Daniel Deronda

Deronda reads a book about the history of the Jewish people. In the book, the historian describes the 1,500-year-long “National Tragedy” of the Jews. Deronda no longer thinks about Ezra Cohen as a stereotypical greedy pawnbroker. Now, he sees the man as a respectable representative of the Jewish people. He returns to the pawn shop to collect his ring. In the Jewish neighborhood, he feels some traces of “repulsion” toward the people around him but this is slowly replaced by kinder thoughts. He has seen how they treat a sick man like Mordecai. Deronda meets Mordecai, who invites him to a nearby club. They can talk, he says, but they may not have much privacy. A group called The Philosophers, made up of “poor men given to thought” (439), are meeting at this time. Deronda enters the club to find six men gathered in a group. They are discussing the idea of nationality and whether nationalism can remain a viable belief in the modern world. Mordecai interjects, posing a question about how this relates to Jewish identity. One of the Philosophers recommends that they maintain a strong Jewish identity but cast aside the mystical, superstitious elements, such as Cabbala. The man sees no reason why Jewish people cannot become just another nationality among the many in London. Mordecai rejects this. He claims that Jewish people have historically prospered in whatever country they have found themselves, even though they have been persecuted everywhere. He believes that, rather than becoming just another nationality, Jewish people should find a home for themselves, possibly in the East. He values the idea of a homeland for the Jews named Israel, which will once again become a “chosen nation.”

The Philosophers end their meeting. Mordecai turns to Deronda and they talk about “the doctrine of Cabbala” and how they can theoretically join their souls together (455). When Mordecai dies, he hopes that his “long-wandering” soul will join with Deronda’s soul. Mordecai speaks about his life. He has also lived under the name Ezra, he says, and he was originally going to live in the Middle East to further pursue his intellectual interests. However, his journey was cut short when his father ran away with his little sister, Mirah. His mother was left in poverty and he cared for her until she passed away, four years later. Deronda realizes that Mordecai is the long-lost brother of Mirah. He is elated, but this elation is tempered by the knowledge that Mordecai is dying. He feels responsible for Mordecai and Mirah and thinks about how he can reunite the siblings.

Gwendolen follows the advice given to her by Deronda. In an attempt to better herself, she reads philosophy but quickly becomes bored. She visits her mother and announces that she and Grandcourt will move to their home in London soon, then gives her family some money. Her husband has noticed her resistant attitude toward him. The more she seems to oppose him, the more Grandcourt insists that she submit to his will. He places a limit on the number of times her family can visit, contemptuously referring to her mother and uncle as “those people.” Gwendolen’s life is overshadowed by her knowledge of his scandalous past. She begins to hate Grandcourt but she cannot help but continue to submit to him.

Sir Hugo invites Grandcourt and Gwendolen to a party. He has booked Mirah to sing at the event. Gwendolen arrives and immediately searches the room for Deronda. Instead, she sees Mr. Lush. He is speaking to Grandcourt after months of staying away. Elsewhere, one of the guests makes an unpleasant comment about Mirah, referring to her as Deronda’s “Jewess.” Deronda is infuriated. The other guests applaud Mirah’s singing. Klesmer pays her particular compliments. Gwendolen and Mirah talk, with Mirah explaining how she met Deronda and how much he has done to help her. She speaks effusively about the Meyricks as her best friends. Gwendolen then talks to Deronda, trying to pay a compliment to Mirah but fumbling her words until they seem condescending. Deronda maintains his composure and Gwendolen worries that she has upset him. She begs him not to abandon her, as she worries that she will despair. From the other side of the room, Hans Meyrick notices the passionate conversation between Gwendolen and Deronda. He jokes about their quarrel. As the party ends, Grandcourt tells Gwendolen that Lush will be joining them for dinner the following evening. He tells her that she must be civil toward him.

