Mr. Caleb Garth Character Analysis in Middlemarch

Caleb Garth is a kind, honest, hardworking, and generous man. He is passionate about “business,” the word he uses to describe working in construction and the development of land. However, he has a problem with charging too little for his work or even working for free, and as a result his family is very poor. Caleb is one of the most morally upstanding characters in the novel. He helps many people, particularly Fred, even though he is exasperated by Fred’s behavior. His kindness to Fred arguably emerges from his extremely close relationship with his daughter Mary, who has loved Fred since childhood. Mr. Brooke eventually makes him the manager of both Freshitt and Tipton, which greatly improves his family’s financial circumstances.

Mr. Caleb Garth Quotes in Middlemarch

The Middlemarch quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Caleb Garth or refer to Mr. Caleb Garth. 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:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the HarperCollins edition of Middlemarch published in 2015.

In watching effects, if only of an electric battery, it is often necessary to change our place and examine a particular mixture or group at some distance from the point where the movement we are interested in was set up. The group I am moving towards is at Caleb Garth’s breakfast-table in the large parlour where the maps and desk were: father, mother, and five of the children.

Related Characters: ,

Page Number and Citation: 399

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Caleb Garth Character Timeline in Middlemarch

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Caleb Garth appears in Middlemarch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...have something to do with the fact that he borrowed the money from Mary’s father, Caleb Garth. (full context)

...owes him £160, and three months ago he renewed the debt with the signature of Caleb Garth. Fred has thus far felt completely confident that he will be able to pay... (full context)

The Garths have always felt great affection for Fred and Rosamond. Before marrying Mrs. Vincy’s sister, Mr.... (full context)

...confess everything to Mary, and worries that this means he should probably confess to Mrs. Garth, too. Mrs. Garth tends to be judgmental of other women, and “disproportionately indulgent towards the... (full context)

Fred feels worried and guilty. At that moment Mr. Garth arrives, and Fred immediately confesses that he only has £50 toward his debt of £160.... (full context)

For the first time Fred feels genuine sorrow. He had only been worried about the Garths thinking badly of him, and had not even considered that his actions might put them... (full context)

Mr. Garth apologizes to his wife again, but she responds kindly, saying it was silly of him... (full context)

...she says that’s not the point. Her forgiveness will not fix the fact that Mrs. Garth has lost her savings and Alfred will no longer be able to do his apprenticeship.... (full context)

Later Mr. Garth comes to Stone Court. Alone with Mary, Mr. Garth says he has bad news, but... (full context)

...he made the will. Standish and Trumbull insist that his mind was perfectly healthy. Mr. Garth suggests that the will is actually not that surprising, adding: “I wish there was no... (full context)

...his estate, saying that he doesn’t take good enough care of his tenants. He thinks Caleb Garth should take over managing it, as he did until 12 years ago when Brooke... (full context)

Sir James mentions Garth’s farming innovations and Brooke says he doesn’t have the money for that; Mrs. Cadwallader then... (full context)

...is sewing a handkerchief for Rosamond on the occasion of her wedding. She tells Mrs. Garth that she has decided to go and teach at a school in York, though she... (full context)

That evening, Mr. Farebrother comes to the Garths’ house, announcing that he is there to deliver a message from Fred Vincy, who has... (full context)

Farebrother congratulates Mr. Garth. They discuss Fred and whether he should indeed enter the clergy, or whether, as Mary... (full context)

With Mary gone, Mr. Garth tells the story of how Farebrother asked her to burn one of the wills right... (full context)

...walks to Lowick, speculating that Fred and Mary have feelings for each other. Meanwhile, Mr. Garth tells his wife that he is considering asking Fred to work under him as a... (full context)

...else he can do. He also confesses that he has been in love with Mary Garth since childhood, who in the past has been opposed to his entering the church. He... (full context)

...and will thus soon leave Middlemarch. One evening, Bulstrode goes to Stone Court to meet Caleb Garth, who is advising him about his improvements to the property. Raffles suddenly appears and... (full context)

...it. He is now seeking Bulstrode’s address, pulling out a crumpled letter from his pocket. Caleb politely says goodbye to Bulstrode and leaves. Bulstrode has gone completely white. Trying to remain... (full context)

...Dorothea dreams of being friends with them all. She has been discussing the plan with Caleb Garth. (full context)

Caleb Garth is impressed by Dorothea’s grasp of “business.” Caleb has been very busy, and is... (full context)

...London. Solomon encourages Hiram’s suspicion, saying the men should take their railways elsewhere. Soon after, Caleb comes to survey an area of land in Lowick with his assistant, Tom. (full context)

...horse and tells him to ride it to the nearby stable. Fred offers to help Caleb, who laments that the group of men who chased him has been told lies about... (full context)

...declare that they were only having fun, and that they won’t interfere again. Fred helps Caleb with his work, feeling joyful. He admits that he wishes he had started working with... (full context)

Later, Caleb tells Mrs. Garth that Mary and Fred like each other and that he intends to... (full context)

The next day Caleb assigns Fred office work. He is disappointed with Fred’s penmanship, saying he is shocked that... (full context)

...highly disapproving of his decision not to enter the church and instead work for Mr. Garth. Lydgate, meanwhile, believes that there is something between Dorothea and Will, and that if true,... (full context)

Bulstrode asks Caleb Garth to help him find a tenant for Stone Court, and Caleb suggests Fred Vincy,... (full context)

Caleb Garth comes to see Bulstrode at the bank and tells him that there is a... (full context)

...finds Raffles more or less all right. Raffles claims that he only revealed all to Caleb in the midst of a hallucination. Bulstrode then calls Lydgate to attend to Raffles’s health,... (full context)

Bambridge’s story “spread through Middlemarch like the smell of fire.” Caleb is forced to admit that he heard the story too, and the gossip morphs to... (full context)

...installing Fred in Stone Court. He tells Mrs. Bulstrode that she must propose it to Caleb Garth herself and assure him that he won’t need to make any arrangements with Mr.... (full context)

At the Garths’, Caleb goes outside to see Mary, who is playing with Letty. He asks Mary to... (full context)

Mary embraces Caleb, saying he is “the best man in the world.” Fred arrives at the house, and... (full context)