... Dinah may be unconvincingly good, but this is perhaps her purpose. The novel was written in 1859, but is set at least seventy years before this time; the character of Dinah reflects desirable qualities in a wife. Dinah can be considered a paradox of sorts, yes she is morally and religiously impeccable; but in order to obtain the husband she sexually desires she must give up her preaching to be his dutiful and perfect housewife. Her moral perfection has not brought her a fulfilling life; the ending does not really satisfy the reader. It does not seem correct that the devout Methodist would choose between a man and her religion, when Seth Bede was willing for her to carry on preaching as his wife. This is obviously to show her weakness, she must make the choice; surely a true Madonna would not give up her beliefs for a man. It would be very likely that the Victorians would frown on a woman who chooses to stay a spinster over marriage to a decent man. It is evident that Eliot admires a woman with a vocation, as it is Dinah that survives the novel and is, we believe, happy and content with her marriage to Adam. If we take a look at their first meeting in the Bede household it is evident that Dinah is not ignorant to her sexual desire: Dinah, for the first time in her life, felt a painful self-consciousness; there was something in the dark penetrating glance of this strong man so different from the mildness and timidity of his brother Seth. A faint blush came, which deepened as she wondered at it. This is the first time they meet and we see that this tall, dark, handsome man affects Dinah....
