Consider George Eliot's narrative techniques in Chapters 13 and 19 of Silas Marner.

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Consider George Eliot’s narrative techniques in

Chapters 13 and 19 of Silas Marner.

These two chapters are linked by the desires of Silas and Godfrey.  Desire for the same person, Eppie, but with entirely different motives.  Both see themselves as Eppie’s father. In these two characters, George Elliot writes of the overlapping emotions of love and desire.  The choice between wanting the best for another person and selfish craving. Silas Marner is a weaver who lives in a close-knit community called Raveloe. He is framed so people believe that he had stolen some money. This does not trouble him as he has a strong faith and trusts God will clear his name.  This is what makes chapter 19 so significant.  In this chapter, Silas’ faith is restored to what it was before he became embittered.  With age he had become a bitter old man who had lost his faith and, as a consequence, was pushed away from his community.  His faith in God is eventually restored when he learns how to love and that he, himself, is also loved.  This love is from Eppie, a baby girl, which Silas believes God has sent to him. This happens in chapter 13. These two chapters also show a contrast in the attitude of Silas and  of another main character in the book, Godfrey Casse. Eppie is actually Godfrey Casse’s secret daughter. In chapter 13 Godfrey’s attitude is that Eppie is his dark secret come to haunt him. However in chapter 19 Godfrey knows he is unable to have any other children and desperately wants Eppie under his wing.  Eppie, though, shows her love for Silas and remains faithful to him.

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Chapter 13

By only reading the first paragraph in the chapter you can already see that there is a clear social divide of upper and lower classes. Once the servants’ duties were over, they were allowed to come and watch the celebration. This shows us that in this era people with money were though to have better lives yet in chapter 19 Eppie turns down the upper class life that she could have.  It shows that being a lady does not necessarily make you happy. George Elliot portrays Godfrey as a very anxious character and his Father Bob Casse ...

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