I don't mean your resentment toward them," said Philip... "I mean your extending the enmity to a helpless girl, who has too much sense and goodness to share their narrow prejudices. She has never entered into the family quarrels.""What does that signify? We don't ask what a woman does; we ask whom she belongs to. It's altogether a degrading thing to you, to think of marrying old Tulliver's daughter.
In this excerpt from "The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot, Philip points out the unfairness of extending personal grudges toward a woman who is innocent in family conflicts. He emphasizes that the girl in question possesses qualities of sense and goodness, and does not deserve to be affected by the family’s narrow-mindedness. Philip argues that she should not be judged based on her lineage or the resentments that others harbor.
The dialogue further explores societal attitudes that define women by their associations rather than their individual merits. It reflects a degrading perspective, suggesting that a woman's worth is tied to her family rather than her capabilities or character. This highlights the limits placed on women in society and the prevailing prejudices that dictate their acceptance based on familial ties.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
