Daniel Deronda

Deronda reflects on his conversation with Mordecai, whose words have left an impression on him. He thinks about his family’s reaction to his sudden interest in Judaism but assures himself that he needs something in his life to be passionate about. He feels as though his life has lacked a cause and perhaps Mordecai’s words stirred such strong emotions in him because this is exactly what he needs. While he is not quite as fervent about Jewish culture as Mordecai, he is intrigued by the possibility that he is Jewish.

Deronda reads a book about the history of the Jewish people. In the book, the historian describes the 1,500-year-long “National Tragedy” of the Jews. Deronda no longer thinks about Ezra Cohen as a stereotypical greedy pawnbroker. Now, he sees the man as a respectable representative of the Jewish people. He returns to the pawn shop to collect his ring. In the Jewish neighborhood, he feels some traces of “repulsion” toward the people around him but this is slowly replaced by kinder thoughts. He has seen how they treat a sick man like Mordecai. Deronda meets Mordecai, who invites him to a nearby club. They can talk, he says, but they may not have much privacy.