The Mill on the Floss

Due to the unequal gender hierarchy within Maggie’s society, men can simultaneously victimize women while posing as women’s saviors. The double-edged sword of Maggie’s existence as a woman in the 19th century is that men abuse her, but she can only turn to men for help. After her disastrous boat outing with Stephen, Maggie returns to the only man in her family: her brother Tom. Tom responds by rejecting her, turning her away when she needs him the most. Tom violates his own commitment to family loyalty by disavowing Maggie; in doing so, he gives the town more fodder for gossip and judgement. Maggie seeks for another man to give her refuge and finds help in Tom’s old friend Bob, who not only harbors her in his home but is ready to fight whichever man dishonored her. Bob acts more as a brother to Maggie than Tom does, once again proving his loyalty and inherent selflessness.

While Maggie endures the shame of her entire community, Philip and Tom take their family money and go abroad to avoid dealing with the scandal. This highlights yet another example of sexism within Maggie’s society. The men have the privilege of selfhood and autonomy; they can use money to go wherever they want in the world on their own and, moreover, no one judges them for leaving Maggie behind to deal with the scandal on her own. Maggie shoulders the pain of the scandal on both her own behalf and on Stephen’s. She also endures the scandal on Philip’s behalf, because rumors about Philip and Maggie’s relationship already began circulating after Philip told his father of his intentions to marry Maggie. Ironically, Philip’s admission of his feelings convinces his father to sell Dorlcote Mill to Tom—Tom enjoys the rewards of Maggie’s relationship with Philip even though he disowns her for that very relationship. The double standard society employs to cruelly reject Maggie while excusing Philip and Stephen as poor victims of Maggie’s feminine wiles emphasizes the unequal and unjust gender dynamics with which Maggie must contend.

Furthermore, there is an intense desire even amongst the townswomen to believe men over women, even when men confess to their wrongdoing. While news of Stephen’s letter travels fast, the women of St. Ogg’s still decide to lay all the blame on Maggie. While men such as Bob and Dr. Kenn still want to help Maggie, the women in her community make her an outcast. Wealthy and well-respected women in St. Ogg’s can’t side with Maggie over Stephen because of the Guest family’s wealth and influence. Furthermore, if the women start blaming men for acting irrationally on their desires, they will undermine the assumptions around gender and proper feminine conduct upon which their society is based. Thus, it is easier for the women to find a scapegoat in Maggie than to entertain the truth that men can and do abuse women’s trust.

Incredibly, only Mrs. Glegg comes to Maggie’s defense. For Mrs. Glegg, family honor is the ultimate link. She chides Tom for turning Maggie away, thereby confirming the town’s judgements of Maggie. Mrs. Glegg publicly and privately defends Maggie, demonstrating the power of family loyalty. Mrs. Glegg’s unexpected support is ironic given Mrs. Glegg’s constant criticisms of Maggie’s behavior, manners, and looks over the years, but ultimately, Mrs. Glegg practices her duty to her family because Maggie is still her niece.

The novel ends in a catastrophic flood that destroys St. Ogg’s. The flood contains allusions to the story of Noah’s Ark. In the Bible, the story of Noah’s Ark is about a reckoning, in which mankind is punished by God through the power of nature. Similarly, the superficiality of St. Ogg’s is punished by a life-threatening flood. The suddenness of the flood is alarming, and it comes on the heels of two letters Maggie receives. One is from Philip, confirming his undying love for her; the other is from Stephen, who also declares he’s still in love with her and will come to her if she calls. Maggie is presented with a choice: Choose Philip, choose Stephen, or choose no one. But her choice is quickly eviscerated by the flood. Suddenly, everything that mattered to Maggie dissipates in a life-or-death situation.

Maggie braves the flood to save Tom, representing a final, desperate attempt to re-establish their bond. Tom and Maggie die in the flood, holding one another as their boat is thrown into the depths of the water. Maggie and Tom’s death is tragic and symbolic. Their embrace evokes their happier childhood, when they still had innocence and could live, laugh, and love without concern for the future. Tom learns his lesson that he’s betrayed Maggie, but it’s too late—Tom and Maggie are once again united, but it is notable that this union can only happen in death. The flood and the simultaneous death of Maggie and Tom symbolize the destructive nature of the enmities and injustices that have torn their family asunder and led to Maggie’s ostracization. The flood also highlights Eliot’s theme that life is unpredictable.