In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," the passage discusses the societal expectations placed upon men and women regarding their roles in relationships. It points out the unfairness of expecting men to evaluate their own attributes in relation to a woman's happiness while they typically focus on a woman's qualities for their own gratification. This imbalance highlights a deeper social commentary about the gender norms prevalent in society.

Eliot suggests that the idea of a man considering his own ability to please a potential partner is unreasonable. Instead, it critiques the notion that men have the power to choose a mate who would also provide desirable traits for their future children, emphasizing the absurdity of such a standard. This reflection on the complexities of romantic expectations calls into question the traditional dynamics of gender roles in relationships.