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Adam Bede
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Adam Bede (1859) (edit title/settings)

by George Eliot (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Adam Bede is a hardy young carpenter who cares for his aging mother. His one weakness is the woman he loves blindly: the trifling town beauty, Hetty Sorrel, whose only delights are her baubles - and the delusion that the careless Captain Donnithorne may ask for her hand. Betrayed by their... read more

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “For the rest of his life he remembered that moment when he was calmly examining the beech, as a man remembers his last glimpse of the home where his youth passed, before the road turned, and he saw it no more.”
    George Elliot writing of Adam Bede
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • We are apt to be kinder to the brutes that love us than to the women that love us. Is it because the brutes are dumb?
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • I hate the sound of women’s voices; they’re always either a-buzz or a-squeak — always either a-buzz or a-squeak.
    Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
  • “They that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak, and not to please themselves.”
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • less ugly, stupid, inconsistent people, whose movements of goodness you should be able to admire — for whom you should cherish all possible hopes, all possible patience.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • These fellow-mortals, every one, must be accepted as they are: you can neither straighten their noses, nor brighten their wit, nor rectify their dispositions; and it is these people — amongst whom your life is passed — that it is needful you should tolerate, pity, and love: it is these more or
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • Lisbeth was always the first to utter the word of reproach, although she cried at Adam’s severity towards his father.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • The mirror is doubtless defective; the outlines will sometimes be disturbed, the reflection faint or confused; but I feel as much bound to tell you as precisely as I can what that reflection is, as if I were in the witness-box narrating my experience on oath.
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  • Therefore let Art always remind us of them; therefore let us always have men ready to give the loving pains of a life to the faithful
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  • steam-engine is to create leisure for mankind. Do not believe them: it only creates a vacuum for eager thought to rush in. Even idleness is eager now — eager for amusement: prone to excursion-trains, art-museums, periodical literature, and exciting novels: prone even to scientific theorizing, and cursory peeps through microscopes.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
  • Perhaps he was one of those who think that nature has theatrical properties, and, with the considerate view of facilitating art and psychology, ‘makes up’ her characters, so that there may be no mistake about them.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
Show all 11 quotes from this book

First Sentence edit see section history

WITH a single drop of ink for a mirror, the Egyptian sorcerer* undertakes to reveal to any chance comer far-reaching visions of the past.

Table of Contents edit see section history

I. The Workshop
II. The Preaching
III. After the Preaching
IV. Home and Its Sorrows
V. The Rector
VI. The Hall Farm
VII. The Dairy
VIII. A Vocation
IX. Hetty’s World
X. Dinah Visits Lisbeth
XI. In the Cottage
XII. In the Wood
XIII. Evening in the Wood
XIV. The Return Home
XV. The Two Bed-Chambers
XVI. Links
XVII. In Which the Story Pauses a Little
XVIII. Church
XIX. Adam on a Working Day
XX. Adam Visits the Hall Farm
XXI. The Night-School and the Schoolmaster
XXII. Going to the Birthday Feast
XXIII. Dinner-Time
XXXIV. The Health-Drinking
XXXV. The Games
XXXVI. The Dance
XXXVII. A crisis
XXXVIII. A Dilemma
XXXIX. The Next Morning
XL. The Delivery of the Letter
XLI. In Hetty’s Bed-Chamber
XLII. Mrs. Poyser “Has Her Say Out”
XLIII. More Links
XLIV. The Betrothal
XLV. The Hidden Dread
XLVI. The Journey of Hope
XLVII. The Journey in Despair
XLVIII. The Quest
XLIX. The Tidings
L. The Bitter Waters Spread
LI. The Eve of the Trial
LII. The Morning of the Trial
LIII. The Verdict
LIV. Arthur’s Return
LV. In the Prison
LVI. The Hours of Suspense
LVII. The Last Moment
LVIII. Another Meeting in the Wood
LIX. At the Hall Farm
LX. In the Cottage
LXI. Sunday Morning
LXII. Adam and Dinah
LXIII. The Harvest Supper
LXIV. The Meeting on the Hill
LXV. Marriage Bells
Epilogue

