Mr. Wakem Character Analysis in The Mill on the Floss

Mr. Wakem, Philip’s father, is a lawyer who incurs the hatred of Mr. Tulliver. Mr. Wakem isn’t above taking some revenge in his turn, by buying Dorlocte Mill and making Mr. Tulliver his employee. In retaliation, Mr. Tulliver beats him with a horsewhip, which only strengthens Mr. Wakem’s permanent vendetta against the Tulliver family. However, he isn’t always a cruel person: he clearly loved his wife, who has since passed away, and is very affectionate to his son Philip. When Philip bravely tells Mr. Wakem that he wants to marry Maggie, Mr. Wakem even overcomes his personal aversion to the Tullivers in order to try to facilitate Philip’s happiness.

Mr. Wakem Quotes in The Mill on the Floss

The The Mill on the Floss quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Wakem or refer to Mr. Wakem. 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:

).

“I want him to know figures, and write like print, and see into things quick, and know what folks mean, and how to wrap things up in words as aren’t actionable. It’s an uncommon fine thing […] when you can let a man know what you think of him without paying for it.”

Related Characters: Mr. Tulliver (speaker), Tom Tulliver, Mr. Wakem, Mr. Riley

Page Number and Citation: 22

Explanation and Analysis:

“We don't ask what a woman does—we ask whom she belongs to. It's altogether a degrading thing to you to think of marrying old Tulliver’s daughter.”

Related Characters: Mr. Wakem (speaker), Maggie Tulliver, Mr. Tulliver, Philip Wakem

Page Number and Citation: 394

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Wakem Quotes in The Mill on the Floss

The The Mill on the Floss quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Wakem or refer to Mr. Wakem. 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:

).

“I want him to know figures, and write like print, and see into things quick, and know what folks mean, and how to wrap things up in words as aren’t actionable. It’s an uncommon fine thing […] when you can let a man know what you think of him without paying for it.”

Related Characters: Mr. Tulliver (speaker), Tom Tulliver, Mr. Wakem, Mr. Riley

Page Number and Citation: 22

Explanation and Analysis:

“We don't ask what a woman does—we ask whom she belongs to. It's altogether a degrading thing to you to think of marrying old Tulliver’s daughter.”

Related Characters: Mr. Wakem (speaker), Maggie Tulliver, Mr. Tulliver, Philip Wakem

Page Number and Citation: 394

Explanation and Analysis:

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Mr. Wakem Character Analysis

Mr. Wakem Quotes in The Mill on the Floss

Mr. Wakem Quotes in The Mill on the Floss

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