The narrative opens at Dorlcote Mill, situated on the broadening river Floss near St Ogg’s, where the miller, Mr Tulliver, resolutely declares his intention to give his young son Tom a superior education. Unlike the slow-witted Tom, Mr Tulliver’s daughter Maggie is remarkably clever, imaginative, and fiercely devoted to her brother, though her unconventional nature and rebellious spirit constantly distress her mother. Seeking advice from his friend Mr Riley, Mr Tulliver ultimately decides to send Tom to study under the Rev. Walter Stelling at King’s Lorton, despite the heavy financial cost.
Life at the parsonage proves to be a grueling trial for Tom, who struggles under the relentless demands of Latin grammar and Euclidean geometry, finding himself ill-suited to his tutor's rigorous academic methods. Meanwhile, Maggie's passionate impulses frequently land her in trouble, leading to intense childhood sorrows, notably when her impulsive act of cutting her own hair exposes her to the severe mockery of her visiting aunts, Mrs Glegg and Mrs Pullet. Despite these frequent family tensions, the children maintain a deeply protective affection for each other, cemented by shared childhood haunts and simple pleasures by the river.
Financial pressures mount heavily upon Mr Tulliver as he stubbornly resolves to repay a loan from his formidable sister Mrs Glegg, a decision that entangles him deeper in disputes with local adversaries like the lawyer Wakem. As Tom continues his difficult schooling at King’s Lorton, where Maggie occasionally visits him, the family's standing is increasingly threatened by impending ruin and deepening domestic rifts. The unfolding years bring complex emotional trials, testing the loyalty, resilience, and deep-rooted bonds between the siblings as they transition from childhood toward a turbulent maturity.
