Accepting responsibility for Eppie makes Silas a happier person, whilst Godfrey's rejection of her will only bring him deep regret. Discuss the obvious parallels and differences between Godfrey Cass and Silas Marner.

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Abi Howse 11G

The novel ‘Silas Marner’ is a story of old fashioned village life in a remote place called Raveloe, showing how the community responds to the old weaver, Silas Marner, who was once a respected member of a narrower evangelical congregation. The story, set in Raveloe in 1805, was written by Mary Ann (Marian) Evans under her pen name George Eliot. The tale soon flashes back to events that took place before 1805, to the late 18th century, and reflects times past, even for the readers of George Eliot’s time.

The author uses an omniscient narrator, but her own preaching judgements and summaries can often be seen coming through – as can some of William Wordsworth’s ideas and views on the value of what can be learned from the natural world and the innocence of childhood. This preaching demonstrates many of her own opinions, formed largely through her own experience of the religious outlook of the evangelical churches that sprung up in larger towns and cities and to which she had briefly belonged.

William Wordsworth’ ideas, of the importance of childrens’ influences on adults rather than the adults’ influence on children, shine through as we read, for example: “. . . for the little child had come to link him once more with the whole world.” These words suggest that Eppie has brought Silas back to life (having lost everything at Lantern Yard, when he was framed for stealing and for a second time when his gold was stolen.) She opens him up and introduces him into the community of Raveloe.

Her true father’s rejection of her has the opposite effect. He ends up in a childless marriage and only then does he want her back. But he is too late – 16 years too late.

If Silas’ story had never intersected with another character’s, that of Godfrey Cass, then Godfrey would have carried on living a lie and we would never have been shown the different views of each character about ‘what a father’s duty is,’ and which is wrong and which is right.

It is this crossing of stories that exposes Godfrey’s dark secret and provides us with obvious similarities of circumstances, though each has a different background, and quite obvious differences of character. The differences of character allow us to examine moral problems in their social context, which is one of Eliot’s great interests – she always wrote with moral purpose.

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Through her narrative, George Eliot creates a sympathetic background for Silas Marner in the opening two chapters so that we like him more even though he totally excludes himself from the community. Lack of detailed background information for Godfrey has the opposite effect. The setting plays a part in evoking this sympathy – Raveloe is an isolated and old-fashioned community where newcomers are not welcome: “And Raveloe was a village where many of the old echoes lingered, undrowned by new voices.” (Pg. 11.) This suggests that “old echoes” or old fashioned ways still remain in the village and new people ...

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