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The Ethics of George Eliot's Works

By John Crombie Brown
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Essays, Letters & Speeches

About This Book

An extended critical essay reads George Eliot's fiction as moral instruction that elevates self-denial and commitment to the higher good above individual happiness. The critic links this ethic to a Christian ideal of the Cross, contrasts it with utilitarian and pleasure‑seeking trends in contemporary society and theology, and warns of the spiritual impoverishment that follows from reducing religion to private salvation. Through close readings of major novels the essay examines characters' motives, duties, and sacrifices as dramatizations of ethical principle, and reflects on the capacity of fiction to shape moral imagination and to resist prevailing popular values.

About the Author

Brown, John Crombie portrait

John Crombie Brown

John Crombie Brown was a scholar and writer known for his critical examination of literature, particularly the works of George Eliot. His notable work, "The Ethics of George Eliot's Works," explores the moral dimensions and philosophical underpinnings of Eliot's narratives. Brown's contributions to literary criticism provide insights into the ethical considerations present in Eliot's storytelling, reflecting a deep engagement with the themes of morality and human experience. His analysis remains relevant for those studying Eliot's impact on literature and ethics.

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