How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
In Rosamond's romance it was not necessary to imagine much about the inward life of the hero, or of his serious business in the world. (2.16.58)
Rosamond reads too many romances about chivalric knights and fair ladies. She wants her own life to play out like those romances, with herself in the role of the romantic heroine. She cares more about her own role than about that of the "hero," Lydgate, who isn't even mentioned by name in this passage.
Quote #5
"Language is a finer medium." (2.19.20)
Will Ladislaw's argument with his artist friend, Naumann, about the relative merits of language versus art is an important place to look at the theme of "Literature and Writing." Eliot is arguing, through Will Ladislaw, that "language is a finer medium" than painting or sculpture. Of course she thinks so – she's a novelist!
Quote #6
"Language gives a fuller image, which is all the better for being vague. After all, the true seeing is within; and painting stares at you with an insistent imperfection. I feel that especially about representations of women. As if a woman were a mere coloured superficies! You must wait for movement and tone. There is a difference in their very breathing: they change from moment to moment." (2.19.23)
This is the explanation of why "language is a finer medium" than painting or sculpture: it's because painting and sculpture only represent the surface of a person, while writing can describe their inner life. George Eliot is all about depicting the inner lives of her characters, so of course this distinction is very important to her.