The Lifted Veil

Latimer’s powers of insight and foresight go through periods of unpredictable latency. What correlation do you find between the fitfulness (or total reduction) of Latimer’s powers and his evolution as a character?

How does Latimer’s social class influence his experiences with double consciousness? How might they have been different if Latimer was not born to a wealthy family?

What connections do you see between Charles Meunier and Mrs. Archer? Each symbolizes an aspect of Victorian medical science. Discuss their connection to each other and the historical context of Eliot’s writing.

What commentary does Eliot provide about the nature of Victorian-era marriage traditions? Explain through three examples.

How does The Lifted Veil connect the English literary traditions of Romanticism and Victorian speculative fiction?

How do Latimer’s powers relate to the conventions of English Victorian society? How do they expose the truth of these conventions?

Latimer’s love for Bertha stems from his inability to perceive her thoughts and emotions through insight. What does this suggest about Latimer’s character? What does this suggest about the novel’s discussion of death, marriage, and society?

Bertha’s plan to poison Latimer is revealed by her maid, a dependent employee of their household. What commentary does this provide on Victorian classism and social norms?