Maggie Tulliver is a brilliant woman who finds herself at the center of a love triangle between her childhood crush and a cousin's potential fiancé. The controversial romance makes her a town pariah, damaging her most beloved relationships. Maggie adores her older brother Tom, who's a consistent yet sometimes adversarial figure. She's an idealistic student of the world, while Tom is more of a conservative. Their sibling dynamic is tested by Maggie's interactions with two male suitors: Philip Wakem and Stephen Guest. Philip is the son of their father's mortal enemy, while Stephen is already linked to their cousin Lucy. When Maggie's dalliance with the latter is exposed, she is immediately shunned by the locals, including her brother. The Mill on the Floss is an examination of the complex dynamic between family and friends. Like many of Eliot's novels, it highlights the dangers of groupthink and individual oppression. In this case, Maggie must sacrifice her personal happiness for the acceptance of others.