. Poyser then drops her ownpitcher and claims it must have been bewitched. After Adam says good night, Mr. Poyser tellsHetty she would be lucky to marry Adam, but Hetty just scoffs.

Summary: Chapter 21

Adam goes to visit Bartle Massey, the schoolmaster. Massey teaches several of the adults in thecommunity how to read, and he is gentlest with those for whom the reading is the hardest. Afterclass is over, Adam and Massey chat, and Massey excoriates Adam on his wanting to marrybecause, Massey says, women are nothing but a hassle. Massey tells Adam that SquireDonnithornes old timber manager has had a stroke and that people are speculating that Adammight be appointed to replace him. Adam says he thinks not, however, because of a quarrel heand the Squire had a few years back. Adam had made a frame for the Squires daughter, MissLydia, but the Squire refused to pay the price Adam asked for it and insulted Adams carpentry.Adam refused all payment rather than take less than he asked and instead offered to make theframe a gift. The Squires wife secretly slipped Adam the full price he had requested, but Adamand the Squire had been on bad terms ever since.

Analysis: Chapters 1721

The narrators interlude and justification of Mr. Irwine demonstrates Eliots humanistic viewof the inherent good in everyday people. Mr. Irwine doesnt comport with Victorian moralisticviews of what a preacher should be. He is, instead, a good person who has his failings but isgenerally motivated by love and his desire to do what is best for others. In this way, Mr. Irwineis typical of most of the characters in the novel. In comparison, Adam and Dinah are clearlyboth set up as characters worthy of emulation, and together they are the positive moral force ofthe book. Nevertheless, Adam suffers from his pride, which leads him, for example, to be toohard on his father, and Dinah has her failings in her stubborn refusal to seek personal happinessfor herself. Unlike Mr. Irwine, Adam, and Dinah, Hetty and Captain Donnithorne are the twocharacters that most resemble villains in Adam Bede, but both have redeeming qualities andcommit acts in the novel that lead to positive outcomes for other characters. Eliots view ofhuman nature, then, is a complex one. She does not preach, and she does not offer flatcharacters with whom it is impossible to sympathize. Instead, she offers real characters, whosemotivations are sympathetic even when those motivations are impure.

Eliot portrays Adams sense of industry and his proficiency as a carpenter in this section asqualities that distinguish him from others in Hayslope and set him above those who are lazy.Adams desire to better his lot becomes clear in this section in several ways. First, Adam plansto do extra carpentry after work to earn some pocket money so that he can set up a home and

marry Hetty. Adams willingness to visit the Poysers and fix Mrs. Poysers spinning wheel isan act that brings him closer to Hettys family. Unlike Captain Donnithorne, who uses Totty asa way of getting closer to Hetty, Adam plans to lend the Poysers a hand while visiting Hetty.Adam also displays an eagerness to learn by attending night school, where Bartle Massey hastaught him to read and do arithmetic. Adams industry is openly admired by several charactersin the book as evidence of his good character. It contrasts with the villagers who drink at thetavern and with Hetty, who never puts her mind to her work, even while she is doing it. Thiscompulsion to work is one of the few characteristics Adam, the hero of the novel, and Dinah, itsheroine, share.

One of the few flaws in Adams character is his pride, although this failing is mitigated to someextent by his own awareness of the weakness. But the story about the quarrel between Adamand the Squire provides evidence of this pride, as this disagreement with the Squire proves thatAdam will not allow superiority to stand in the way of what he thinks he deserves. AlthoughAdam is ordinarily very respectful of authority, his pride in his work supersedes his naturalgoodwill when the Squire tries to pay him less than he feels his work is worth. His pridemanifests also toward his father, in his hardness and willingness to work to ameliorate theshame his father brought on the family rather than to be kind to his father. Adams pride istested when he is later led to judge someone whom he respects and considers a friend. Thisjudgment against another persons actions is exactly what the whole novel aims at condemning.Throughout the novel, Adam is tested through a number of tragedies that will affect his prideand cause him to question how to act. Because he becomes aware of his own pride and is able toovercome it, he remains a person to emulate in the novel. Unlike the villains in the novel,whose lack of self-scrutiny makes them unable to correct their faults, Adam is able to see hisown failings and correct them.

Eliot contrasts inner and outer beauty through Mr. and Mrs. Poysers conversation about Hettyand Dinah. When Mr. Poyser states that men would still prefer Hetty over Dinah even if Dinahdidnt wear her Methodist cap, it suggests that external beauty is more recognized andpreferred to inner beauty. Despite Hettys lack of inner beauty, she is the more physicallybeautiful of the two, and those around her are often fooled and blinded by her appealing looks.At this point, the only character who knows Hettys true personality is Mrs. Poyser. In fact,Mrs. Poyser for a moment forgets Hettys inner ugliness after she sees Hetty walk down thestairs in her Sunday best, and she has to turn away to keep from smiling and speaking. Adamfalls blind to Hettys beauty when he mistakes her sadness at the funeral and later when hediscusses Captain Donnithornes offer to help with his business. Adam thinks he loves Hetty,but he really is infatuated with her, based on her beauty. He assumes she is a good person butonly draws this conclusion because of her appearance. However, unlike Adam, Seths feelingsfor Dinah are more real because he is drawn not only to her beauty but also to her innercharacter.

