Then over two centuries later the author Mary Shelley, wrote the famous novel “Frankenstein” in that the monster being the outsider.
Modern poets/novelists have realised how important and effective the whole theme of Human Suffering is i.e. the outcast theme; a good example of this is “To kill a mocking bird”. The outcast theme is also still present today; a good example of this is “Edward Scissorhands” this film shows how an outcast became a tragic hero.
Also Disney’s “Hunch back of Notre Dame” concentrated on the theme of the outsider. Although this animation was taken from the book written in the 16th century.
Basically, I am trying to imply that the over all theme of human conditions has been a major concern for many writers over the last few centuries.
After reading the opening chapters, you will realise the similarities between the main characters of Stone Cold and Silas Marner.
Link is a depressed teenager at his time in Bradford, he feels as if no one cares.
”I’m invisible, see? One of the invisible people”
The vision of Link you receive from reading the book is For link to be a fairly tall pale young teenage, with a slight northern accent. The film portrays the link exactly to the books specification.
Silas is probably the best example of an outsider, as he rejected by his old society the one he calls home.
When he moves to Raveloe he is; still an outcast by this time I fell he is a loner by choice.
“Year after year, Silas Marner had lived in solitude”
Silas is a pale small man as the book describes him. Although I feel the actor used to play Silas in the film is not as helpless as he should have been.
“Certain pallid undersized men”
Shelter is also considered an outsider or loner as he lives alone with a cat named Sappho which he uses as a cover for his ‘recruiting’.
“A man who keeps a cat can’t possibly mean anybody any harm, can he”
In the film shelter is shown as a tall well-built man. The book depicts him more as a ‘psycho’. He believes that he is still in the military.
Shelter and Silas both like to live in their own private worlds, where as Link is desperate to fit in and befriend any one he meets i.e. Ginger & Gail.
The two texts, Silas Marner and Stone Cold are written in completely different language styles. Although there are a few similarities in the language one must take into account the differences.
Stone Cold is written in a first person narrative, written from Links point of view. This is noticeable as the word “I” is often used. The story is often very descriptive.
“It hit you. The stench of too many damp unwashed bodies, too much lingering flatulence”
The opening of Stone Cold immediately addresses (communicates) with the reader.
“You can call me Link”
This effect often grabs the readers attention and involves the reader
Silas Marner on the other hand is much more descriptive. Also I fell that this text is some what ‘long winded’
“Bosom of hills, certain pallid undersized men”
Here much detail is used simply to describe a linen weaver. In this case Silas Marner.
The opening of the book of the book is not as straight to the point as Stone Cold.
“In the days when the spinning – wheels hummed busily in the farm house”
The language used in both texts are very different although manage to portray the theme of the outsider in the same way.
The theme of the outsider is portrayed well in both Stone Cold and Silas Marner. Although I feel that Stone Cold is better at depicting the theme of the outsider.
In conclusion to this essay I think that both Eliot and Swindells have produced two well-written novels based on the theme of the “outsider”
As the texts were written in different time periods I think that Stone Cold is easier to understand and interact with in terms of understanding the outsider theme, on comparison with Silas Marner, I think the ending to Silas Marner is much better than Stone Cold as I feel Link should have, not just be left homeless, this is a serious message portrayed by Swindells about homeless people and the harsh reality in which they live.
The quote which Eliot uses, I feel is very appropriate to the novel itself.
“A child more than all other gifts that the earth can offer to a declining man, brings hope with it and forward looking thoughts”
Wordsworth
I think in terms of the novel it is really true as Silas’s life is altered at the coming of Eppie. His life begins on a new path.
