Throughout the fourth book I think that the theme of failure is very reoccuring. Mr. Tulliver is the character that is involved most with failure. It seems like failure changes one's mind set and cause them to be only focused on bringing themselves back up. There are two quotes that I found that I think really embody the things accociated with failure.

The first quote is talking about how the only time Mr. Tulliver is remotely happy is when he sees the money that he has been building up on.

"The little store of sovereigns in the tin box seemed to be the only sight that brought a faint beam of pleasure into the miller's eyes" (page 290)

The passage continues to say that his his pleasure was short-lived because he knew that he would not see the day all his debts were paid off. His pride has been hurt a lot because of this debt that he owes and all he really wants to do is not be looked upon poorly. I understand what hes feeling because who would want to be remembered as the man that failed.

The other quote that pertained to failure is about how people no longer wish to associate with the Tullivers. This passage shows the effects of one man's mistake on his whole family.

"human beings, mere men and women, without furniture, without anything to offer you, who have ceased to count as anybody, present an embarrassing negation of reasons for wishing to see them, or of subjects on which to converse with them." (page 292)

Majority of society reject failures and wish to have nothing to do with them. The Tullivers went from being a socially acceptable family to one that not many wished to associate with. This failure is effecting Maggie. She most likely will not be recieving too many marriage offers, because she has no money nor social status to offer. It effected Tom also. Most women and their parents don't want them to start off in debt and with a bad reputation. Mrs. Tulliver is lost without her friends and sisters. One man's mistake has messed up the lives of the ones he loves most.

-Staten