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Felix Holt
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Felix Holt: Week 7: Chapters 43-End
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Felix has strong principles and stays true to them all through; even for his own defence in court which doesn’t have the most positive of results. Besides the fact that he doesn’t like jail (and is likely to spend a long time there), there is also his mother and little Job left with no resources while he is away. Some practical thinking is perhaps also needed (which Esther eventually provided). What did you think?
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Esther still is torn between Harold’s suit and her dreams and the realisation that her interactions with Felix have led her to have; eventually she decides in favour of a life of principle and poverty, but love. What did you think of her dilemma and how she reached her answer?
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Harold may have been a very different radical from Felix, and a very different kind of person as well; but he wasn’t all bad whatever his reasons for doing the right thing may have been. What did you think about the way things turned out for him?
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Though a minor character whom we rarely encounter, Philip Debarry turned out quite a likeable person, both in his conduct towards Mr Lyon, and now again reaching put to help Felix even when he couldn’t be there himself. Perhaps the right candidate to win the election despite his political inclinations. What did you think?
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For those who didn’t have Felix’s address to the workmen in their copy, here it is:
https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Essa...
Plenty of what Felix says, especially about the relevance of not just having the franchise but the need to exercise it responsibly, continues to be relevant even today. What did you think?
Lady Clementina wrote: "Esther’s DecisionEsther still is torn between Harold’s suit and her dreams and the realisation that her interactions with Felix have led her to have; eventually she decides in favour of a life of ..."
Somehow these last chapters seemed to me 'slow' in what concerns Esther: she has been going through a conflict for so many chapters now, and it never ceases until the end. She lives her dilemma to the full, torn this way and that.
It comes in so many forms in this life of ours—the knowledge that there is something sweetest and noblest of which we despair, and the sense of something present that solicits us with an immediate and easy indulgence. And there is a pernicious falsity in the pretence that a woman's love lies above the range of such temptations.
There I had to think of the 'heroines' of so many other Victorian novels who are so often two-dimensional cardboard shapes compared with what Eliot gives us here: is there even one of those characters who goes through anything like the complex development we see in Esther, through a dilemma not between black-and-white good and bad, 'hero' and 'villain', etc., but the realistic dilemma between one good and the other.
For a long time, there does not seem to be much development, only a slow accumulation of impressions in one or the other direction. We see her dilemma in all its details. I experience the slowness of the text as disagreeable - and in this, it is a perfect mirror of Esther's drawn-out dilemma. An impressive fit of form and function, I think.
"'Let me go, you scoundrel,' said Harold, fiercely, 'or I'll be the death of you.'"
’ As Harold heard the last terrible words he started at a leaping throb that went through him, and in the start turned his eyes away from Jermyn's face. He turned them on the same face in the glass with his own beside it, and saw the hated fatherhood reasserted.’
This was the explosive moment that derailed Harold and all but destroyed Jermyn. Considering how cool and calculating Jermyn had been up to this point, his public outburst seemed so out of character even if he was severely provoked.
My view of the ending was a little different in respect of Esther’s decision.‘ He (Felix) was just the same—no, something inexpressibly better, because of the distance and separation, and the half-weary novelties, which made him like the return of the morning.’
Once Esther had kissed Felix before the trial and then stood up in court to defend him, I couldn’t believe that she would marry Harold. How could she walk on Harold’s arm around the Transome estate as his wife, enjoying all the trappings of luxury, when the man she loved was languishing in prison? For me it felt only a matter of time before she would turn Harold down.
Harold’s goodness only extended so far. He admitted to Esther that he was forced to leave the country in shame but still hoped she would marry him. Yet he was unwilling to confide the reasons for his shame to his future wife! Could she really accept him not knowing what he or someone in the family had done to cause that shame. And would he have tried to conceal that ‘shame’ from her after she had accepted him? What a contrast this is compared to the honesty that bound Esther and Felix together.
Esther’s love for Felix tipped the balance and rescued her from a life with the Transomes. It was the Transomes that were indirectly responsible for Esther’s father’s death, so I felt troubled by the fact that they retained the estate. Would Mrs. Transome have ever confessed to Esther about her complicity in Bycliffe, her father’s demise? I doubt it. In fact the youthful full length portrait of Mrs. Transome that disturbed Esther could have been seen as a stark warning to her of how her life might play out as the lady of the manor.
