The Labyrinth of Life: George Eliot and the Limits to Freedom

Abstract

<p>Chapters one to four of this thesis provide background material relevant to George Eliot's thought about the limits to human freedom. In chapter one, Eliot's loss of faith and her relationship to Hennell's position are considered. Chapter two deals with her indebtedness to Feuerbach, and his doctrine of the religious centrality of man . The nature of Eliot's views on ethical obligation is discussed in chapter three. Chapter four ends this section with a consideration of the view of life which pervades Eliot's novels, an essentially deterministic one which nonetheless insists upon the need for responsible moral action.</p> <p>Chapters five to nine analyze the weight of determining factors in the lives of a number of Eliot's characters. These are: chapters five and six -- Hetty Sorrel and Arthur Donnithorne (Adam Bede) , chapter seven -- Maggie Tulliver (The Millon the Floss), chapter eight -- Mrs. Transome (Felix Holt , the Racical) and chapter nine -- Gwendolen Harleth (Daniel Deronda ) .</p>