George Eliot's fiction debut work contains three stories of the lives of clergymen, with the aim of disclosing the value hidden in the commonplace. "The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos Barton" portrays a character who is hard to like and easy to ridicule. "Mr. Gilfil's Love-Story," brings forth conflicting value systems revolving around a young woman, Caterina, and two men. "Janet's Repentance" is an account of conversion from sinfulness to righteousness achieved through the selfless endeavors of a clergyman.