In "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, the character Rosamond grapples with her aspirations and desires. She yearns for a life filled with luxuries and finer things, which dominate her thoughts and ambitions. This fixation on wealth and status illustrates her inability to appreciate the simpler joys in life, leading to an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction when her dreams clash with reality.
The quote emphasizes Rosamond's narrow perspective, revealing how her ambitions consume her mind. It suggests that her fixation on luxury diminishes her capacity to find happiness in other aspects of life. Through this lens, Eliot critiques societal values that equate worth with material possessions, underscoring the pitfalls of a life focused solely on outward appearances.