Book Third: Chapters 2226

Summary: Chapter 22

Captain Donnithornes coming-of-age party begins. As she gets ready, Hetty tries on theearrings Captain Donnithorne has given her and wears the locket with his hair in it that he hasgiven her but keeps it under her dress. People from the parish, including the Poysers, begin toarrive, and the Chase, the Squires home, is consumed in a fairlike atmosphere. CaptainDonnithorne and Mr. Irwine survey the dinner arrangements and discuss Adam. The Squire hasagreed to hire Adam to look after his timber. Captain Donnithorne complains about how littlemoney the Squire has given him for the party, but Mr. Irwine tells him that a quieter party willbe more appreciated than a more raucous event would have been.

Summary: Chapter 23

The tenants come in to dinner, and they argue over who is to sit at the head of the table. Adamsits with the tenants, even though, as a craftsman (because of his new position tending thetimber), he would normally sit at the lower table. He sees Hetty, who flirts with him becauseshe knows Mary Burge, who loves Adam, is watching them.

Summary: Chapter 24

Captain Donnithorne comes in to the dinner, and Mr. Poyser delivers a speech thanking him forall he has done for the tenants and hoping that he will soon come into his inheritance. CaptainDonnithorne gives an acceptance speech and then toasts the Squire and Adam. In his toast toAdam, he announces that Adam will be working for the Squire, even though Adam has so farkept this information a secret because he has not yet had a chance to tell Mr. Burge, hisemployer. Adam gives a proud acceptance speech. Captain Donnithorne walks around the table,greeting the tenants. He does not dare to look at Hetty, who feels slighted.

Summary: Chapter 25

Captain Donnithorne, Mr. Irwine, the Squire, Miss Lydia, and Mrs. Irwine, along with theIrwine sisters, take up their place on a raised dais near where the games are being played. Mrs.Irwine admires the party, the last she says she will likely live to see unless CaptainDonnithorne soon marries. She tells him that if he does not marry a beautiful woman she willnever forgive him. Mrs. Irwine has selected the prizes for the women winners. She gives thewomen only practical gifts because, she says, she does not want to encourage vanity in womenof the lower class. Captain Donnithorne has selected the prizes for the men and gives themsplendid gifts. After the games, Wiry Ben dances for the crowd, and the nobles laugh at himwhile Mr. Poyser and others look on with genuine admiration for his skill.

Summary: Chapter 26

Adam stays for the dance at the request of Captain Donnithorne, even though Lisbeth urges himto come home with her. He only wants to dance with Hetty, who only wants to dance with

Captain Donnithorne. When Adam goes to Hetty to claim her for the dance she has promisedhim, she is holding Totty. When they transfer Totty to the maid, Totty grabs the string of beadson which Hettys locket is strung, and it breaks, scattering all over the floor and sending thelocket flying. Adam picks up the locket and notices the two different colors of hair inside. Hegives it to Hetty, who is extremely agitated and embarrassed. Adam is miserable at the thoughtthat she might have a secret lover, but he rationalizes on the way home that she probablybought the locket for herself and put pieces of her dead parents hair inside with a piece of herown. On their way home, Mr. Poyser remarks to Mrs. Poyser that Hetty will one day be able totell her children that she danced with a nobleman in his military dress.

Analysis: Chapters 2226

Although little seems to happen in the third book, these chapters actually serve as the centralturning point in the novel. Captain Donnithornes coming-of age-party is important for tworeasons. First, the party brings into sharp focus the class issues that pervade life in Hayslope.By bringing together all the characters in the novel, the third book allows the minor charactersto take center stage, especially during Wiry Bens dance, when Wiry Ben and other members ofthe lower class become more important than at almost any other time in the novel. A similarcelebration comes almost at the end of the novel, in the Harvest Feast. Although it is not ascomplete a roster of the characters of the novel, at the Feast, the reader gets a chance to seesome villagers of Hayslope after the affair of Hetty Sorrel. Second, the party also displays themain characters in their last moments of innocence: Adam believes Hetty may love him,although the incident with the locket raises his suspicions. Similarly, up to this point thePoysers have believed that Hettys worst faults are in her reluctance to do her chores, andeveryone, especially Mr. Irwine, has believed in Captain Donnithornes good character. All ofthat is about to change, and the narrator spends a good deal of time describing some of thevillagers impressions of Hetty so that the reader understands just how profoundly Hettysdownfall will rock the world of Hayslope. The third book occurs during one half of one day anddepicts the last time the characters are all together before the major events of the novel unfold,which largely take place between the action of the fourth and fifth books.