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Inner vs. Outer Beauty: Eliot contrasts inner and outer beauty throughout the novel to express the idea that external and internal realities do not always correspond. Although Hetty is more physically beautiful than Dinah, she is cold and ugly inside. Hetty’s outer beauty masks her inner ugliness, especially to Captain Donnithorne and Adam. Even when Hetty cries or is angry, she still appears lovely to both men. Adam is so blinded by Hetty’s appearance that he often misinterprets her tears and excitement as love for him. Hetty’s outer beauty also blinds Captain Donnithorne such that he loses control when she cries and he kisses her. Unlike Hetty, Dinah has an inner beauty because she helps and cares for those around her. She comforts Lisbeth through the mourning of her dead husband, and Adam takes notice of this. Adam does not think Dinah is as physically beautiful as Hetty, but he is drawn to her love and mission to help those around her. His feelings for Dinah change after he witnesses Dinah consoling Hetty, and Adam begins to see Dinah as outwardly beautiful. Eliot’s description of the natural beauty of the English countryside also shows the contrast between internal and external beauty. On the day Hetty wanders off to find Captain Donnithorne, the day is beautiful and the countryside is magnificent. However, Hetty suffers enormously under the weight of her plight. Eliot uses this contrast to encourage the reader to look beyond the surface and explore a deeper meaning.
  • The Value of Hard Work: One of the chief differences between the good characters and the evil characters is their commitment to working hard. Most of the characters in Adam Bede are hard-working peasants who spend their days laboring on farms, in mills, or in shops. Those characters are generally characterized by gentle intelligence and simple habits. They do their best not to harm others, and they produce goods others can use and value. Examples are Mrs. Poyser, whose dairy supplies the other villagers and whose cream cheese is renowned in the area; Adam, whose skills in carpentry are unmatched and who is a good and fair manager of people and resources; and Dinah, who works in a mill. By contrast, those few malingerers in the novel are generally evil as well as lazy. The strongest example of laziness is Captain Donnithorne, who often complains that he has nothing to do, and whose boredom may well have contributed significantly to Hetty’s downfall. If Captain Donnithorne had been busy sowing fields, he might not have engaged in his illicit and unwise affair. Those who work hard take pride in their work, and they do not harm others because they are careful and meticulous and do not have time for idle self-indulgence.
  • Love as a Transformative Force: Love has the power to transform characters in the novel. The characters who love are portrayed as gentle, kind, and accepting. Dinah, for example, is a preacher but is never preachy. She accepts Hetty as she is, even when Hetty is peevish and selfish toward her. Dinah’s love transforms Hetty in jail because she comforts and listens to Hetty and does not judge her. Before, Hetty was selfish and only thought about her own happiness. After, she is sincerely sorry for the shame she caused her family and even apologizes to Adam. Another example is Mrs. Poyser, and how she can be harsh toward those she loves. When Hetty’s crime comes to light, Mrs. Poyser is the only one in her family who does not seem to judge Hetty. Here, Mrs. Poyser transforms from strict and critical to a loving and accepting woman. The one character that is not transformed by love is Mrs. Irwine, who is critical and sharp and never manages to help others. She does not feel, and so she is neither transformed by love nor capable of transforming others. For example, at Captain Donnithorne’s coming-of-age party, one of her presents to a peasant girl is an ugly gown and a piece of flannel. This gift only aggravates the girl and makes her reject the present. Mrs. Irwine thinks she is giving the girls only what they deserve, and therefore she is not transformed by love because she does not care for anyone. Love only transforms the characters that want to help people other than themselves.
  • The Consequences of Bad Behavior: Bad behavior and wrongdoing have consequences that extend beyond the wrong-doer, and even relatively small transgressions can have massive collateral effects. The central lesson from Hetty’s experience with Captain Donnithorne is that doing the right thing is important because doing the wrong thing might hurt others in ways that cannot be controlled. Though Captain Donnithorne is not inherently evil, he provokes bad behavior in Hetty because she cannot go to him for help when she learns that she is pregnant. Hetty is ashamed and only thinks of herself when she commits her crime. As she awaits the trial, Hetty does not think about how her bad behavior affected anyone else: she does not consider the shame she has caused the Poysers or the effect her crime has on Adam. Hetty feels no real remorse for her sins and just wishes to not be reminded of any wrong she has done. Eventually, she apologizes to Adam and asks God for forgiveness, but the lesson of the story is that bad behavior, evil, and wrongdoing cannot be undone.
