Comparing the use of books in Mill on the Floss and David Copperfield

A detailed Summary of Comparing the use of books in Mill on the Floss and David Copperfield

Comparing the use of books in "Mill on the Floss" and "David Copperfield"

In "David Copperfield," Dickens employs books and learning to read as a means to demonstrate the irrationality and hatefulness of Mr. Murdstone and his sister. In these scenes, David is obviously quite young and just beginning to conquer the world of letters, which had been an agreeable task at his mother's knee before she remarried. Mr. Murdstone and his sister, however, see this as an opportunity to force their concept of "firmness" on both David and his mother. Just as Dickens used books and learning how to read to comment on the cruelty of Victorian notions of child rearing, George Eliot used books to illustrate the unfairness of gender bias during that same era. Eliot's protagonist, Maggie Tulliver, is extremely bright, undoubtedly brighter then her

brother Tom, whom her father will sacrifice for in order to provide him with an education. However, Maggie's ability to read, her thirst for knowl

million live alone" (p. 468). In "Self-Dependence," the sea is used as metaphor that represents the epitome of self determination-it asks not that world provide it with "love, amusement, sympathy" (p. 468). Similarly to these instances, in "Dover Beach," the sea once again serves as a metaphor, but in this instance, it serves to connect the present with the past-"Sophocles long

edge, and her natural independence are met with condemnation rather then encouragement. For example, Eliot writes that "Maggie shut up the book at once, with a sense of disgrace..." (p. 491). The text makes it clear that Maggie is expected to fit the Victorian mold for womanhood, which includes being submissive and passive,

Peggotty (p. 473). As David describes attending church as a small child, he includes details that show the perspective of a child-"What a high-backed pew!" (p. 474). Also, his reaction to his mother's remarriage from the viewpoint of a child who doesn't understand, and also does

Some common words found in the essay are:
Maggie Tulliver, Sir Bedivere's, Copperfield Dickens, Isolation Arnold, Dover Beach, George Eliot, Arthur Christ-like, Tennyson's King, Heard Aegean, Arthur Duchess, murdstone sister, books learning, sea metaphor, david copperfield, learning read, books learning read, dover beach, arnold sea,

Approximate Word count = 660
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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