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The Ethical Dilemma in The Mill on the Floss: The Struggle between ‘Antigone’ and ‘Creon’

Tao Li, Yuan Sihan
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jmss.v21.n1.p1
Abstract
George Eliot views Antigone as a microcosm of social ethics, reflecting the clash between individuals and established rules. In The Mill on the Floss, Maggie, a mortal “Antigone,” struggles against the “established laws” embodied by her brother Tom, ultimately sacrificing herself for family interests. While Creon and Antigone represent a choice between human and divine law, Tom and Maggie symbolize tradition versus freedom. Through Maggie, Eliot highlights the triple ethical dilemmas faced by Victorian women. This paper, based on ethical criticism, reveals three key findings: First, Maggie faces a familial ethical dilemma between conforming to traditional female roles and pursuing self-realization. Second, she experiences a social ethical dilemma between maintaining family status and personal emotional choices, causing ethical anxiety. Third, the moral ethical dilemma between traditional morals and romantic pursuit forces Maggie to compromise, leading to her tragic end. Under Victorian moral standards, mortal “Antigones” clash with the “angel in the house” ideal, becoming victims of these triple ethical dilemmas.
Keywords
George Eliot; Ethical criticism; The Mill on the Floss; Antigone
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