’ Mrs. Transome's full-length portrait, being the only picture there, urged itself too strongly on her (Esther’s) attention: the youthful brilliancy it represented saddened Esther by its inevitable association with what she daily saw had come instead of it—a joyless, embittered age.’
Trev wrote: "For me it felt only a matter of time before she would turn Harold down. ."This is interesting. For me, her final decision came very late. First she is unable to refuse Harold's offer outright - she pities him, and postpones her reply:
Esther was oppressed by an overpowering difficulty. Her sympathy with Harold at this moment was so strong, that it spread itself like a mist over all previous thought and resolve.
With terror at herself, she said, in difficult haste, "I can't speak. I can't say anything to-night. A great decision has to be made: I must wait—till to-morrow."
She seemed to be resolved before she spoke with Harold, but again she is thrown into doubt: she can't sleep, struggles for a decision. And it takes the 'horror' of seeing Mrs. Transome's misery to push her over the edge:
The dimly-suggested tragedy of this woman's life, the dreary waste of years empty of sweet trust and affection, afflicted her even to horror. It seemed to have come as a last vision to urge her toward the life where the draughts of joy sprang from the unchanging fountains of reverence and devout love.
That is what I felt to be so 'tricky' about this section: I felt, too, that the decision must be clear to her, but then we are taken through all her doubting and re-doubting in full length. I love that she is not drawn as the strong, virtuous heroine, but as a normal girl driven by her dreams and by flattering attention - there's no triumphant trumpet blast, no 'Joan of Arc'-style show-down. It makes her final decision more realistic and touching: she has to take it all on her own, and she comes out of it stronger than if it had been all clear to her: the stronger the temptation, the more courage is needed to resist. I asked myself whether it was not a more difficult decision than Felix had had to take, and whether she was not, in the end, the stronger of the two.
sabagrey wrote: "I asked myself whether it was not a more difficult decision than Felix had had to take, and whether she was not, in the end, the stronger of the two.’Yes, I think Esther was the stronger of the two by the end of the novel. Unlike Felix, she had to force herself to throw off the baggage of her former ideals and make a radical change to her outlook on life. This strength and greater independence of mind allowed her to adopt the principles discussed with Felix.
Felix, however had weakened in his determination not to marry, partly because of Esther’s actions and her love for him. Nevertheless, their experiences strengthened them both in their ability to manage their lives.
Esther’s stay with Transomes was like a test of her inner resolve, with all sorts of tricks, fogs and snares ready to lead her away from what she had come to believe.
But her ability to overcome the pressures put on her by the Transomes was indicated by this….
’ I think I am getting that power Felix wished me to have: I shall soon see strong visions," she said to herself, with a melancholy smile flitting across her face, as she put out her wax lights that she might get rid of the oppressive urgency of walls and upholstery and that portrait smiling with deluded brightness, unwitting of the future.’
Rather than having to think of an insightful comment, I instead have two movie analogies to make on this story:1) Jermyn’s parenthood revelation to Harold while in the midst of a physical struggle was a scene that mirrors the Star Wars parenthood revelation of Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker. Was George Lucas a George Eliot fan?
2) Somehow the participants in this love triangle ended up resembling those in the love triangle in the campy Reese Witherspoon rom com “Sweet Home Alabama.” (The following contains spoilers for the movie) Both sets of characters could be described as follows:
- the wealthy 2nd suitor who seems stuck-up at first but mellows to be a gracious loser;
- the poorer, more vulgar but steadfast and forthright first suitor; and
- the heroine whose character deepens in positive quality traits during the course of the story to decide on the forthright first suitor, whom she has really always loved.
Admittedly, the second analogy is a stretch and there are actually several fictional love triangles that the Felix Holt one could be portrayed as resembling. But the “Alabama” analogy was just a fun one to make.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The ending did not fully satisfy me. In my opinion, Elliott was not convincing enough in explaining the possibility of a relationship between Felix and Esther. At the beginning of the book she had described their life plans as totally opposite. Then in the end it seems that these opposites meet and it seems implausible to me, however much Esther may have changed. It's true that they fell in love but it's also true that love isn't enough if the vision of life is different.I also don't understand if Esther renounces all the Transome inheritance because in the end she talks about an annuity for herself and her father: where does she get it from?
