In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Sir James reflects on an individual, suggesting that he lacks true vitality or nobility. His assertion portrays the subject as lacking in essential qualities that define a good character. This comment indicates a perception that the individual is devoid of admirable traits, likened to having "no good red blood."

Mrs. Cadwallader humorously expands on Sir James's observation, implying that an examination of this person's blood would reveal only complex and fragmented elements, such as semicolons and parentheses. This metaphor suggests that the person is filled with confusing and artificial traits rather than genuine human qualities.