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Mrs. Gascoigne
Lapidoth is Mirah and Mordecai’s father, a self-serving and abusive man who exploits Mirah’s musical talent for his financial gain. After abandoning his family, Lapidoth reappears in Mirah’s life, demanding money and attempting to reassert control over her. His character embodies greed and selfishness, standing in stark contrast to the moral and compassionate values of his children.
Lapidoth Quotes in Daniel Deronda
The Daniel Deronda quotes below are all either spoken by Lapidoth or refer to Lapidoth . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 62 Quotes
“Here we are at the door. My brother would not wish me to close it on you.”
Mirah was already on the doorstep, but had her face turned toward her father, who stood below her on the pavement. Her heart had begun to beat faster with the prospect of what was coming in the presence of Ezra; and already in this attitude of giving leave to the father whom she had been used to obey—in this sight of him standing below her, with a perceptible shrinking from the admission which he had been indirectly asking for, she had a pang of the peculiar, sympathetic humiliation and shame—the stabbed heart of reverence—which belongs to a nature intensely filial.
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In this scene, Mirah stands at the threshold of her home, confronting her father, Lapidoth, who has reappeared after years of absence. She acknowledges his presence without welcoming him, deferring the question of entry to Mordecai rather than rejecting him outright. This moment crystallizes her internal conflict—her deep filial instinct clashes with the painful awareness of her father’s unreliability and moral failure. Her position on the doorstep, elevated above him on the pavement, reflects their moral and emotional distance. Yet, rather than feeling triumph or defiance, she experiences a “stabbed heart of reverence,” a sharp, almost involuntary shame at what Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perfe
Chapter 67 Quotes
What duty is made of a single difficult resolve? The difficulty lies in the daily unflinching support of consequences that mar the blessed return of morning with the prospect of irritation to be suppressed or shame to be endured. And such consequences were being borne by these, as by many other heroic children of an unworthy father—with the prospect, at least to Mirah, of their stretching onward through the solid part of life.
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Here, Eliot articulates the weight of responsibility that Mirah and Mordecai bear in caring for their father, Lapidoth, despite his history of neglect and selfishness. The novel depicts moral responsibility as not a momentary decision but an ongoing struggle, requiring endurance rather than a singular act of sacrifice. The emphasis on their daily perseverance illustrates the relentless nature of their burden, where each day brings new challenges, whether in the form of irritation, shame, or disillusionment. Eliot broadens the perspective beyond Mirah and Mordecai, recognizing them as part of a larger group who face similar hardships, thereby transforming their suffering Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetu
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Lapidoth Character Timeline in Daniel Deronda
The timeline below shows where the character Lapidoth appears in Daniel Deronda. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 62
...concert, becomes aware that she is being followed and immediately fears it is her father, Lapidoth. Unable to avoid the encounter, she resolves to face him before reaching her home. When...
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After Lapidoth leaves with her purse, Mirah returns home deeply shaken. She collapses before Mordecai and tearfully...
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Chapter 63
Upon arrival, Daniel finds Mordecai and Mirah emotionally strained from the day’s earlier encounter with Lapidoth. However, Daniel’s presence brings a profound sense of relief and joy. Daniel announces his discovery,...
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Chapter 66
After squandering the money Mirah gave him during their last interaction, Lapidoth decides to approach her again, hoping to benefit from her generosity and support. After listening...
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Moved to tears, Lapidoth attempts to manipulate his children, evoking memories of the past and claiming he deserves to...
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Chapter 67
Daniel returns from the Abbey to find Lapidoth residing in Mirah’s Brompton lodgings. Mirah had informed her father about Daniel, though she softened...
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Striving to endure his father’s presence, Mordecai explains to Daniel the arrangements: Lapidoth receives food and shelter, but they deny him money to prevent his self-destructive behavior. Lapidoth...
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Chapter 68
...for Mirah fuels his resolve, and he eagerly anticipates a private conversation with her. Meanwhile, Lapidoth, restless and scheming, struggles with his compulsive gambling desires. Unable to access Mirah’s safeguarded money,...
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...the missing ring. His initial assumption that it has fallen is shattered when Mirah notices Lapidoth is missing. Realizing what has happened, Mirah searches for Lapidoth but finds only the devastating...
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