Daniela wrote: "I also don't understand if Esther renounces all the Transome inheritance because in the end she talks about an annuity for herself and her father: where does she get it from?"from the Transomes. ... a little indemnity for her giving up her claims. Whether she negotiated it herself with Harold or had her lawyers do it: it seems logical enough.
Thank you, sabagrey!
I missed anything written about an annuity but Esther did tell Felix that she was going to use her skills as a teacher to earn enough money to keep them in a more comfortable state of domesticity than he might have imagined. ’ Esther said, laughing, "You think you are to be everything. You don't know how clever I am. I mean to go on teaching a great many things."
Although Esther had relinquished materialism, which is really the only thing she had to give up in order to alter her lifestyle, she did not want to live hand to mouth in a hovel. So although Felix felt a little too comfortable in his new life, he was not going to argue with Esther about it.
Regarding the Transome estate, I am not an expert in legal matters, but I would think that Esther could only act in two ways.
She could either relinquish her claim or gift the estate to the Transomes.
In my view, both these outcomes would be unsatisfactory. If she just relinquished her claim, then others could claim, including Esther’s own son when he was old enough. Young Felix would have a much stronger claim than Harold or his son and his ‘scientific’ mind might put it the estate to better use.
If Esther gifted the estate, she would be wronging her dead father, albeit unknowingly, by giving the estate to the perpetrators of his early death.
As I have said before, I would have preferred that the Transomes lost the estate because in reality Esther’s father had been cheated out of it. Harold would have been better off going back abroad and staying there with his young son. He might have also have taken back that dark foreign woman he kept in London!
Esther’s decision about the estate was disappointing, although merciful to the Transomes. I have no idea what the law would have allowed, but if Esther had kept and then sold the estate there would have been funds available to build schools and finance Felix’s work. Felix and Esther could still have lived very modestly, devoting everything to their work and even made some provisions for the comfort of the Transomes. I enjoyed the novel, including the marriage of Felix and Esther, but I would have been better satisfied if Eliot had structured this last part differently.
Nancy wrote: "there would have been funds available to build schools and finance Felix’s work. Felix and Esther could still have lived very modestly,."the only problem with this 'solution' would be that it totally misses the point of what Felix tries to do. It's essential that he is a workingman himself, and that the change he wants comes from workingmen themselves, and by their own means. Philanthropy would be the exact opposite.
sabagrey wrote: "the only problem with this 'solution' would be that it totally misses the point of what Felix tries to do. It's essential that he is a workingman himself, and that the change he wants comes from workingmen themselves, and by their own means. Philanthropy would be the exact opposite.. "Exactly. That was Felix and a frustrating part of him for those like me, coming with 21st century outlooks, as we see such a waste of possibilities. But he could not have lived with himself and his principles even if it was his wife who accepted the funds and engaged in this philanthropy.
Thus, I did not think any of Felix and Esther Holt family's income was from the estate. As Esther relinquished any claim without any quid pro quo, I presumed Esther did not take any annuity from the estate as Felix would not want any of that money. It would have felt like bad money to him.
Felix would have been willing to take some sustaining funds from Esther's teaching but would likely only live happily if the majority of sustaining funds came from his own working-class labors Thus, at the end, I presumed Felix just worked harder or got more work and got by with Esther's extra teaching and her "skill" with finances. That Eliot left this unclear was something I accepted.
You both make excellent points. To keep the estate and use it for philanthropy would have been against Felix’s principles. Hard to shake a 20th-21st century mindset!
Brian E wrote: "Thus, I did not think any of Felix and Esther Holt family's income was from the estate. As Esther relinquished any claim without any quid pro quo, I presumed Esther did not take any annuity from the estate as Felix would not want any of that money. It would have felt like bad money to him. ."Yes, that's what I would have thought, too ... at first. But Felix has changed too, just a tiny bit 'softened', and the idea of a library on a very small scale is to him a way out of the dilemma of accepting money: that's what I read in(to?) this final scene (which I love, BTW ... so beautifully written)
Nancy wrote: "Hard to shake a 20th-21st century mindset!"that's exactly what I thought after I had written my reply. It sounds strange to us. But from all I have read, it was the spirit of the workers' movement throughout the 19th and way into the 20th century: trade unions, cooperatives, the 'benefit clubs' mentioned in the book, people's colleges etc. etc. It creates much more than material goods and welfare - 'empowerment', we would call it today. Just listen to any of the proud, defiant workers' hymns of the time.
