The Invisible Hand: A Study Of The Impact Of The Will In George Eliot’s Middlemarch

Middlemarch,as George Eliot’s masterpiece,not only helped Eliot attain high acclaims since its publication,but also appealed to innumerable critic’s attention.With one and half centuries passing by,many critics and scholars have conducted expansive and deep researches into the themes,artistic features,psychological dilemma and the language style for this novel,which have been of great help for readers to understand this novel.However,few researches have touched the subject of the will in this novel,which leaves a space for a further exploration.This thesis aims to argue the will presented in the novel,as an invisible hand,is used by testators(who write the will)to control the beneficiaries’(who accept the bequest of the will)economic status and occupations but at the same time,contrary to the testators’ expectation,the will could produce a counteraction for it raises a new chance for beneficiaries to shake off the control and pursue the freedom.This thesis consists of six parts: the introduction,four main chapters and the conclusion.First and foremost,the introduction gives a brief summary of George Eliot’s life with her insightful thoughts.After that,literature review at home and abroad offers what scholars have already done in studies of the novel.At length,the central argument,research method and the significance are provided.Chapter One sheds light on the will in the Victorian society and the will in George Eliot’s works,with reference to the developmental history of the will in the society and Eliot’s works.Chapter Two begins with how the will is used to impose control on the economic status of the beneficiaries by analyzing the wills of Mr.Casaubon and Mr.Featherstone.Chapter Three intends to proceed to illustrate the will as a further control over the beneficiaries’ occupations and how the will plays the role in impacting others’ choice when they are confronted with the occupational dilemma.Chapter Four deals with the counteraction of the will,taking it as an opportunity for people to shake off the control and pursue the freedom after they realize the control over their economic status and occupations is unbearable.Finally,the conclusion summarizes and generalizes the thesis in its entirety.With the analysis of the will in Middlemarch,the thesis is to provide a new perspective of understanding the novel: the will like an invisible hand,could not only exert control on people as an advanced arrangement but also offer a chance for people to shake off the control and pursue the freedom beyond the terrifying death.Whether the will gives a kind hand or a vindictive control over those who are to acquire the bequest,it makes a much profounder difference.