  • Natural Beauty: Eliot’s description of the natural beauty of the English countryside, especially in scenes of great sadness or evil, expresses the idea that external and internal realities do not always correspond. For example, when Hetty wanders off toward Windsor to find Captain Donnithorne, the day is beautiful and the countryside is magnificent. The reader would think Hetty’s stunning looks combined with the sunny countryside backdrop would describe an equally joyful scene in the book. However, unbeknownst to the reader, Hetty suffers enormously under the weight of her plight. Although Hetty herself is beautiful, her appearance contrasts with her internal character, which is weak, selfish, and ugly. Unlike Dinah, who is beautiful both externally and internally, Hetty has no inner beauty. Eliot uses the contrast between internal and external beauty to encourage the reader to look beyond the surface of people and things to their deeper characteristics and meanings.
  • Dogs: The dogs in the novel reflect the temperament of the characters with respect to helpless beings. Adam’s dog, Gyp, loves his master. He is happy and trusting and devoted to Adam. Gyp’s condition reflects Adam’s love of the helpless and his desire to help and care for those who depend on him. Mr. Massey’s dog is also healthy but cowers whenever Mr. Massey displays his split personality. As one who deeply cares for the helpless, Mr. Massey can be grouchy and crotchety even while he provides nourishment and assistance to those in need. Mr. Irwine has dogs, who are happy and contented. They laze around the hearth. As his relationship with his dogs suggests, Mr. Irwine is kind and gentle toward those who depend on him, but he is a little lazy and cares more for the comforts of his home.
  • Narrative Sarcasm: The narrator in Adam Bede butts into the story to provide ironic and often sarcastic commentary on the characters and the reader’s impression of them. The narrator pokes fun at the reader, especially the imagined, haughty reader who has a low opinion of such simple characters as Adam and Mr. Irwine. Making fun of the reader has two effects. First, it feeds the idea that the nobility is frivolous and a bad judge of character. The narrator clearly approves of the characters, and the narrator calls into question the reader’s judgment by suggesting that the reader does not. Second, the satire keeps the narrative brisk and the tone light. The narrator pushes the heavy idea that readers should not judge others and that they should love their neighbors. To avoid becoming preachy, the narrator uses humor, and a big part of that humor is in the sarcasm.
  • Gates: The characters in the novel frequently linger around gates and pass through gates outside homes and in the fields. The gates suggest major changes in the characters’ lives, as when Hetty passes through the gates as she walks toward the Chase to meet Captain Donnithorne, leaving the innocence of childhood behind and walking into a very adult situation. The gates outside the characters’ homes also represent the attempt to keep the affairs of the heart private. Those who are allowed to pass through those gates are allowed into the heart of the family and into its most intimate secrets. Adam does not create any disturbance when he comes through the gates at Hall Farm: he is an accepted and beloved member of the community, and he enters quietly and respectfully. In contrast, Captain Donnithorne creates a huge ruckus whenever he enters. He loudly calls to Dinah at one point, and at other points he arrogantly makes his presence known. Adam comes quietly into the Poysers’ confidence while Captain Donnithorne brings noise, disturbances, and, ultimately, shame.
  • Hearth and Home: The hearth and home are the sources of nourishment in the novel, and their images recur repeatedly as the grounding force of the characters’ lives. The most prominent example of hearth and home is Hall Farm, the home of the Poysers. Each of the scenes at the farm returns to the hearth, where the grandfather sits and around which the whole family gathers. Problems are discussed and conflicts are resolved around the hearth. In the same way, at the Bedes’ home, life revolves around the hearth in the kitchen. Lisbeth’s whole day is spent there, and Dinah is useful and praised when she visits because of her ability to clean, cook, and do chores near the fireplace. The strongest and most worthwhile characters are those who spend the most time around the hearth.
  • Clothing: The characters choice of clothing represents important qualities of their nature, showing on the outside how they choose to represent themselves to the world. Hetty, for example, dresses in the best finery she can get, whereas Dinah dresses all in black with a simple cap. Hetty’s ostentatious dress symbolizes the shallow, flashy nature of her character, and when her dress falls into disrepair on her trip, it tracks the disintegration of her spirit. By contrast, Dinah’s black gown and simple dress symbolize her practical love of simple things. She chooses not to put herself forward but to shrink into the background and come forward only when she can help others. Characters’ clothing choices reflect fundamental truths about their natures.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Penguin Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 885 of 1271 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Oblomov, and followed by Madame Bovary.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. George Eliot (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: John Blackwood
Country: England
Publication Date: 1859
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 608

Classification edit see section history

Movie Connections edit see section history

  • Adam Bede (IMDb): Starring Iain Glen, Susannah Harker, Patsy Kensit and James Wilby.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Mill on the Floss
  • Middlemarch
  • Jane Eyre

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