George Eliot’s stunning last novel, Daniel Deronda, is deeply psychological. Set in 1860’s England and Italy, the author interweaves the dual narratives of Gwendolen Harleth and Daniel Deronda, who meet by chance in a gambling casino.

Gwendolen Harleth, a beautiful, willful “spoiled child,” is fatherless and suffers periodic bouts of intense fear and dread. When a stock market crash plunges Gwendolen’s family into poverty, she is faced with two options: become a humble governess or marry for money. Opting for the latter, she finds herself trapped in an oppressive marriage with a wealthy aristocrat, the sadistic Grandcourt.

Daniel Deronda has been raised to be a model English gentleman, with a first-class education, thanks to Sir Hugo Mallinger, his genial guardian. Daniel is handsome, articulate and generous, but unable to decide on a vocation. He longs to learn the identity of his parents, information that Sir Hugo has withheld. Daniel rescues a young Jewish woman from drowning and commits to helping her find her long lost relatives. His anti-Jewish prejudices (typical for his day) slip away as he wanders through London’s Jewish communities, observing an ordinary family celebrating the Sabbath and engaging with Mordecai, a consumptive scholar-mystic. The dying Mordecai challenges him to embrace his mission to lead the Jewish people in establishing a “polity” in Palestine.

Through informal lecture, reading and discussion, this course will follow these characters as they embark on separate journeys of self-discovery. We’ll review the historical background, Eliot’s biography, and her philosophical studies that lead her to focus on Jewish themes. We’ll also delve into the novel’s many sub-themes, including women’s ambitions, nationalism and proto-Zionism, and the role of the artist as a transformative force.

Suggested Readings: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. Preferred edition: Oxford’s World Classics paperback, Oxford University Press, Second edition (September 10, 2014).

Alice Roth was awarded a BA from Swarthmore College in philosophy and an MBA from Fordham University. She enjoyed a 35-year career in business and information technology and, in retirement, has returned to her first loves: philosophy and literature.

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