In Felix Holt, George Eliot would teach the world that true social reform is not to be secured by act of Parliament, or by the possession of the ballot on the part of all workingmen.  It is but another enforcement of the theory that it is not rights men are to seek after, but duties; that social and political reform is not to be secured by insistence on rights, but by the true and manly acceptance of altruism.  Felix Holt is a social reformer who is not a demagogue, who does not seek office or personal advancement, but who wishes to show by his own conduct how a larger life is to be won.  He would introduce universal education; he would teach the great principles of right living, physically and morally; he would inculcate the spirit of helpfulness and mutual service.  As a brave, earnest, self-sacrificing, pure-minded lover of humanity, he is an inspiring character.  George Eliot evidently wished to indicate in his creation what can be done by workingmen towards the uplifting of their own class.  A better social order, she would have us believe, cannot be secured from external sources; but it must be had by an internal impulse moving those whose lives are degraded to seek for higher things because of their own intrinsic good.  The demagogue seeks the elevation of workingmen because he can use them for his own advancement; but Felix desires their elevation for the good of the whole social structure.  To this end he would inspire in his fellows a greater moral ambition and zeal for the common good.  He is a Mazzini, Castelar or John Bright in his own social order; one who loves his own class, wishes to remain in it, and who desires above all things that it shall do its part in the work of national elevation.  His aim is not to oppose the other classes in society, but to make his own necessary to the prosperity of his country.  Felix is not an ideal character, for he is rough, uncultured and headstrong; but he is an inspiring personality, with gifts of intellectual fascination and moral courage.  George Eliot has created no other character like him, for Deronda and Zarca, whose aims somewhat resemble his, are very different.  He is no hero, he is not altogether an attractive person.  He has, however, the power, which some of the noblest of George Eliot’s characters possess, of attracting and uplifting other persons.  He made Esther realize the wide gulf between self-pleasing and duty, he inspired her with moral courage and awakened her mind to the higher aims and satisfactions life has to give us.  He was undoubtedly meant for a moral hero of the working class, a prophet to the laborers.  With all his limitations he is one of the noblest and most helpful characters in George Eliot’s books.

Other distinctive ideas of George Eliot’s appear throughout this book.  Her theories of heredity, altruism and environment affect the whole development of the story.  Perhaps no more striking illustration of the law of retribution is to be found in her books than in the case of Mrs. Transome.  This woman’s sin corrupted her own life, and helped to darken the lives of others.