Klesmer made a low bow in silent irony

Grayscale illustration of a well-dressed woman sitting in a chair with her back to the viewer and facing two men and one woman in formal attire.

Herr Klesmer, a Jewish composer and musician, bows to Mr. and Mrs. Arrowpoint as their daughter Catherine stands next to him. Catherine and Klesmer plan to marry. Here, Mr. and Mrs. Arrowpoint are expressing their disapproval of the marriage, on the basis of Klesmer’s low social rank and status. This disapproval highlights themes of class prejudice in the face of societal expectations (Book 3, Chapter 22).

Pegram, Frederick (1870-1937)

George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org

1908

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Pegram, Frederick (1870-1937), Klesmer made a low bow in silent irony, George Eliot Illustrations Gallery, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/83501