Language gives a fuller image, which is all the better for beings vague. After all, the true seeing is within; and painting stares at you with an insistent imperfection. I feel that especially about representations of women. As if a woman were a mere colored superficies! You must wait for movement and tone. There is a difference in their very breathing: they change from moment to moment.
In the excerpt from "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, the author emphasizes the power of language to convey deeper meanings, especially when it comes to capturing vague or complex ideas. Language serves to enrich our understanding, leading to a more profound perception that transcends mere surface appearances. Eliot suggests that deeper insights can be gleaned from within rather than from external representations.
She expresses a particular concern about how women are often portrayed, reduced to simple visuals instead of being appreciated for their dynamic nature. Eliot points out that a woman's essence cannot be captured in a static image, as it involves movement and subtleties that are constantly evolving. This highlights the need to recognize and appreciate the deeper qualities that give life to a woman's identity, rather than merely viewing her as a flat, unchanging figure.
