Eliot was not dogmatic because orthodox Christian beliefs did not satisfy her inquisitive nature. Eliot too, like Maggie, was torn between duty and desire, between doubt and belief. George Eliot externalised her mental trauma by transmitting it to Maggie. Then Maggie’s spiritual conflicts are identical with that of Eliot. When one meets social death, one dies forever. Because she knew that deviation from social conventions leads lo devastation and annihilation. Though she had a scandalous life with Lewes, but she never approved of such a life and she punished her women for even the slightest moral lapse. Eliot lived with Lewes till his death whereas Maggie was made to renounce Stephen, her love and met an accidental death. The scandals of both Eliot and Maggie led to their alienation from their brothers Isaac and Tom respectively. Since Lewes’ wife had deserted him, Eliot thought he had a right to establish relation with some other woman. Maggie did not commit any immoral act and Eliot’s resolution to live with Lewes was based on human values and laws of human heart. Both were innocent and had fallen a prey to the fossil conventions of the society. Both were socially disreputed and excommunicated. Just as Maggie had a scandal with Stephen, Eliot had the same with Lewes with whom she kept living for twenty-four years without having any regular marriage. However, the only sound incidental identification between Maggie and Eliot is in respect of Stephen-Maggie affair. This resemblance is sounder in nature, habits, liking and disliking of Maggie and Eliot. In the delineation of Lucy’s character, she remembered her own sister Christiana who, contrary to Eliot, was neat and pretty. Just like Maggie, Eliot did have an adventure with the gypsies. Like Maggie, Eliot too was an unmanageable child who often became the butt of criticism due to her carelessness in dress and address. Tulliver has borrowed from her father Robert Evans. Tom, to some critics, image of Eliot’s brother Issac. The glimpses of Eliot’s early life can be found jubilant, exciting and thrilling childhood of Maggie in the company of her brother Tom. Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss as a Modern Tragedy.

Author of the mill on the floss