Daniel Deronda

Deronda has agreed to stay in Genoa with Gwendolen until Sir Hugo joins them. For his part, Sir Hugo is quietly relieved that Grandcourt’s death will return his estates to him and he will be able to pass these along to his daughters. Sir Hugo meets with Deronda and explains the nature of Grandcourt’s will, which states that Gwendolen—in the event that she does not provide Grandcourt with a male heir—will receive an annuity of £2,000 as well as a home in Gadsmere. This is where Lydia Glasher currently lives, and it is considered Grandcourt’s least valuable property. The way in which Grandcourt’s will punishes Gwendolen leaves Sir Hugo feeling “perfectly disgusted”; he has spoken to Lush about the couple’s antipathy toward one another. Deronda confirms the loveless nature of the marriage but withholds any suggestion that Gwendolen knew about Lydia and the illegitimate children. Deronda believes that Gwendolen will be pleased by the arrangements outlined in the will. Deronda also talks to Sir Hugo about his meeting with his mother and his recently discovered Jewish heritage. Sir Hugo has been holding on to the fortune left to Deronda by his father, which he will now give to Deronda with added interest. The arrangements will be made as soon as Deronda figures out what he wants to do with his life. When Sir Hugo mentions that he hopes Deronda will not “set a dead Jew above a living Christian” (604), Deronda says nothing.

Deronda visits a bank in Mainz, where his grandfather’s chest is waiting for him. Inside the chest is a collection of papers. Joseph Kalonymos waits for Deronda in the bank. The two men talk. Joseph describes himself as a “wanderer,” though he notes that his successful children live nearby in Mainz. Joseph speaks about his relationship with Deronda’s grandfather, Daniel Charisi, who was a widely traveled physician. Charisi held strong views about Jewish identity and insisted that Jews should not allow their identities to be lost in non-Jewish cultures. Deronda assures Joseph that he will not hide his Jewish identity, even if he might not hold the exact same beliefs as his forebears. He will strive to improve the standings of the Jewish people and chooses this as his vocation in life.

The Meyrick family learns that Grandcourt is dead. Hans jokes that Gwendolen is now free to marry someone she does not hate. Mirah interrupts her teaching to scold him for his comment, saying that he should not joke about such matters. She is also concerned that a possible marriage between Gwendolen and Deronda could harm her brother, who could not bear to be separated from Deronda. Hans apologizes and realizes, for the first time, that Mirah’s heart might be “entirely preoccupied with Deronda” (613). He also believes that Gwendolen may be in love with Deronda and he worries that his friend might marry the wrong woman. Alone, Mirah finally acknowledges to herself that her response to Hans means that she may be in love with Deronda. However, she does not believe that Deronda is in love with her.

Mirah attends a concert in the morning and, after the concert is over, she is approached by her father. Mr. Lapidoth bluntly demands to know why she abandoned him. Mirah insists that she is right not to trust him. On the walk back to her home, she reveals that that she is living with her brother—and Lapidoth’s son—Ezra. Her comments remind Lapidoth that he abandoned his wife and son; she tells him that he must stand in front of Mordecai and be honest. Lapidoth refuses to go into the home. He does not want to talk to his son in his current state. Instead, he asks Mirah for money. Though she refuses to give him any large amount, she hands over her purse. Inside the house, she tells Mordecai what has happened. He comforts his sister and tells her that their “lot is the lot of Israel” (625).

Deronda leaves Italy and returns to England. By this time, he has come to recognize his “secret passionate longing” for Mirah (626), and he plans to tell her as much. Gwendolen, meanwhile, arouses only pity in him. He is concerned that Mirah may not love him back because of the various complications in their lives, such as his friendship with her brother. He goes directly to Mordecai when he returns to London, announcing that he is Jewish. He now wants Mordecai’s help to sort through the documents in his grandfather’s chest and to join together to work for the betterment of the Jewish people. When he hears this, Mordecai is overjoyed. He feels as though their souls have been joined just as he envisaged. Deronda does not agree with everything Mordecai believes, however, so he recommends that they combine their beliefs into something new. Thinking about Mirah, Deronda searches for a sign that she may return his love. When news reaches Mirah about Deronda’s true identity, Mirah begins to feel less concerned about his relationship with Gwendolen and more hopeful that he may love her.

Gwendolen’s return makes Mrs. Davilow very happy. Sir Hugo tells Mr. Gascoigne about the details of Grandcourt’s will and Mr. Gascoigne chides himself for not scrutinizing Grandcourt in greater detail. The “chivalrous” Sir Hugo continues to be disgusted by the way Grandcourt’s will treats Gwendolen and resolves to help her in any way he can. Mr. Gascoigne blames himself for not making Grandcourt write a legal document before the marriage that outlined what would happen in the event of his death. Gwendolen insists that she is within her rights to reject anything left to her in the will. While returning to England, she asked Sir Hugo whether he would ask Deronda to speak to her as soon as possible. Privately, she feels a “passionate attachment” to him. Sir Hugo promised to write to Deronda. He believes that she is in love with Deronda and thinks that such a marriage would please him. However, he suspects that Deronda has other ideas.

