How does Eliot develop multiple characters at the same time within the limited narrative structure of the novel? Using Fred Vincy as an example.

The narrative structure of the novel is limited: within each chapter only so many plot events can be told and a handful of characters developed. Within the few chapters that make up this week’s reading, Eliot manages to flesh out multiple characters like Fred, Dorothea, Lydgate, Rosamond etc. How does she manage to do this, when she generally focuses on one to two main characters per chapter?

Two different kinds of narrative exist within Middlemarch, in which every character has closely-knit relations with others. The first is the 3^rd person narrative from the narrator’s perspective, the second a social narrative which develops the character from interactions with society and members in it. Taking Fred Vincy for example, at the beginning of Book 3 Eliot centers on plot events related to Fred and develops his overly optimistic and gambling character from the narrator’s perspective.

Fred Vincy, we have seen, had a debt on his mind, and though no such immaterial burthen could depress that buoyant-hearted young gentleman for many hours together…such confidence…a comfortable disposition leading us to expect that the wisdom of providence … will bring about agreeable issues (Ch. 23)

As this narrative occurs, other characters like the Garths are given limited description to further flesh out Fred, through mentioning Fred’s relationship with the Garths, the differences in wealth, social standing and attitudes to work between Garths and Fred Vincy. This social narrative, by giving depth to the wealth and class disparities in Middlemarch, helps to further flesh out Fred’s character through juxtaposing Fred’s relatively insignificant worries with the Garth’s genuine worries about poverty.   

My family is not fond of begging, Fred. We would rather work for our money. (Ch. 25)

Eliot briefly mentions the Garths who work for and save up money for expenses to contrast with Fred, who has connections with wealthier residents in Middlemarch. Fred cares more of his reputation in Mary’s eyes and thinks that the Garths will be able to earn money through asking others, as he does, while being ignorant of how begging would make the Garths look in society. From his dialogue with Mary, the social narrative of the differences between the families adds more depth to Fred’s character by showing his selfish and naïve sides. Although focus on Fred is slightly reduced to develop Mary’s character, Fred is still being fleshed out through social relationships.

Apart from using narratives to develop characters, Eliot also fluidly controls how much of the narrative a character is going to be part of. Although the focus on characters is severely imbalanced in each chapter (with central and minor characters being squeezed in), Eliot manages to give spotlight to each important character through rotating the roster of central and minor characters in each chapter. This arrangement allows Eliot to develop multiple characters at once, though to different extents.

As in the above examples, while Fred acts as the central character the first few chapters of Book 3, other more important characters like Mary Garth are reduced to minor characters or even mere mentions by other characters. Here, the central character is unsurprisingly significantly developed and explored in character by both narratives. Minor characters, though not in the spotlight, still get developed through the social narrative, as they interact with the central character directly or have their positions in society mentioned by Eliot’s descriptions, such as the Garths’ circumstances at the end of Chapter 24.

A few chapters later, we see that the roster of central and minor characters have changed and previously under-developed characters are now given the spotlight. By Chapter 26, the spotlight has shifted to Lydgate, who was absent previously to make room for Fred’s plot. Here, Fred is reduced into a mention in name by other characters, and is used to develop other characters, like how the Garths were used to develop Fred.

That there might be an awkward affair with Wrench, Lydgate saw at once…he was convinced that Fred was in the pink-skinned stage of typhoid fever, and that he had taken just the wrong medicines. (Ch. 26)

Here, Fred is used to develop the character of Lydgate, to convey his capabilities in the medical field, as well as launch the plot of Lydgate and Rosamond’s relationship in the coming chapters. Fred’s character development is put on hold as Eliot continues the development of other characters.

In short, Eliot develops multiple characters at the same time through 3^rd person and social narratives, making use of the Middlemarch relationship ‘web’ to aid multiple character development, as well as by fluidly rotating the roster of central and minor characters in each chapter.