The contrast between Adams and Captain Donnithornes acceptance speeches emphasizes thedifferences in their characters. While the others at the table criticize Adams pride, everyonelauds Captain Donnithornes self-effacement. The narrator, however, takes the opposite view:Adams speech, proud though it may be, is an honest assessment of his own abilities. CaptainDonnithornes speech, by contrast, is punctuated by his own guilt about Hetty and characterizedby falseness. Captain Donnithorne wants to seem modest, so he gives a modest speech. Adam isproud of his workmanship and the respect of his peers, so he speaks frankly and proudly. Thedifference between them contributes largely to the difference between their fates at the end ofthe novel: Adam will overcome his weaknesses, but Captain Donnithorne will succumb to his,and as a result Adam will remain among his friends while Captain Donnithorne will have toflee the parish in disgrace.

Eliot continually discredits those members of the nobility who deride the simple pleasures ofthe lower classes. The party is a microcosm of everything distasteful about class prejudice. Atthe party, the nobility are set apart, and the women neglect even to join the lower classes fordinner. They sit on a raised platform and do not participate in the simple games of the peasants.

They make fun of Wiry Bens dance, even though, as the reader learns from the reaction of Mr.Poyser, Wiry Ben is, in fact, a very talented dancer. The narrator has no patience with thissnobbery, making clear over and over that the empathy in the novel lies with the poorer people.Mrs. Irwine, who embodies the worst of the snobs, is drawn as a single-minded, haughtywoman whose condescension only serves to make people unhappy. For example, her selectionof practical gifts for the young women, so as not to encourage vanity in the lower classes,undercuts the spirit of fun and frivolity of the afternoon. Her so-called gifts only make therecipients unhappy. The narrator encourages readers instead to enjoy lifes simpler pleasuresand not to turn their noses up at characters or people just because they are of a lower class.

Book Fourth: Chapters 2731

Summary: Chapter 27

Hetty has been kinder to Adam, making him believe that perhaps she is coming to love him.Adam is overseeing work for the Squire, and he must travel to the Squires residence, whereCaptain Donnithorne is staying. One evening, the day before Captain Donnithorne is to leave tomeet up with his regiment, Adam encounters Captain Donnithorne and Hetty kissing in thewoods. Hetty runs off, and Captain Donnithorne walks by Adam. He stops to say that he raninto Hetty, walked her partway home, and asked her for a kiss for his effort. Adam is not fooledand says that he knows Captain Donnithorne has kissed Hetty more than once. Then Adamreveals that he himself loves her, and Captain Donnithorne is horrified for a moment. Adamtells Captain Donnithorne that he is a scoundrel, and Captain Donnithorne punches him. Adamis the stronger of the two, and he knocks Captain Donnithorne down. Adam immediately feelsremorse and reaches down to help Captain Donnithorne up, but Adam believes that he is dead.

Summary: Chapter 28

A few minutes later, Captain Donnithorne regains consciousness, and Adam is so relieved thathe rushes to help him. Together, they go back to the Hermitage. While Adam runs to get brandyfrom the main house, Captain Donnithorne picks up Hettys handkerchief and shoves it into atrashcan, underneath the trash. When Adam returns, the two talk. Captain Donnithorne feelsthat he has no choice but to lie to Adam about the extent of his affair with Hetty. Adam forceshim to promise to write a letter to Hetty explaining that their relationship was never anythingmore than flirtation, that they can never be married, and that Captain Donnithorne is goingaway. Captain Donnithorne resists writing the letter, but Adam tells him either to write or toadmit to Adam the extent of their relationship. Captain Donnithorne chooses to write to herrather than to tell Adam the truth.

Summary: Chapter 29

Captain Donnithorne wakes the next morning and contemplates the events of the night before.He does not want to write the letter to Hetty because he does not want to hurt her. However, heconvinces himself that he will do good for her in the future and that she will come to owe himfor his good deeds and forgive him the harm he has done her by seducing her. CaptainDonnithorne writes the letter and has his servant give it to Adam. In the letter, he includes awarning to Adam that the letter will hurt Hetty and that it might be better not to give it to her.Adam, who is deeply saddened that his benefactor has turned out to be a seducer, decides thathe will be able to give up his thoughts of revenge against Captain Donnithorne, but he willnever be able to feel the same way about him again.

