10 The Dichotomy of Control - with George Eliot and The Industrial Revolution
This episode of The Female Stoic podcast looks at the Dichotomy of Control and how it enables us to practise a stoic acceptance of external forces in order to maintain inner peace.
We will be referencing the work of George Eliot (nee Mary Ann Evans), and her ability to remained focused at a time of immense change.
In spite of the massive changes, both personal and social, George Eliot experienced in her lifetime, she chose to engage and depict them through her novels, rather than letting them overpower her.
She wrote about its impact on rural communities and the conflicts it created between tradition and modernity. She explored the social upheaval caused by industrialization, particularly the displacement of traditional livelihoods by machines and railways, and the resulting hardship for the working class.
Eliot's characters often grapple with their own emotions and desires, and her work emphasises the importance of self-control and accepting one's circumstances.
She frequently celebrates the inner strength of individuals who act on principle, even when it is difficult or likely to result in failure, a key Stoic virtue.
Her writing shows a belief that challenging situations "reveal" a person's character and provide opportunities for growth, rather than being insurmountable obstacles.
Some of her popular quotes, such as "It is never too late to be what you might have been," resonate with the Stoic focus on present actions and potential for personal transformation, regardless of past circumstances.
Music copyright Jean Miles Carter