I did not care much for Ladislaw when I first watched Middlemarch. However, after reading the book and watching the video again, I liked him better. Rufus Sewell, in my opinion, was perfect for Ladislaw. In the book, it talks of Will tossing his curls around, and Sewell certainly had the hair for the part!

When I read Middlemarch for the first time last winter (during my 19th century phase thanks to all the Jane Austen), I hadn't seen the BBC production. I was living overseas when it aired in 93 or 94, whenever it was. My first impressions of the book were that it was heavy and pedantic. However, it stuck with me and I found myself going back to clarify ideas or plot threads, etc. My favorite character was Will Ladislaw, mostly because "he had suffered so much injustice" both at the hands of society a d at the hands of Eliot's critics who found his characterization in general a failure. I always champion the underdog! Anyway, to get to the point, I thought Rufus Sewell's portrayal of Ladislaw was outstanding. I became a bigger champion of Ladislaw and a big-time fan of Sewell. What I guess I am trying to get around to saying is: Count me in on any discussion of Will. He is, IMHO, a very complex and fascination character despite what the critics said and still say.

I think Sewell brought some needed fire to the character. I suppose I have to confess I too wondered what Dorothea saw in him. But isn't that the case sometimes? Maybe we have to just trust there was a spark that neither could ignore.

I sometimes think most of the men in the novel could (or would have) been in love with Dorothea, mostly because of her goodness. Ladislaw was in a position and persistent enough. I also felt she and the good Dr. would have made a nice couple. But would they have been allowed to do the good they wanted? Did they have the money between the 2 of them? Or would they have been defeated by the pettiness of those surrounding them? If you think about it, the only people who ended up "well" (and I am not talking j st money) were Rosamond's brother and his new wife (sorry I have forgotten their names).

You know what guys, I really did not like Will Ladislaw, I thought him boorish. He didn't have any spark, he had no vision. Why didn't he speak up about his cousin leaving him out of the will. And why did he allow Casaubon to treat him that way? I'm a big fan of Sewell and you guys really should see him as Fortinbras in HAMLET. He looks Gorgeous!!!! And I found Dorothea to complacent. She too had no spark. She marries a guys 40 years older than she is, only because she thought that he was Smart and knew things, but to find out that he knew nothing. His book he was writing was other peoples thinkings. Am I making much sense? If not let me know and I'll stop Anyway to all the RS fans run out see Hamlet. At least at $7.50 for a 4:02 min movie you know you are definitely getting your moneys worth PS Kenneth Branagh is Shakespeare

Rosamond's brother was Fred Vincy who with the great love and help of Caleb Garth is saved from his directionless life. Fred of course loved Mary Garth from when they were children.

There's another neat, loveable character -- Mr Garth. I always figured he must have been based on Eliot's own dad, who was in a similar line of work.

I am posting here to sort of jump start or re-invigorate this discussion of Will Ladislaw. I will preface my comments by saying that I hated the character Rosamund, both in the book and in the screen adaptation. That such a petty, selfish woman could destroy an idealistic, intelligent man like Lydgate that way was detestable. Accordingly, I applauded when Will "shredded" her after Dorothea's appearance at the Lydgate's house when she encounters Will and Rosamund together. Perhaps it was not a gentlem nly thing to do and Will feels bad that he did it, but he can't and won't apologize and well he shouldn't. Rosamund, in her own weakness and selfishness, has almost cost him everything ... his honor, his dignity, and Dorothea.

Amy, I too, really liked Caleb Garth. His goodness and integrity fairly glowed. I have read in a book of criticism of Middlemarch that Garth was indeed based on Eliot's most beloved father.

] Accordingly, I applauded when Will "shredded" her after Dorothea's appearance at the Lydgate's house when she encounters Will and Rosamund together. __ Me too. It was better than Darcy telling Caroline to bug off. It was like everything came into focus for him, as if we were thinking, "What am I doing?"