And as for today, think of the many 'grassroots' movements especially in the Global South - that's the same spirit. I am also thinking of young people in the climate justice/degrowth movement who 'walk the talk' and experiment with a lifestyle beyond capitalism and consumerism.
Nancy wrote: "Esther’s decision about the estate was disappointing, although merciful to the Transomes. I have no idea what the law would have allowed, but if Esther had kept and then sold the estate there would..."I agree with you about the estate element of the ending, although I also agree with sabagrey about that exquisite piece of writing at the end of the final chapter just before the epilogue.
However, from the book’s moral point of view I don’t think Esther could have touched any of the estate money because it was so intrinsically linked to her parents and their ill treatment. It must not be forgotten in how much of a distressed state Esther’s mother was found by Rufus Lyon, all caused because her husband had been thrown in jail. Both her parents had been cruelly treated so any revenue from the Transomes would be tantamount to blood money.
As for the Transomes retaining the estate and returning to Treby Magna I can’t believe that Mrs. Transome wouldn’t have been gossiped about. She had been gossiped about before why not now? Also why would Mrs Transome want to return knowing that the whole town knew what she had been getting up to with Jermyn? Harold had no Transome blood in him and in fact he would be an imposter as the head of the estate so how could anyone in the town show any respect for him?
Considering that Harold Transome was already a rich man either with or without the estate, the morally correct way to finish the novel would have been for him to relinquish the estate himself and take his son, mother and stepfather back abroad. Although not rightfully his, it could have been Harold who turned over the estate to a charity, maybe one for orphaned children or even mothers in distress similar to ‘The Foundling Hospital.’ Mrs Transome might then feel she had made some sort of reparation before her death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundli...
I agree with Trev that the epilogue answers less questions than it raises. For example, Harold is not mentioned at all. But (looking up my notes): Esther does not know that the Transomes, and Jermyn, had their hands in her father's imprisonment.
As to Harold: he was born in wedlock and so is *legally* a Transome and the rightful heir. Husbands being cuckolded was not that rare in those times, and in the long run people would find other sources for gossip: so he could go on living on the estate if he wished. But it is curious that the epilogue says very little about the Transomes, and nothing about Harold.
... and I am not so sure that Mrs. Transome would feel the need to make 'reparations' - when she has felt to be the victim all along.
sabagrey wrote: There I had to think of the 'heroines' of so many other Victorian novels who are so often two-dimensional cardboard shapes compared with what Eliot gives us here: is there even one of those characters who goes through anything like the complex development we see in Esther, through a dilemma not between black-and-white good and bad, 'hero' and 'villain', etc., but the realistic dilemma between one good and the other. This was a very powerful part of this novel for me-the development of Esther through the course of her change in status and her real struggle between two reasonably good men.
Trev wrote: " "'This was the explosive moment that derailed Harold and all but destroyed Jermyn. Considering how cool and calculating Jermyn had been up to this point, his public outburst seemed so out of character even if he was severely provoked."Yes it was quite shattering, although we had seen how hemmed in and trapped Jermyn was feeling, once he realized he no longer had any control over the Transome's-this felt like revenge and retribution-to humiliate his former lover and the son who had only ever been rude and condescending to him-rather than any hope for gain.
sabagrey wrote: "Trev wrote: "For me it felt only a matter of time before she would turn Harold down. ."This is interesting. For me, her final decision came very late. First she is unable to refuse Harold's offer..."
I also felt there was some doubt as to Esther's final decision-it would have been very simple to marry Harold and carry on in her fancy new life, slipping quietly into the role of Lady of the Manor. Harold's pleasant attractiveness would make him seem a reasonable choice to many women, and I'm sure she would have loved and married him if she hadn't met Felix 6 months earlier.
Brian E wrote: "Rather than having to think of an insightful comment, I instead have two movie analogies to make on this story:1) Jermyn’s parenthood revelation to Harold while in the midst of a physical struggl..."
Too funny Brian! I will never be able to "unsee" that Stars Wars scene if I reread this.
One other component of this novel that struck me was the number of "adoptive" parents and children throughout-Harold by his apparent father, Esther by Mr Lyon, Job Tudge by Mrs Holt and to some extent by Felix, Esther taking on the daughter role to Mrs Transome, young Harry by his "Gappa" and to some extent by Esther while she is living there. This is contrasted by those not knowing their true parentage-Harold and Jermyn, Esther not knowing her parentage until the inheritance issue comes up.
