The Mill on the Floss Art and Culture Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

But Maggie, who had little more power of concealing the impressions made upon her than if she had been constructed of musical strings, felt her eyes getting larger with tears as they took each other’s hands in silence. (6.7.4)

Maggie is described as a metaphorical "musical instrument" here, which, given the importance of music as a theme and a symbol in Maggie’s life, makes sense. Music isn’t just important to Maggie, but music essentially is Maggie, and vice versa. Music is a symbol of Maggie herself.