The note from Sir Hugo reaches Deronda. He fears what is inside; he does not want to hurt Gwendolen’s feelings by turning her down. He wonders what might have happened if he had met her before he became interested in Jewish culture, wondering whether he might have felt the need to marry her to protect her. Now, however, he knows that he is in love with Mirah. He accepts the invitation to visit Gwendolen. She asks him what she should do with Grandcourt’s money. She could either take everything or just enough to support her family. He suggests that she follow whatever was laid out in the will, using her money and her experience to become “the best of women” (648). Gwendolen wants Deronda’s support. She believes that they share a spiritual bond. Deronda pays another visit to Gwendolen, this time with her mother present. He discovers that the family is planning to move out of the large house and into their old home. Deronda has still not clarified his intentions with regard to Gwendolen.

When Lapidoth spends all the money given to him by Mirah, he pesters his children again. This time, he meets Mordecai, who assures his father that he knows him “too well” but agrees that he can stay. Before agreeing to this, however, he accuses his father of being untrustworthy and evil. Lapidoth has a gambling addiction. His addiction has hardened him to such criticisms. As he lies in bed at night, all he can imagine is the roulette wheel. He begins to wonder whether Mirah and Mordecai keep any money in their home.

Lapidoth is present when Deronda visits Mirah and Mordecai in their home. Mordecai is slowly learning how to tolerate the presence of his father. Deronda cannot stop thinking about the awful way that Lapidoth has treated his children, so his attitude toward the man is initially cold. As he studies his grandfather’s papers, however, he appreciates Lapidoth’s help in translating a German manuscript. Lapidoth makes sure to behave himself as he wants Deronda to trust him.

Deronda visits Hans. He discovers that Hans is recovering after using opium. They speak about Deronda’s discovery of his Jewish heritage but Hans admits that he knows already. He becomes irritable, sarcastically asking whether Gwendolen knows about Deronda’s apparent plans to go away to the Middle East in search of his Jewish heritage. Deronda reiterates that he does not love Gwendolen. Instead, he admits, he loves Mirah. He tells his friend that he is worried that Mirah does not love him back, even wondering whether she may love Hans more than him. Though he is annoyed, Hans assures his friend that Mirah loves him. He says that Mirah envies Gwendolen, which he claims is evidence of her love. He suggests that Deronda go to Mirah as soon as possible and declare his love for her.

Deronda is excited to tell Mirah he loves her. He sees a future in which he can protect her from her father’s harassment. Lapidoth has been growing restless. He is still in his daughter’s home, but he thinks often about gambling. Deronda arrives at the house to work on some documents with Mordecai. While working, he removes his diamond ring and places it carefully on the side. Waiting until no one is paying attention, Lapidoth steals the expensive ring and leaves. Deronda notices that the ring is gone. He and Mirah search for the ring, but they suspect that Lapidoth has stolen it. Seeing that Mirah is upset, Deronda is struck by the sudden urge to declare his love. He proposes to Mirah by suggesting that she allow him to make Lapidoth his own father, too, so that he can share her disgrace, sorrow, and joy. Mirah responds by kissing Deronda, then suggests that they “go and comfort Ezra” (667).

Sir Hugo spends fall at Diplow. He is growing popular in the local community. His serenity is broken by a letter from Deronda, in which he announces his plans to marry Mirah and spend his life advocating for the cause of the Jewish people. Sir Hugo is “thoroughly vexed” and Lady Mallinger is annoyed that Deronda will not be marrying Gwendolen. She cannot believe that he would go “with the Jews” instead (669). Deronda pays two visits to Sir Hugo, so that he can complete the financial paperwork regarding his inheritance. During these visits, he cannot bring himself to tell Gwendolen that he intends to marry Mirah. He visits Diplow a third time and finds Hans in the middle of a painting. He has been hired to paint the Mallinger daughters. Hans jokes with his friend, teasing him that he wants to see Gwendolen suffer after him for the rest of time. Deronda resolves to speak with Gwendolen about what has happened. He goes to her, telling her everything about his Jewish family and his engagement to Mirah. Deronda tells Gwendolen that she will always be his friend. He promises to write to her. Gwendolen is upset. After a day and a half spent weeping, she finally casts aside her sadness and announces that she “[means] to live” (680).

Deronda and Mirah are “married according to the Jewish rite” (681). Gwendolen writes to Deronda, assuring him that she is better for having known him. After the ceremony, Mordecai joins the newlyweds. They plan to travel to the Middle East but Mordecai’s sickness worsens, and he dies before they depart. His death is happy, as he believes that Deronda and he will “live together” as one soul.