Lady Clementina wrote: "Felix’s AddressFor those who didn’t have Felix’s address to the workmen in their copy, here it is:
https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Essa...."
Coming from reading the novel, my first question was: Is the ‘address’ by Felix Holt, the character, or by George Eliot, using one of her characters’ names as a pseudonym?
In other words, is it written ‘in character’ or out of it?
A few elements, like some subjects and images, are ‘in character’: it is what Felix Holt would talk about, and the images he would use to make himself understood.
But then: the length of it! the syntax! the style! - this is Eliot speaking, and I am not sure whether she thinks she really addresses workers.
And as to the contents: I could almost feel nostalgic. For all the criticism, there is such a strong belief in the progress of humankind, and in the fundamental goodness of human beings … a sort of 19th century naiveté that was thoroughly devastated in the 20th, with two world wars, fascism, Holocaust, Gulag, Cultural Revolution etc. etc. By the 21st century, it has become a thousand times harder to share that belief.
sabagrey wrote: Coming from reading the novel, my first question was: Is the ‘address’ by Felix Holt, the character, or by George Eliot, using one of her characters’ names as a pseudonym? In other words, is it written ‘in character’ or out of it? ..."
George Eliot was a radical in her own beliefs and publicly practised them. She turned her back on established religious practices at the age of twenty-one and continually pushed against the expectations of society for the rest of her life.
The article below seems to imply that Felix Holt was not all that fictional a character, but was similar in beliefs and actions with a close friend’s husband, Peter Alfred Taylor. It is quite possible he may have collaborated on that address to the workmen.
Abstract - https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ger/687/
Full article - https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi...
Much has been written about George Eliot’s unconventional life, both in fiction and non-fiction. Here are a couple of examples which illustrate this as well as emphasising the contradictory arguments concerning Eliot’s radical beliefs and practices.
(Note - There are references to other Eliot novels in the articles below such as Middlemarch, Adam Bede, Mill on the Floss and Daniel Deronda which some may consider as spoilers.)
https://www.publicbooks.org/george-el...
https://thespectator.com/book-and-art...
Just saying I finished the book, but couldn´t decide about the rating, as I thought it hard to read or understand everything. I´m following your discussions with interest though, and thanks for the great links!
Trev wrote: "George Eliot was a radical in her own beliefs and publicly practised them. She turned her back on established religious practices at the age of twenty-one and continually pushed against the expectations of society for the rest of her life. ."Thank you ever so much for the background article - I'll read it as soon as I can. I did get the impression, reading the novel, that there was some real life inspiration for the Felix Holt character (Maybe because I make real-life associations myself?)
Note that in my post, I did not deny that it were Eliot's own views that we read in the address, or close to them. It was only that reading it like sth. as an 'afterword' or annex to the novel, I noted that it goes beyond the fictional character - which is no criticism per se; only that it is not so strongly connected to the novel as I was led to believe when it was included in the reading plan.
As we are going on to April's group read, I don't want to leave this thread without HUGE thanks to all of you for the discussion, and especially Trev for the great additional material. <3<3<3And to give my overall impression: I like this book A LOT (5 stars & favourite), whether it is regarded as a less-read, not so good etc. work of Eliot or not. Which just goes to show how good it is that there are so many books out there, so that everyone can be sure to find the right ones for themselves - those that speak to the heart.
sabagrey wrote: "As we are going on to April's group read, I don't want to leave this thread without HUGE thanks to all of you for the discussion, and especially Trev for the great additional material. <3<3<3And ..."
Agreed-while I wouldn't say that this was a favourite read, I enjoyed it very much and it was definitely enhanced by Lady Clementina's excellent introductions and Trev's additional information/materials, as well as the great discussions-thanks everyone.
sabagrey wrote: "As we are going on to April's group read, I don't want to leave this thread without HUGE thanks to all of you for the discussion, and especially Trev for the great additional material. <3<3<3And ..."
Thank’s very much, sabagrey, and a big thanks to you for all your insightful and stimulating contributions. The comments from the other contributors were also much appreciated and together they all enhanced my second reading of this novel.
