George Eliot was renowned for her insightful portrayal of human nature and society and had a big

influence on Victorian literature. In her novels, she explored the complex themes of morality and
philosophy, with views that often challenged the societal norms of her time. Eliot established herself as a
renowned female author in an era which was very male dominated. George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans
on November 22, 1820, was from Griff, near Nuneaton. She was brought up in a rural landscape with her
father, Robert Evans, who served as a respected land-agent and surveyor in Warwickshire. She was the
youngest of three children from her father’s second marriage and from a young age displayed intellectual
curiosity and conviction. She graduated from Miss Franklin's school in Coventry, which laid the
foundation for her future pursuits but tragically, her mother's death at an early age marked a significant
turning point in her life. During her formative years in Foleshill, near Coventry, Eliot's true education
began. She got into languages, music, and philosophy, under the guidance of respected mentors such as
Rev. T. Sheepshanks and Signor Brezzi. Additionally, her involvement in the intellectual circles of
Coventry, particularly through her connection with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray, provided her with
opportunities for intellectual growth and exposure to enlightened views. Eliot rose to popularity as a
writer amid the Victorian era's growing literary scenery. The rapid industrialization and evolving societal
norms of the time provided her the perfect place to develop a profound understanding of human natural
and create empathetic portrayals of the same. This environment led her onto her literary career, which left
a lasting mark on the Victorian Literature. The early reception of George Eliot’s works, including “The
Mill on the Floss” and “Adam Bede” was marked by widespread acclaim and critical admiration. These
novels, consisting of rich characterizations, depictions of rural life and thorough exploration of human
morality, gained immediate attention from both common public as well as literary critics. One interesting
aspect that influenced the public reception of her work was her pen name, George Eliot, a gender-neutral
pen name. This detachment from her gender allowed her to be judged purely based on her literary merit,
while also saving her from the gender biases of the Victorian Society, helping her in being taken seriously
in an era where other female writers faced discrimination and skepticism. She played a vital role in the
development of realism in Victorian literature through her careful and precise portrayals of characters and
settings. “Middlemarch” and “Silas Marner”, two of her novels, are specially known for their lifelike
characterization, including intricate psychological details, and detailed portrayal of the rural and
provincial life in the England of 19th Century. Eliot, by portraying the struggles and achievements of the
ordinary individuals, which were often from lower socioeconomic classes, confronted the class, gender
and morality issues they faced. Her characters were not fairytale-perfect, and were instead flawed, multi-
dimensional and defied the simplistic stereotypes of the time. These features of her writing added to their
realism. The reaction to this realism, however, was mixed. Some found the depictions to be bleak or
pessimistic while others through it captured the nuances of human experiences with extraordinary
authenticity. Some appreciated her insightful commentary of moral dilemmas faced by her characters
while others did not like her questioning religious and traditional beliefs alongside other societal values.
Regardless of this controversial reception, her work sparked important discussions about virtue,
consequences of one’s action, and role of religion in one’s life. The realism of her work also inspired
many young writers to follow the path and write more about such nuanced human experiences in all their
crooked nature. Her own experiences and beliefs also deeply influenced her work. She was deeply
introspective since a young age and was an intellectually curious individual, and often wondered about
faith and morality, as can be seen from their prevalence in her work. She rejected the orthodoxy of
religion and favored an inclusive worldview, which was fair to all and more human. This is evident in her
work where characters often struggle with resolution between their personal beliefs and societal
expectations. Her moral and philosophical themes allowed readers to reflect and debate. After her death,
she started gaining popularity again as her work continued to be studied and be resonated with by scholars
and readers. Today, she is known as one of the most famous authors of the Victorian Era. Despite the
initial skepticism that was shown around her work, people came to resonate with it as it helped them
reflect on themselves and their beliefs. It also shaped the next generation of literature writers.