Silas was horrified, and eventually lost faith in what he believed in and who he trusts. He gradually began to realise and believe that there must be darkness and injustice in this world. He had also lost faith in religion and god, as he assumed that God would prove his innocence.
After suffering betrayal and rejection, Silas left his community to settle in a strange place named Raveloe, where he became a linen weaver. “it came to pass that those scattered linen weavers-emigrants from the town into the country, were to the last regarded as aliens by their rustic neighbours, and usually contracted with eccentric habits which belong to a state of loneliness.” This quote illustrates a clear overview of the attitudes of residents towards linen weavers in Raveloe. Silas’s lifestyle was unusual, as he lived in an isolated cottage in the outskirts of the village. They also accused him of connection with the devil due to his knowledge of herbs. The gold that Silas earned from weaving which he hoarded gave him the feeling of satisfaction and joy, but it’s a false cover for genuine happiness. He took pleasure in counting his gold, not out of greed, but was a sought of ritual which livened his otherwise spider-like existence.
Molly Farren, the miserable and vengeful wife of Godfrey Cass, who was addicted to opium, was willing to reveal herself to the squire, and prove that she was Godfrey’s wife and her little child was also Godfrey’s daughter. Whilst on her way to ruin Godfrey’s secret, her drug problem struck her and she was left to freeze and die in the snow. Her small daughter was left alone in the woods. Attracted by a bright light, the little girl followed it straight into Silas’s cottage and through his open door.
Due to his stolen gold, when Silas entered his cottage he assumed that his gold had returned to him, but to his amazement, it was actually the golden hair of a sleeping child. He marvelled at the sight of the littler girl, as he thought she looked like his sister, and eventually loved the sight of her. This was seemingly the first time Silas had admired part of life since his departure from Lantern Yard. Silas also admired the little girl as she looked like his sister, and soon decided to name her Hephzipher, Eppie for short.
“The money’s gone I don’t know where, and this has come from I don’t know where.” This quote is Silas’s explanation of the arrival of Eppie to the caring Dolly Winthrop. (The only person Silas socialised with in Raveloe.). Symbolically, Silas had lost his material gold to theft only to have it replaced by the golden haired Eppie. And Silas’s tenderness for the girl was genuine. The entrance of this little girl into his life had slightly manipulated him. Silas formed an attachment to Eppie and decided to keep her as his daughter. (To adopt her)
Throughout the period in the presence of the beautiful young girl’s childhood, Silas’s love for Eppie was reciprocated. For the first time in his life, Silas began to feel love, warmth and happiness. His emotions eventually became far deeper than his emotions for his gold, as he soon began to discern that unlike gold, Eppie could return his love and affection. “As the child’s mind was growing into knowledge, his mind was growing into memory, as her life unfolded; his soul, long stupefied in a cold narrow prison, was unfolding too, and trembling gradually into full consciousness.” This quotation explains Silas’s transformation following the arrival of Eppie. And how he’s gradually been drawn back into life and society through Eppie’s childhood. As Eppie was soon beginning to discover all the stimuli of life around her, Silas’s life was being refreshed at the same time. And as Eppie’s knowledge was growing, Silas’s memories were also growing, and were being reawakened.
Years past by, and at the age of eighteen, Eppie was a beautiful radiant young woman who’s affections for the people she knew and trusted illuminated those around her. Not only did her feelings reveal her warm and giving nature, her blond looks also emphasised her goodness. It’s been sixteen years since Silas had Eppie christened, though he was provoked by Dolly Winthrop, as she was devoted to the church and religion. Silas’s wish to get things right for Eppie helped him learn to accept a new set of religious beliefs for the good of another human being. Silas gradually began to accept religion and god, and slowly started devoting himself to the Raveloe church and its religious customs, mainly due to being influenced BY Eppie’s devotion to religion. Silas also believed that Eppie’s love has made him accept the power of trust again. Now that Eppie was with Silas, he knows that he can trust religion and the world, and that he must trust a God that sent Eppie to him. Eppie’s avowal to stay with Silas had given him reason to love and trust the world despite its evils. Her pure and just outlook on religion had secured his trust on her and he world. Eppie’s love restored trust to Silas, which allowed him to socialise with people in Raveloe more.
Eppie had grown up to be the pride of town and had a very strong bond with Silas, who through her had found inclusion in the town of Raveloe. Silas saw himself as a father to Eppie, and she saw herself as his daughter. “Your father was a lone man till you was sent to him.” These were Silas’s words to Eppie, informing her of how he had been in a state of loneliness before she has come into his life. Silas had been alone for fifteen years, he lived an isolated life, and lacked companionship with people. He lost faith in God, and failed to trust anybody. “If you hadn’t been sent to me, I would have gone to the grave in my misery.” These were Silas’s words informing Eppie on the impact that she made on his life, and how she had restored happiness and life into him.
Just as Silas had formed an attachment to Eppie when she was young, she also reflected upon that when she grew older. Eppie did not care to be a lady, she claimed that she wanted to remain and live with Silas, and marry a working man, Aaron Winthrop (Dolly’s son). She also wanted Silas to be at her side always, even when she gets married.
We can conclude that Eppie’s entrance into Silas’s life gradually drew him back into society as many things which he had lacked after his departure from Lantern Yard, such as faith in religion and God, and trust and companionship with people, were soon restored through Eppie’s love and Silas’s experiences with her. Eppie replaces the weaver’s obsession with gold and brings Silas back to a socially active life.
