The Mill on the Floss

    misunderstoodmaggietulliveristorn.herrebelliousandpassionatenaturedemandsexpression,andherprovincialkinandcommunityexpedtself-denial.maggieisstory,someofwhoseincidentsandmaincharacterscomedirectlyfromtheauthorisownlife,explorestheconflictsofloveandloyaltyandthefrictionbetweendesireandmoralrsponsibility.writtenin1860,themillontheflosswasinstantlypopular.thevaluesofenglandisgrowingmiddle-classsocietyarereflectedbythetownspeopleofst.oggis,whodwellalongtheriverfloss,wherethetullivershaveworkedinafamilymillforgenerations.whenherfatherisfollyplacestheirancestralhomeinjeopardy,maggieisforcedtodrawuponherintelligenceandsensitivity—qualitiesunappreciatedinawomanofhertimeandplace.herfailuretoupholdthefamilyhonorexciestheself-righteouswrathofst.oggis,ascornfulcondemmaionsharedevenbymaggieisadoredbrother,tom.