In "Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life," George Eliot reflects on how some literary figures capture attention through their profound discontent with life, portraying the world as a tedious trap for their elevated spirits. These gentlemen experience a tension between their perceived greatness and the mundanity of the world around them, suggesting that such discontent becomes a source of their literary success.

Additionally, Eliot alludes to the notion that while one may feel a sense of grandeur in contrast to an unremarkable world, there can still be a level of comfort found in that realization. This paradox highlights the complexity of human experience, where feelings of insignificance and self-worth can coexist, allowing for a deeper understanding of one's place in the universe.