Middlemarch: Book 5, Chapter 51 Summary & Analysis

At this point the “dry election” takes place (nicknamed as such because people are so absorbed in politics that sales of alcohol decline). Will has no idea about Casaubon’s will, but has noticed that Brooke has suddenly stopped inviting him to Tipton, which angers him. He thinks: “I might as well be at Rome; she [Dorothea] would be no farther from me.” Brooke remains hesitant about the Reform Bill, but Will insists that if they sit around waiting for a perfect bill, nothing will ever change. Brooke is always ultimately persuaded by Will’s arguments.

Mr. Brooke has a conversation with Mr. Mawmsey who, as the local grocer, finds himself pulled in multiple directions as he has customers across the political spectrum. Business is good for him at the moment, and thus he is wary of any great societal change. Will has written many speeches for Brooke, but worries that the scattered nature of Brooke’s mind will mean that he fails to deliver them properly.

One morning in May, Brooke prepares to give a public speech in advance of the official nomination procedure the next day. He initially feels optimistic; however, after the first candidate gives a comprehensive and impressive speech, Brooke grows nervous. When it is his turn, he gives a confident introduction and declares that he has never been “so proud and happy in my life.” From this point, his speech becomes more and more boastful, incoherent, and filled with irrelevance. At this moment an effigy of Brooke is hoisted up in the crowd. People are laughing at him, and start pelting the effigy with eggs.

Eggs now come flying at Brooke himself, and he flees to avoid being hit. He tries to assure Will that everything will be all right with the nomination the next day, even though this hardly seems likely. Will starts thinking about his future; he feels that there are many opportunities for success open to him, and he  resolves to leave Middlemarch. However, he won’t go until he and Dorothea exchange “some kind of sign.” Facing pressure to abandon his run for election, Brooke decides to do so but blames it on ill health rather than his unsuitability. He tells Will that he is going to France for a while, and Will says he will stay in Middlemarch for the moment.