< 미들마취 > : 환상 / 현실 , 꿈 / 좌절 = Middlemarch : Illusion / Reality , Dream / Frustration

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In this article, I will analyze how the two main characters, Dorothea and Lydgate, become frustrated within their societies, despite the high ideals for achievement. Their ideals and frustration are clearly the primary thematic elements in both this work and the motion picture. At first, Dorothea seeks a worthy life. She, a modern Theresa, tries to serve her society by marrying the ideal husband. She ultimately marries Casaubon, a pastor of Lowick, and 27 years her senior. Unfortunately, she is frustrated with her so-called happily married life and with the academic work of her husband. Her marriage with Casaubon, a modern-day Milton, becomes a major disillusion. Also, his academic project The Key to All Mythologies is a fruitless and vain failure. When she is finally freed from her unhappily married life by Casaubon`s death, she marries Will again. Secondly, Lydgate, who is an ambitious doctor with a desire for medical development, has a dream to practice his revolutionary medical techniques. Furthermore, he actually seems to have such abilities. Like Dorothea, however, Lydgate`s dream also fails through both his marriage and his work. His wedded life with Rosamond is regarded as a perfect union, but it becomes a disaster, and his medical ambitions become degenerated. So, Lydgate too regards his life as a failure, although he makes a living as a doctor and is able to provide well for his family. This film is worthy enough to invest the six and half-hours necessary for a complete viewing. Because the primary themes, the ideals and frustrations of Dorothea and Lydgate within their society, is extremely moving and impressive in the motion picture as well as in this work.