A Feminist Ethical Study Of Maggie Tulliver In The Mill On The Floss

As one of the most distinguished British writers in the19th century. George Eliothas a sharp insight into the ethics of women in the Victorian Age. Her major worksmake a profound depiction about the inner conflicts of women when they are in anethical and moral dilemma. Her autobiographical novel The Mill on the Floss is hermost successful work in the early times as well as an indication of her exploration intowomen’s unique ethics and moral notion, George Eliot’s advocation for caring andresponsibility is consistent with the central idea of feminist ethics, since both of whichlay stress on the particular caring notion, which is illustrated as the importance ofemphasizing people’s desire, need and emotion.Maggie一the heroine of The Mill on the Floss is an ideal prototype of feministethics by the reflection of her care for family and friends, her desire to be loved andrecognized, strong determination to assume the responsibiliyt. By portrayingMaggie’s moral development, this novel reflects George Eliot’s distinctive ethics.This thesis is aimed to make an analysis of Maggie’s caring and humanity fromfeminist ethics. Meanwhile, it offers a perspective to understand the ways in whichgender affect people’s moral decisions.This thesis consists of six parts. Chapter one gives a brief introduction of GeorgeEliot and the main idea of The Mill on The Floss. Meanwhile, there is a literaturereview about George Eliot. The Mill on The Floss and feminist ethics at home andabroad. Chapter two mainly introduces feminist ethics and its representatives CarolGilligan’s ethics of ca’re and Nel Noddingss relational ethics. Chapter three focuseson Ma’ggies natural caring and ethical caring for others, which can be indicated fromher affection to family members and sympathy to firends. Chapter four stands outMaggie’s moral development by describing her orientation to individual survival,goodness of self-sacriifce and moraliyt of nonviolence. Chapter ifve revea】s somesimilarities between Maggie and her creator George Eliot in order to make a profoundanalysis about Maggie’s moral decision. Chapter six concludes that Eliot’s moralsense is accordant with feminist ethics which implies that moral significance lies in the fundamental elements of human relationships.