In 'Adam Bede', what tragic event leads to the trial and near-execution of Hetty Sorrel?
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Correct answer: Infanticide — the death of her illegitimate newborn child
Hetty Sorrel is seduced by the squire Arthur Donnithorne and eventually abandons her newborn baby, leading to its death. This subplot allows Eliot to critique Victorian social hypocrisy and the lack of support for 'fallen' women.
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