Summary: Chapter 30

Hetty worries about whether Adam will tell the Poysers about her affair with CaptainDonnithorne. She is relieved when he says that he wants to see her alone. Adam tells her thatCaptain Donnithorne has told him that he never cared for her, but she does not believe him. He

gives her the letter from Captain Donnithorne, and Hetty does not read it immediately butconvinces herself that it must say something different from what Adam says. On his way home,Adam encounters Seth and apologizes for being gruff with him. Seth gives Adam a letter fromDinah in which Dinah ruminates on the importance of having sorrow in our lives so that we canfeel what the rest of the world is feeling. Adam tells Seth that he hopes Dinah will come to lovehim and encourages Seth to go see her in Snowfield.

Summary: Chapter 31

Hetty reads the letter from Captain Donnithorne. In it, he tells her that she will never be hiswife, assures her that she would have been unhappy because of their class distinctions anyway,and promises her that he will always do for her what he can. Hetty hates him for his letter andbelieves that her peasant life will never be anything but bitter to her again. Hetty longs forchange and asks Mr. Poyser to allow her to become a ladys maid. He refuses. Mrs. Poyser isangered by the lack of gratitude reflected in the request. Hetty decides that maybe the onlyavenue to change is to marry Adam.

Analysis: Chapter 2731

Hettys decision to marry Adam, as strange as it may seem, coming on the heels of herdisappointment about Captain Donnithorne, reflects the true nature of Hettys feelings towardCaptain Donnithorne and Hettys incapacity to love. To Hetty, love and marriage are merelymeans to an end, and that end is being physically comfort. Hettys only concern, even in herlove affairs, is a selfish desire to be happy and taken care of. Hettys decision to marry Adam isa central fact of the book because it requires the reader to see Hetty for what she is rather thanconsidering her to be a nave, young girl who was victimized by an older man in a position ofpower. Although it is true that Hetty is young and simple and that she was seduced, herinherently selfish nature shines through at this moment. She is at her least sympathetic whendeciding that because she cannot become a ladys maid, she might as well marry a decent, hard-working man. This decision magnifies the hardness of heart Hetty demonstrated when sherejected Dinahs attempts to love her and give her advice, and it prepares the reader for Hettysactions later in the novel. It also demonstrates the fact that Hetty simply cannot love but canonly act in her own self-interest.

Adams momentary belief that he has killed Captain Donnithorne marks a turning point forAdam, in which he begins to see that evil, especially evil that cannot be undone, is useless nomatter what prompted it. After this moment, Adam will not be able to act on his passions again,even when extreme hardship comes his way. The Adam Bede the reader knows in the first partof the novel, up until the fight with Captain Donnithorne, is a good man who is basicallyuntested. He has faced hardship, but he has not faced a true crisis of conscience. Even the deathof his father caused in Adam only a momentary reflection that he should be less proud. For themost part, Adam acts on his instincts. His instincts are toward the good, and so his life up untilthis point has been marked by helping others and doing good work. But Adam has never beenforced to examine his own actions and his own motivations. He knows that he is a proud man,but he has never had to face the consequences of that pride. When he knocks down CaptainDonnithorne and believes briefly that he has killed him, all that changes. He sees that his pridedoes not bring anything positive. From the moment Adam renders the captain unconscious, the

reader is able to reflect on how Adams pride has overcome him and question whether he willconfront his own motivations and the motivations of others in the upcoming scenes of the story.

Captain Donnithornes decision to write the letter to Hetty, and especially the decision toinclude a warning to Adam, shows how deep his cowardice runs and how far he will go topreserve his image as a good man. Captain Donnithorne writes a letter to Hetty that he knows tobe largely false just to preserve Adams image of him, even though the letter will break Hettysheart. Moreover, his self-delusion is so deep that he convinces himself that Adam has forcedhim to write the letter by confronting him and that it is somehow Adams fault that Hettysheart will be broken. The note to Adam on the letter, warning him that it may be better not togive the letter to Hetty at all, especially demonstrates how eager and willing he is to pass thebuck from himself to anyone at all. He wants to believe that he is a good man, and he will go togreat lengths to avoid facing the consequences of his own dishonorable actions. Thischaracteristic is what causes him to be offended when Adam beats him at a fight he started andover an issue for which he certainly deserves a beating. After the fight, the captain retreats tohis sense of superiority over Adam rather than own up to the depths of his transgressions withHetty. Captain Donnithorne becomes a weak man in a position of power after the fight scene,and this weakness carries consequences throughout the remainder of the novel.

Book Fourth: Chapters 3235

Summary: Chapter 32

The Squire comes to the Poysers to ask them to give up some of their farming land in exchangefor some additional dairy land. The Squire wants the arrangement so that he can lease ChaseFarm, and he flatters and wheedles in his attempt to get the Poysers to agree. Mrs. Poyser isfurious and refuses the offer. She says she will not help him make more money while ruiningherself. Mr. Poyser worries that he will kick them off Hall Farm when it comes time to renewtheir lease. He laments the idea of going to live among strangers when it has been the pride ofh