religious feeling; but in Miss Brooke's case, religion alone would have determined it; and Celia mildly acquiesced in all her sister's sentiments, only infusing them with that common-sense which is able to accept momentous doctrines without any eccentric agitation. Dorothea knew many passages of Pascal's Pensees and of Jeremy Taylor by heart; and to her the destinies of mankind, seen by the light of Christianity, made the solicitudes of feminine fashion appear an occupation for Bedlam. She could not reconcile the anxieties of a spiritual life involving eternal consequences, with a keen interest in gimp and artificial protrusions
In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Miss Brooke's strong religious conviction significantly influences her perspective on life. She sees her commitment to spiritual matters as paramount, dismissing the trivial concerns of fashion as insignificant. Celia, her sister, shares her sentiments but approaches them with a practicality that tempers Miss Brooke’s fervor with reason. This balance between serious beliefs and everyday realities highlights the difference in their characters.
Dorothea Brooke's deep understanding of philosophical and religious texts, such as those by Pascal and Jeremy Taylor, shapes her worldview. She perceives the spiritual struggles and moral implications of life as far more pressing than the superficial worries of outward appearance, emphasizing her desire for a meaningful existence. This contrast starkly illustrates how she prioritizes eternal matters over societal expectations regarding fashion, showcasing the depth of her character in a world preoccupied with appearance.
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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!
