Middlemarch

Bulstrode’s Self-Justifying Hypocrisy

The chapter concludes by characterizing Bulstrode as a man whose desires proved stronger than his professed beliefs, and who gradually explained the gratification of those desires into apparent agreement with his creed. The narrator observes that this process, whether or not it merits the name of hypocrisy, manifests itself in persons of every confession and belief.

CHAPITRE LXI.

This chapter centers on Mr. Bulstrode’s intense crisis of conscience, his resolve to make tangible restitution for past wrongs tied to the origins of his wealth, and his failed attempt to atone to Will Ladislaw, the unknown grandson of his late wife.

Bulstrode’s Self-Justification for His Conduct

Bulstrode has long rationalized his morally questionable choices to himself as acts in service of God’s religious cause, distinguishing his divine mission from his own personal rectitude, and framing his profitable but ethically dubious investments as sanctified by his plan to direct the gains toward religious ends.

Unchecked Doctrine’s Erosion of Personal Morality

The narrative notes that implicit self-justifying reasoning tied to narrow, dogmatic belief is not unique to evangelical Christianity, and that any doctrine left unchecked by genuine, deep-seated empathy for individual other people will erode an individual’s moral compass.

Bulstrode’s Conscience Crisis and Demand for Restitution

Bulstrode’s previously unshaken moral standard of serving God’s cause fractures when he fears his past misdeeds may be exposed as proof of hypocrisy, undermining the religious glory he sought to advance. No longer satisfied with mere verbal repentance, he believes he must offer tangible restitution to avoid divine punishment, resolving to act to regain peace and divine protection.

Bulstrode Arranges Private Meeting with Will Ladislaw

After the temporary relief of seeing Raffles, the man who holds knowledge of his secrets, leave town, Bulstrode resolves to act on his restitution plan, writing to Will Ladislaw to request a private 9pm meeting at the Shrubs that evening. Will, initially assuming the meeting relates to the Pioneer publication, is shocked by Bulstrode’s haggard, distressed appearance when he arrives.

Bulstrode Discloses Familial Connection to Will Ladislaw

During the private meeting, Bulstrode reveals that Will’s mother, Sarah Dunkirk, was the daughter of his late wife, making Will his wife’s grandson. He explains that he grew wealthy from his marriage to Will’s grandmother, a fortune that would likely not have reached its current size if she had been able to locate her estranged daughter before her death.

Bulstrode Offers Financial Atonement to Will

Asserting that Will has a moral (though not legal) claim to the wealth he inherited via his grandmother, Bulstrode offers a financial atonement package: £500 yearly for the rest of his life, plus a proportional capital sum to be left to Will upon his death, and the promise of further support if needed for any of Will’s laudable projects.

Will Ladislaw Questions Bulstrode’s Wealth Origins

Will, who is already on edge due to Raffles’s recent hints about Bulstrode’s past, refuses to respond to the offer immediately, instead demanding to know if Bulstrode was connected to the original business that generated the fortune he is offering, and if that business was so dishonorable that those involved would be considered little better than thieves if it were made public.

Will Ladislaw Rejects Bulstrode’s Financial Offer

Will rejects the offer outright, stating that he would rather forfeit the money than accept wealth tied to dishonorable origins that stains his family line, which his mother worked to distance herself from. He asserts that his personal honor is paramount, and that he could never face Dorothea Brooke if he accepted money gained through unethical means, before leaving the meeting abruptly.

Bulstrode’s Reaction to Scorn and Secrecy Relief

After Will leaves, Bulstrode is overwhelmed by the first open scorn he has ever received from someone of higher social standing than Raffles, weeping uncontrollably before checking his emotions when his wife and daughters return home from a missionary event. His only comfort in the aftermath is the belief that Will is unlikely to make the night’s revelations public.