ABSTRACT
WhenGeorgeEliotwasconsideringwritingfiction,she expressedherdoubtsaboutherabilitytodoso.Althoughshe wasconfidentthatshehadthedescriptiveabilities,shefelt shewas'deficientindramaticpower,bothofconstruction anddialogue',and'dramaticpresentation'was,bothsheand Lewesagreed,'thehighestqualityoffiction'.Closely connectedinhermind,asintheessayrecallingthattime, was'thequestionwhether[she]couldcommandanypathos' inordertoarousesympathyinherreaders.1
