How well do you know the characters in “Adam Bede”? The first novel of Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880), she published it in 1859 under the pseudonym, George Eliot. Better known today for “Silas Marner” and “MiddleMarch”, Mary Ann Evans’ first novel met with good reviews.

Charles Dickens: “The whole country life that the story is set in, is so real, and so droll and genuine, and yet so selected and polished by art, that I cannot praise it enough to you.”

The inspiration from the plot came from a story told to George Eliot by her aunt Elizabeth Evans, a Methodist preacher (who becomes Dinah Morris in the novel). Set in the fictional rural community of Hayslope, the story centers around four main characters:

Main Characters:

Adam Bede: An excellent carpenter, the title character is 26 years old when the novel begins. Described as tall, stalwart and moral, Adam bears an “expression of large-hearted intelligence.” He is captivated by Hetty Sorrel’s beauty and his dream is to marry her and live happily ever after in Hayslope.

Hetty Sorrel: Mr. Poyser’s orphaned niece. She lives and works at the Poyser farm. Hetty has the kind of beauty that turns heads, and it is a power that she is not unaware of since even her stern Aunt cannot help but smile when she has to scold her niece. Hetty believes it means she was destined for the finer things in life. She dreams not of living happily ever after as a carpenter’s wife, but of life as a fine lady.

Arthur Donnithorne, grandson of the local squire, a handsome and charming sportsman. He is 20 years old when we meet him. His prospects are excellent since he stands to inherit his grandfather’s estate. Finding Hetty irresistible, he seduces her and is unaware that he has gotten her pregnant. He leaves for military service in Ireland.

Dinah Morris, another orphaned niece of the Poysers, and Hetty’s cousin. She possesses a different kind of beauty than Hetty, is not vain about her looks, but as an itinerant Methodist preacher, she is a bit self-righteous (putting it charitably).

The rest of the Bedes:

Matthias Bede (called Thias), father of Adam and Seth. His alcoholism leads to his death by drowning

Lisbeth Bede, mother of Adam and Seth mother, “an anxious, spare, yet vigorous old woman, clean as a snowdrop.”

Seth Bede, Adam’s younger brother, also a carpenter, 3 years younger than Adam and not as good at everything, he falls in love with Dinah Morris.

Gyp, Adam’s dog, who follows his every move.

The Poysers:

Martin Poyser, head of the family, father of two sons, Marty and Tommy and a daughter, Totty.

Rachel Poyser, Martin’s wife and mother of their children. The Poysers are aunt and uncle to Hetty and Dinah.
“Old Martin” Poyser – Mr. Poyser’s elderly father, who lives in retirement with his son’s family.

The rest of the Donnithornes:

Squire Donnithorne is the local bigwig, who owns most of the land thereabouts and rents Hall Farm to the Poysers.

Miss Lydia Donnithorne, the old squire’s daughter, and Arthur’s unmarried aunt.

The Irwines:

Adolphus Irwine, the patient and tolerant Rector of Broxton, who lives with his mother and sisters.
Mrs. Irwine, his mother, “a fine old lady,” “worth driving ten miles to see any day.”
Miss Kate, oldest daughter, an “old maid” because she never received an “eligible offer.”
Miss Anne, youngest daughter, another “old maid,” and an invalid suffering from chronic headaches.

Townfolk:

Bartle Massey, local schoolteacher, a bachelor with “bushy grizzled eyebrows” and a mouth “habitually compressed with a pout of the lower lip.”
Mr. Craig, Scotch gardener of the Donnithorne estate, who Mrs. Poyer’s says is like a rooster who thinks the sun rises to hear him crow.

Jonathan Burge, Adam’s employer at a carpentry workshop, who has a daughter named Mary. He wants to give Adam a share in his business, and some think that will include marriage to his daughter.

The Cranage family: Ben, Chad and his daughter Bess

A Few Quotes

Hetty Sorrel: “Don’t talk to me so, Dinah. Why do you come to frighten me? I’ve never done anything to you. Why can’t you let me be?”

Arthur Donnithorne: “I suppose I fainted away when you knocked me down.” [spoiler]

Mr. Casson: “Why, what do you think the folks here say for ‘hevn’t you?’– the gentry, you know, says ‘hevn’t you’– well, the people about here says ‘hanna yey.'”