Natural Beauty
Eliot’s description of the natural beauty of the English
countryside, especially in scenes of great sadness or evil, expresses
the idea that external and internal realities do not always correspond.
For example, when Hetty wanders off toward Windsor to find Captain
Donnithorne, the day is beautiful and the countryside is magnificent. The
reader would think Hetty’s stunning looks combined with the sunny
countryside backdrop would describe an equally joyful scene in the
book. However, unbeknownst to the reader, Hetty suffers enormously
under the weight of her plight. Although Hetty herself is beautiful,
her appearance contrasts with her internal character, which is weak,
selfish, and ugly. Unlike Dinah, who is beautiful both externally
and internally, Hetty has no inner beauty. Eliot uses the contrast
between internal and external beauty to encourage the reader to
look beyond the surface of people and things to their deeper characteristics
and meanings.
Dogs
The dogs in the novel reflect the temperament of the characters
with respect to helpless beings. Adam’s dog, Gyp, loves his master.
He is happy and trusting and devoted to Adam. Gyp’s condition reflects Adam’s
love of the helpless and his desire to help and care for those who
depend on him. Mr. Massey’s dog is also healthy but cowers whenever
Mr. Massey displays his split personality. As one who deeply cares
for the helpless, Mr. Massey can be grouchy and crotchety even while
he provides nourishment and assistance to those in need. Mr. Irwine
has dogs, who are happy and contented. They laze around the hearth.
As his relationship with his dogs suggests, Mr. Irwine is kind and
gentle toward those who depend on him, but he is a little lazy and
cares more for the comforts of his home.
Narrative Sarcasm
The narrator in Adam Bede butts into
the story to provide ironic and often sarcastic commentary on the
characters and the reader’s impression of them. The narrator pokes
fun at the reader, especially the imagined, haughty reader who has
a low opinion of such simple characters as Adam and Mr. Irwine.
Making fun of the reader has two effects. First, it feeds the idea
that the nobility is frivolous and a bad judge of character. The
narrator clearly approves of the characters, and the narrator calls
into question the reader’s judgment by suggesting that the reader
does not. Second, the satire keeps the narrative brisk and the tone
light. The narrator pushes the heavy idea that readers should not
judge others and that they should love their neighbors. To avoid
becoming preachy, the narrator uses humor, and a big part of that
humor is in the sarcasm.
