George Eliot was a representative writer of the Victorian era, who deeply reflected on the religious, scientific, and ethical changes of the 19th century. She understands these changes with a historical mindset and holds a complex attitude towards the macro historical process, neither simply optimistic nor conservative pessimistic. This article will explore Eliot's reflections on tradition and historical continuity, as well as his historical imagination, by analyzing the image of the "lost father" in two novels, "Romura" and "Daniel Deronda".

Progressive belief and conservative attitude: the complexity of Eliot's historical view

Explored Elliott's complex views on historical progress and conservative attitudes. After the Enlightenment, the concept of progress became deeply ingrained in Western society, and in the 19th century, it was combined with historical philosophy and evolutionary theory to have a wide-ranging impact. Eliot's works reflect recognition of the laws of progress, shaping many images of reformers and depicting their efforts in social reform. However, her works also reveal a clear awareness of the limitations of reality and concerns about stagnation and decline in the historical process. In works such as "Romura," "Felix Holt," and "Middlemarch," reformers are repeatedly defeated, and the ending is full of regret and helplessness. Williams criticized 'Felix Holt' for having the emotions of the 1860s, while Graham believed that Eliot's later works abandoned the concept of gradual development. Although the disappointment in Eliot's works is genuine, the fairness of these criticisms still needs to be debated.

Lost Father and Inheritance Theme: Elliott's Interpretation of Tradition

In depth exploration of George Eliot's attitude and historical perspective towards tradition in his works, particularly through the themes of inheritance and abandonment, as well as the image of a 'lost father'. In Eliot's works, heritage is not only material, but also includes the inheritance of identity and spirit. The image of a "lost father" combines multiple meanings such as wandering, mental confusion, and moral negligence, and their fate is often influenced by the attitudes of their children. In Romura and Daniel Deronda, this theme and image provide symbolic inspiration for the relationship between tradition and change. In "Romura", Romura's relationship with his father Bardot, as well as Titus' betrayal of his adoptive father Badasari, demonstrate respect and betrayal towards tradition and the elders. Bardot and Badasari both embody the scholar's desire to be remembered by future generations, as well as the loneliness and confusion when this desire fails. Daniel Deronda explores the inheritance of national traditions. After discovering his Jewish heritage, Deronda chose to inherit his national identity and devote himself to the revival of Jewish culture. Elliott emphasized through these stories the fundamental role of tradition in modern life, as well as the spiritual barrenness and moral decline that may result from abandoning tradition. She criticized the arrogance and contempt of Western Christians towards Jews, emphasized the kinship between Judaism and Christianity, and highlighted the Western civilization's debt to Jewish traditions. Elliott's works showcase the wisdom and qualities inherent in tradition, as well as the consequences of forgetting and betraying tradition, through these symbolic characters and plots.

The Transformation between Change and Tradition: Elliott's Reflections on Historical Continuity

Explored the importance of historical continuity in the development theory of Western society in the 19th century, particularly Eliot's contemplation of this concept. After the Enlightenment, social development theory gradually matured, emphasizing the continuity, accumulative nature, and internalization of change. Elliott and his contemporaries believed that true social development must be built on historical continuity, that is, how to deal with the relationship between the past and the present, tradition and change. Elliott emphasized the importance of the continuity rule in his notes and agreed with Kant's view on historical continuity, believing that the situation of one era depends on the situation of the previous era. She believes that today's traditions stem from past reforms, and today's reforms will create tomorrow's traditions. Elliott opposes the opposition between the past and the present, and advocates for the revival of tradition, which is closely integrated with a modern perspective. She has a clear understanding of the shortcomings, irrationality, and narrowness of several major Western cultural traditions, which is reflected in her works. Elliott presents and explores in his works the so-called 'moral impact of dogmatic systems on society, which is both positive and negative'. She criticized certain 'broad minds' for maintaining harmful traditions, while lamenting that tradition has a' coercive power 'on the whole. In his early works, Eliot depicted the suffocating side of traditional life and criticized the blind obedience to customs that lacked spirituality. In Daniel Deronda, certain traditions are even depicted as evil and corrupt customs. Eliot's attitude in this regard is similar to that of 19th century theorists, who hold a tolerant attitude towards customs and habits in a society of etiquette and convention, while sharply criticizing secular norms in a society of legal principles. Tradition needs to be reconstructed through the correction of unreasonable aspects.

'Existence' and 'Reenactment': Eliot's Dialectical Historical Imagination

Explored George Eliot's dialectical thinking on the historical process, she believed that historical development should break through unreasonable traditions while maintaining continuity to achieve true progress. Eliot quoted Lille's point of view in the Natural History of German People's Lives, emphasizing that things growing out of history can only die out through the inevitable laws in the historical process, and the nature of European people is closely linked to the past era, and its development cannot shake its foundation. She compares the relationship between tradition and development to roots and seeds, where new development will be independent of traditional foundations but also a continuation of traditional vitality. This dialectical development view is influenced by the philosophical tradition of 19th century history, especially the dialectical thinking of Hegel and Kant. Eliot repeatedly emphasized the importance of historical continuity in his notes and novels, viewing tradition and reform as essentially the same rather than opposing.