Deronda recruits Mrs. Meyrick to help him find new accommodation for Mordecai, near to the Meyricks’ home. Mrs. Meyrick is concerned that reuniting Mirah and Mordecai might be a bad idea, as she is worried that Mirah will be overwhelmed by “Jewish sentiment.” However, she helps Deronda nonetheless. Deronda tells Mordecai about Mirah. Mordecai remains quiet but he is delighted. He makes sure to point out to Deronda that he is not related to the Cohen family, only that he shares their last name. He accepts Deronda’s offer to move closer to the Meyricks and the Cohen family wishes him well. Outside, Mordecai admits to Deronda that a “family sorrow” of a similar sort means that the Cohen family struggle to express their happiness for him.

The Meyrick children are told about Mordecai. They worry that Deronda is too deeply involved with “those Jews” and they are concerned that Mirah will leave them. The following day, Mordecai and Mirah reunite. Overcome with emotion, Mirah asks Mordecai to teach her more about how “to be a good Jewess” (491).

Grandcourt notices his wife’s relationship with Deronda and is annoyed. When Gwendolen suggests that they should hire Mirah—whom Grandcourt views as Deronda’s protégé—for their next party, Grandcourt accuses Deronda of being in a sexual relationship with Mirah. This accusation upsets Gwendolen, and Grandcourt mocks her for viewing Deronda as a “saint.” She decides to visit Mirah, claiming that she wishes to possibly book her for the party. In secret, she hopes to assure herself that Deronda and Mirah are not romantically involved. When Grandcourt learns that his wife has gone to visit Mirah, he is again annoyed. He tells Gwendolen that she is acting foolishly. He decides to discipline her by having Lush explain his will and what he will leave to Lydia and her children. Lush gives Gwendolen a written summary of Grandcourt’s will, which reveals to her that Grandcourt is well aware that she knows about “his relations with Lydia” (502). The will states that, in the event that Gwendolen does not give birth to a male heir, most of Grandcourt’s estate will go to his son with Lydia. Gwendolen cannot bring herself to read the details too closely. She realizes that her husband has known that she has known the secret for a long time. She wants to show him that she is stronger than he believes.

Gwendolen and Grandcourt go for a ride together. On the path, they encounter Lydia. She is walking with two of her four children. The imminent sale of Diplow to Sir Hugo has lately made Grandcourt more generous. He has been giving Lydia more money than before. However, Lydia still harbors a grudge against Gwendolen and her former lover. Grandcourt chooses to ignore Lydia and her children. This makes Gwendolen angry, but she is ashamed of the pain she has caused Lydia. She begins to believe that Grandcourt’s death is the only solution to the pain she feels. His death would free her from the marriage and would result in Lydia’s son inheriting what is rightfully his.

Days later, Gwendolen attends a concert at the Klesmer home. Deronda is also in attendance. Gwendolen asks him to visit her the following day. When the day comes, Gwendolen allows her husband to go riding alone, claiming to be sick. She is at home when Deronda calls and tells him that she fears that she is having wicked thoughts, and she wants his advice. Deronda is taken aback, not only by Gwendolen’s despair but by his own sense of helplessness. Before he can say anything, Grandcourt strolls into the room. He was suspicious of his wife’s behavior and wanted to catch his wife in Deronda’s company. Rather than engage with Grandcourt, Deronda simply leaves. The day after, Grandcourt tells his wife that they are “going yachting to the Mediterranean” (516).

The narrative jumps back to the time before Deronda met with Gwendolen. He was invited to talk to Sir Hugo, who wanted to reveal secrets about Deronda’s “parentage.” Sir Hugo explains that Deronda’s mother had asked for secrecy in these matters. Now, her mind is changed. She wants to see Deronda. Learning this news, Deronda asks if his father is still alive. Sir Hugo confirms that Deronda’s father is dead, tacitly admitting that he is not Deronda’s father. Sir Hugo asks Deronda to forgive him for any pain that he has caused. The men shake hands.