The cubic feet of oxygen yearly swallowed by a full-grown man – what a shudder they might have created in some Middlemarch circles! 'Oxygen! nobody knows what that may be – is it any wonder the cholera has got to Dantzic?
The quote reflects the apprehension and ignorance of the people in Middlemarch regarding the scientific understanding of oxygen. It highlights how the average person struggles to comprehend complex scientific ideas, leading to fear and speculation about diseases, like cholera, that were affecting regions like Dantzic. This connection illustrates the tension between emerging scientific knowledge and public perception in Victorian society.
Furthermore, it emphasizes how uninformed reactions to new concepts can lead to unnecessary anxiety, showing the gap between scientific progress and everyday understanding. Eliot critiques this societal tendency, suggesting that fear of the unknown can distort rational thought and overshadow important discussions about health and morality in the community.