Thanks to Lady Clementina for providing such comprehensive summaries and theme analyses to each sections. No doubt I will read Felix Holt again in the future, possibly in tandem with Middlemarch because the two novels ‘bookend’ the Reform Act and both are influenced by it.
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I also want to thank everyone for the insightful comments and wonderful supplemental information. I joined this group in order to grow and learn more about my favorite genre, and so far it has greatly surpassed my hopes.
Thanks from me too for the lead by LadyC and the discussion by several other members!
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https://georgeeliotreview.org/items/s...
Lady Clementina wrote: "Here's another short piece exploring FH and the Address to the Workers:https://georgeeliotreview.org/items/s..."
thank you - for moderating the group in general, and this article in particular. I admit I haven't read the 'Address' in that detail, maybe because my first impression chimes in with what is said in this article - that the 'Felix Holt' of the novel is not the one of the Address (and I am interested in the novel in the first place).
What is strange: I never took Eliot, through the views of Felix Holt in the novel, for a 'conservative'. Despite her scepticism of the effects of extended franchise on the 'improvement' of humans, despite her call for 'inner reform'. To me - after a century or so of universal franchise - it sounds more like a prophetic warning.
There is, of course, no way back from voting rights (only forward), but there can be little doubt that the 'human advancement' that was hoped for has not come to pass, and that we are still struggling - only that, maybe, we have lost our illusions about humanity that Victorians could still hold.
Week summary
Harold pursues his suit, things now coming to a point where his admiration for Esther has become more genuine, such that he might even have pursued her had the Transome estate not been involved. Yet, he seems to have sensed that Esther might admire another. And while the uncertainty bothers him, he isn’t much worried about the outcome for he is sure Esther looks favourably on him. And Esther seems to do so, too, despite her doubts and her being shaken into reality by Felix’s assumption conveyed to her by Mr Lyon. It seems the easiest way to everything after all—not displacing the Transomes, and having her own dreams come true. But now that they are, the life she leads isn’t really as enjoyable as she’d hoped.
Felix’s impending trial meanwhile is on everyone’s mind. And while he may be adamant not to accept any aid, his mother certainly won’t take this lying down, and despite anything he’d said decides to approach Transome using Esther’s good offices. She does manage to get a sympathetic hearing, and Harold now sensible to Esther’s opinion of Felix is more determined to help him (of course he would in his own way have, otherwise too). Esther makes some of her views known to Harold but the latter is again not unduly worried as far as his suit is concerned. We also learn the circumstances of his first marriage where the relationship was not one of love.
As the trial is about to come to pass, Esther gets more worried and wishes to meet Felix, and this does take place, on the morning of the trial. Here the two can’t keep their feelings to themselves. At the trial however, despite favourable statements from Mr Lyon, Harold and a few others, things are not going well for Felix partly as his own words are unlikely to be grasped by the jury. Here Esther takes matters into her own hands, giving evidence and softening many hearts. But the outcome for Felix is not a very positive one, for he is convicted but sentenced to four years.
Hope is not lost yet for him though, as we see Philip Debarry has also taken steps on his own account, sending his father and uncle to the trial. Moved by Esther’s statement (and her position as Harold’s likely bride), the men decide to intervene on Felix’s behalf and manage to secure a pardon.
But that fateful meeting proves less than happy for Harold himself, for a desperate Jermyn after failed attempts at trying to secure a meeting or communicating with Harold by letter and a rather public snub in court, confronts Harold and blurts out the truth clear for all to hear. Shocked and shattered, Harold turns to his mother, only to get confirmation.
He acts honourably now though, while not making Esther aware of the truth, but of the change in circumstances, while also telling her of the good news regarding Felix. She in her turn plays a part in mending relations between Harold and his mother soon, first giving support and comfort to Mrs Transome and then ensuring that Harold is by her side when she needs him. Mother and son realise her true worth even more now, and hope she will become part of their family.
But of course, this is not to be for Esther chooses to give up the estate in their favour and share the life that Felix has envisioned for himself. Felix and Esther are married, and eventually leave town and are joined by Mr Lyon. The Transomes too leave, but return just before Mrs Transome’s death. Her indiscretions though known are not referred to. Johnson prospers, while Jermyn gets his just desserts.
And so ends our journey with Felix Holt as he continues to live life according to his principles but at the same time, with some practical considerations taken into account thanks to Esther who ensures that her father, Mrs Holt and little Job are taken care of!