Middlemarch, Chapter 16 summary
Chapter 16 of 88 · Book 2: Old and Young · 21 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 16, Tertius Lydgate clashes with dinner guests over professional qualifications, then admires Rosamond’s music and manners at the Vincys’ gathering. He returns to medical study without considering marriage, while Rosamond treats his attention as the beginning of a romance that promises social advancement.
What happens
- The hospital chaplaincy dispute reveals how Mr. Bulstrode combines money, charity, and religious supervision to exercise power.
- At dinner, Lydgate defends expert knowledge over personal popularity and offends Mr. Chichely by criticizing legally trained coroners.
- Rosamond’s conversation, appearance, and musical performance captivate Lydgate, and they exchange flirtatious remarks about dancing.
- Mr. Farebrother joins the gathering, plays whist successfully, and prompts Lydgate to question whether he values his winnings.
- Lydgate returns home to study fever, confident that marriage remains five years away.
- Rosamond interprets his admiration romantically and cultivates accomplishments that she believes suit his taste and social standing.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The sentence exposes the gap between their interpretations of the evening. Lydgate concentrates on medicine and postpones marriage, while Rosamond imagines a romance centered on her own aspirations.
Quick check
Why does Rosamond find marriage to Lydgate especially attractive?
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