Already in her first published work, George Eliot establishes herself as a master of words, a keen observer, and a true scholar. Already, we find in this piece themes she would expand upon throughout her literary career: religion, social transformations, women, provincial communities, and more. While this may not possess the ambition or complexity of her later works, it is still a testament to Eliot's ever-enduring prowess as a writer, and even, philosopher.