Her mother and all of her mother's family were the typical hypocritical English snobberies and fops (not quite gentry but proud enough to be) that irked and amused you to no end. The other characters in the story were intriguing as well.

I didn't totally like Maggie and oftentimes I was like 'what did you just do!' However I couldn't help but pity her. She's a relatable character, making poor decisions as she strives to make the right ones. Her different roles as a daughter, sister, friend and lover push and pull her in all directions as she tires to navigate life and it's trials.

Maggie, the main character of the story, is absolutely intriguing and her arc drives the story. I actually listened to Mill on the Floss via audiobook which I really enjoyed and of course made for a slightly different reading experience. I don't love her and I doubt I ever will, but I do find her books thought-provoking and beautifully written. I think I'm getting a better appreciation for George Elliot with each book of her's I read. With its poignant portrayal of sibling relationships, The Mill on the Floss is considered George Eliot's most autobiographical novel it is also one of her most powerful and moving. As she reaches adulthood, the clash between their expectations and her desires is painfully played out as she finds herself torn between her relationships with three very different men: her proud and stubborn brother, a close friend who is also the son of her family's worst enemy, and a charismatic but dangerous suitor. Synopsis from Goodreads: Brought up at Dorlcote Mill, Maggie Tulliver worships her brother Tom and is desperate to win the approval of her parents, but her passionate, wayward nature and her fierce intelligence bring her into constant conflict with her family.

The mill on the floss goodreads