The Mill on the Floss..

The role of the Dodson and Tullivers in The Mill on the Floss..

The Dodsons are the aunts and uncles of Maggie, from her mother’s side. The Dodsons uncles and aunts are first introduced in Book 1 chapter 7 when they assemble to give advice regarding the education of Tom and they again come together to considers ways and means of helping the Tullivers who have fallen on evil days and whose property is soon to be auctioned. These uncles and aunts are only minor characters in the novel but they play an important role in the novel.

The Dodsons are rigid, tradition bound and narrow minded people. They constitute a clan (Group of people related by blood or marriage). The Dodson sisters are always boasting of their family virtues. One of them has a blond complexion. Of the four sisters, two Mrs. Jane Glegg and Mrs. Sophy Pullet are issueless. Of the two, Susan Deane, has only one child Lucy, who though small and fragile, is still less to seem rich though being poor rather the family batch was to be honest and rich, and not only rich, but richer than was supposed.

The Dodsons also do not approve of the management of the family affairs by Mr. Tulliver. They do not like his going to law, nor his ambition to give his son an education above his resources. It is over this that there is a quarrel between Mrs. Glegg and Mr. Tulliver which results in some further complications in Mr. Tulliver’s affairs. Mrs. Glegg does not hesitate to express her disapproval. Then again, she rebukes her husband for joking when she sees Mr. Tulliver going headlong to ruin.

When Mr. Tulliver is ruined and the aunts and uncles gather to take stock of the situation, they again show their hardness. Neither Mrs. Glegg nor Mrs. Pullet are willing to buy up to save from public auction ,the finest things of Mrs. Tulliver. Maggie’s anger and Tom’s appeals leave them cold. On the other hand, they hold Mr. Tulliver fully responsible for the misfortune for the misfortune of the family and advise of hardship for Tom. “Tom must live a hard life” says Mrs. Glegg, he cannot choose otherwise. “He has got to bear the fruits of his father’s misconduct and bring himself round, to fare hard and to work hard.” Maggie must also make up her mind to be humble and work….. she must do the work of the house and she must respect and love her aunts, as have done so much for her and saved their money to give to their nephews and nieces.

We have to admit that the Dodsons and the Tullivers ways of life are the two important influences on Tom and Maggie in the formative years of their childhood. Of the four male characters, the credit goes to Mr. Tulliver who in spite of  all his flaws,( Defect or weakness in a person's character), still remains a likeable man with a wealth of generosity and kindness which make him a better human being. But his inability to control himself and to cope with the realities of life, makes him a sad failure in a world where pragmatism (practical consequences are the criteria of knowledge and meaning and value) and practicality are essential virtues for a successful life.