Daniel Deronda

Mrs. Meyrick sits down for a conversation with Mirah while her daughters go out to run errands. Mirah talks about her past. Lapidoth, her father, took her to the United States when she was seven years old. They left the rest of the family behind in England. One day, Mirah tried to write to her mother. Her father was enraged. He tore up the letter and told her that the rest of her family was dead. In the United States, Mirah and her father shared a home with an Italian musician known only as Signora. Mirah received her education from her father and Signora. Lapidoth found work as a stage manager. When his daughter turned nine, he tried to bring Mirah into the entertainment industry. Mirah had some success on the stage but she did not enjoy herself. Signora recognized her lack of enthusiasm, believing that Mirah would never become a truly great artist because she cannot be “anybody but herself” (178). Signora left and a governess took over Mirah’s education. Mirah continued to miss her mother, inventing a world inside her imagination where she can escape the arrogant, loud people who work in her father’s industry. Mirah learned very little about Judaism from her father. What little she does know, she was taught by her Jewish proprietor The old woman shared her knowledge of Judaism with Mirah, who was beginning to suspect that her father had lied to her about her mother being dead.

Mirah and her father returned to Europe when she was a teenager. Lapidoth continued to push Mirah to succeed in the entertainment world. He wanted her to become an opera singer, but a Viennese opera master warned that her voice would never be strong enough for her to become a professional. Feeling disappointed with his daughter, Lapidoth booked shows for Mirah regardless of this warning. At these shows, men leered at Mirah and made her feel uncomfortable. Unexpectedly, she was left alone when Lapidoth was arrested and thrown in jail. Mirah visited her father, who asked her to seek help from an aristocrat who moved in the same social circles as himself. When the count succeeded in freeing Lapidoth from jail, Mirah came to the horrified realization that the count was one of the men who sexually objectified her and that her father “was in conspiracy with that man” (182). She traveled with her father to Prague, suspecting that he would arrange for her to spend time alone with the count. Mirah ran away from him, sneaking out of the hotel and traveling to England. What little money she had saved was quickly gone, and she never found her mother and brother, who she believed were still living in England. She was about to drown herself when Deronda found her.

Deronda visits the Meyrick house. He learns about Mirah’s past from Mrs. Meyrick, who tells him that Mirah is a “pearl.” Deronda is resolved to help Mirah, though he has agreed to go traveling with the Mallinger family. During this trip, he first meets Gwendolen.

In the present, Gwendolen returns to her family home, Offendene, with the knowledge that her family is ruined and they must leave. Her mother greets her, and Gwendolen sees the sadness in her face. Gwendolen is told that the family will relocate to the nearby Sawyer’s Cottage, previously inhabited by the local tax collector. Gwendolen feels angry and wants the people responsible for the banking collapse to be punished. Her mother dismisses this demand. Her uncle has found her two possible jobs, both as a governess. Gwendolen is not pleased by her family’s misfortune. She writes to Herr Klesmer, asking him to visit her.

Herr Klesmer has recently had to leave the Arrowpoints due to his own personal emergency. He is a talented musician who is well respected in his profession, and he is worried about a potential scandal, as he has fallen in love with Catherine Arrowpoint, his student. He is a foreign musician and believes that marriage to Catherine would be socially impossible. Catherine’s parents have invited a slew of rich, well-known men to the house in the hope that Catherine might find a husband. She has rejected all of them. The latest, a politician named Mr. Bult, has a heated discussion with Klesmer regarding Klesmer’s “cosmopolitan beliefs.” The situation has made Klesmer realize that he cannot remain in the family home without telling Catherine how he feels. He tells her that he is in love with her. Catherine tells Klesmer that she is in love with him. When she tells her parents that she loves her music teacher, however, they insist that she must “marry a gentleman” (207), exactly as Klesmer feared. They warn Klesmer that they are prepared to deny her the family’s inheritance if she marries Klesmer. Catherine does not mind, insisting that she loves Klesmer.

Gwendolen solicits Herr Klesmer for his professional opinion on whether she has the ability to succeed as a professional actress. Taking a kindly tone, he warns her that “the life of the true artist” can be difficult and unrewarding (214). She will have to work hard and success may never come. As politely as he can, he criticizes her for believing that an artist’s career is something she should turn to as a last resort. Such a profession, he explains, is both wonderful and only suited to the people who are willing to work hard for perfection. Gwendolen, he warns, is at an immediate disadvantage because she lacks training and experience. As such, he believes that she could only ever become an actor of middling talent. However, he mentions his plan to marry Catherine and assures Gwendolen that—should she try to pursue her ambition—he and Catherine would be happy to help her settle in London. Gwendolen is taken aback by Klesmer’s frank assessment. Though she politely bids him farewell, she sinks immediately into a state of despair.

After her conversation with Klesmer, Gwendolen signals that she will accept one of the governess positions. Mr. Gascoigne has found her a placement in the home of Bishop Mompert. The prospect of becoming a governess does not improve Gwendolen’s mood. She is unhappy that she will be made to live in a manner that she hates, all due to “other people’s disagreeable or wicked conduct” (229). Asking her mother to sell her collection of jewelry, she saves only the turquoise necklace that was sent back to her by Deronda. When she thinks about their strange encounter, she feels confused. She is not sure whether she should resent him or trust him. She is caught between wounded pride and respect for the man.

Grandcourt strives to get along with the Mallinger family. Privately, he is sure that Deronda is Sir Hugo’s illegitimate son. This idea pleases him. He does not know that Lush has continued his secret dialogue with Hugo and that Lush continues to inform Grandcourt’s uncle about Grandcourt’s activities. Sir Hugo has been saving up money to repurchase Diplow Hall, and he is waiting for the right moment to suggest a business proposition to Grandcourt. In his imagining, Grandcourt will “marry an heiress” (236). Such a woman, Lush believes, will allow him to continue his comfortable lifestyle, unlike Gwendolen, who will drive a wedge between Grandcourt and Lush.

In Diplow, Grandcourt announces to Lush that he intends to reignite his romantic interest in Gwendolen, now that she has returned from Europe. Lush points out that Gwendolen’s family has recently been financially ruined, making her a potentially unsuitable match. He mentions the meeting between Lydia and Gwendolen, warning that this could prompt Gwendolen to reject Grandcourt. Regardless, Grandcourt sends a message to Gwendolen.

Mr. Gascoigne visits to speak to Gwendolen. He tells her that he has arranged for her to interview with the Mompert family for the governess position. The interview is scheduled for a week’s time. The despondent Gwendolen is certain that “it is all over now” (244). After, Gwendolen receives Grandcourt’s note. He asks whether he can visit her and she is not sure whether she should feel happy or scared. After a short moment of deliberation, Gwendolen invites Grandcourt to visit her the following day. She intends to turn down his proposal.

The thought of marrying Grandcourt leads to a restless night for Gwendolen. Her pride and jealousy prompt her to reject any potential advances, especially because she knows what he has done to Lydia. She is very worried about any potential public scandal. Gwendolen knows that she does not love Grandcourt, but she believes that he may love her. At the same time, she recognizes that such a marriage might repair her family’s fortune.

Grandcourt visits the next day. He wastes little time, immediately proposing to Gwendolen with a dignified speech. Gwendolen hesitates a moment then accepts. This moment of hesitation only intrigues Grandcourt further. He is delighted, announcing that she can have whatever she wants. Her first request is that he get rid of Lush, and Grandcourt immediately agrees to send away the “coarse-haired kind of brute” (256). Gwendolen is optimistic about her future marriage.