What could two men, so different from each other, see in this brown patch, as Mary called hereself? It was certainly not her plainness that attracted them {and let all plain young ladies be warned against the dangerous encouragement given them by Society to confinde in their want of beauty}
In George Eliot's "Middlemarch," the character Mary reflects on the attention she receives from two very different men, pondering what draws them to her despite her lack of conventional beauty. She suggests that it is not her plain appearance that captivates them but rather something deeper that remains unexplained. This hint at the complexity of attraction implies that qualities beyond physical beauty can be compelling.
Mary's observation serves as a cautionary note to other plain young women, warning them of the societal pressures that can lead to misplaced confidence in their looks. It suggests that society's emphasis on beauty can be misleading and that genuine affection may stem from character and virtues rather than mere appearance.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
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