Another superb example of a situation within the novel in which superstition plays a major part is that when Silas Marner uses the medicinal properties of the simple foxglove to ease the pain of Sally Oates, from the quote “Such a sort of thing had not been known since the Wise Woman at Tarley died.” it can be suggested that this knowledge of herbs and their properties, which Silas had obtained from his mother, would seem strange and unique to the little educated villagers of Raveloe therefore making them a little afraid. Also, the fact that Silas was an outsider to the villagers would have all the more increased their wariness of him. It could also be suggested that the villagers may have felt a little scared of Silas due to his knowledge many might question that if he was able to do good could he not do bad also? George Eliot’s construction of sentences within these few passages describing Silas Marner’s differences help to create a strong sense of Silas’ isolation from the villagers this is evident in the quote “a transient sense of brotherhood, heightened the repulsion between him and his neighbours, and made his isolation more complete” – this shows that although Silas only wished to help his neighbours it made his isolation from them worse. George Eliot’s choice of words although narrated seem to come straight from the mouths of the villagers themselves, for example, “But Sally Oates must mind and not tell the doctor,” appears to the reader to have been spoken by the villagers themselves, this method of narration creates an even firmer picture of the villagers reactions toward Silas, and it can even be argued that although the villagers at first call him “Wise Man”, in truth they see him as a witch.
Another circumstance that occurs within the novel that also invokes great use of superstition is that surrounding Silas Marner’s fits for “a fit was a stroke, wasn’t it?” and “it was no stroke that would let a man stand on his legs,” this shows that the villagers question the nature of Silas’ fits and are very suspicious of them, it could be argued that many think him to be possessed by evil however, the quote “But there might be such things as a man’s soul being loose from his body,” also shows that some villagers believe the fits to be the cause of his soul leaving his body but this in their eyes might not be necessarily good. George Eliot’s description of the villager’s movements and conversations, almost in dark corners, brilliantly portrays how scared of Marner the villagers really are.
Religious values and beliefs are also essentials parts to the effect of George Eliot’s novel, Silas Marner. Through the strict religious ways of Lantern Yard, Silas Marner’s hometown, George Eliot creates an outstanding opening to the story. Her strong use of language and philosophical interests, (such as Sila’s deep questioning of God after his trial) create within the reader sympathy towards Marner for his unjust convictions.
Lantern Yard is a community bound strictly by religion, not unlike Mary-Anne’s own hometown. As was in many areas during the Victorian era (the period in which George Eliot’s novels were devised), Lantern Yard residents were expected to attend church and follow the religious ‘laws’ without question. Silas at first is himself thought of as a righteous gentlemen who experienced special visions from God, in the form of fits, that were of “spiritual significance’, however after the trial there is a strong questioning of this that is led by Silas’ friend William Dane – “I leave our brethren to judge whether this is the voice of Satan of not.” From the previous quote, it can also be suggested that through the encouragement of William, the residents of Lantern Yard began to see Silas as evil that should be greatly opposed.
A little while after the trial, “it became apparent that Silas had departed from Lantern Yard”, however reading between the lines it can be interpreted that Silas was driven away and left questioning the justice of God greatly, this is similar to Mary-Anne’s own past as she herself was driven away from her hometown for her ‘heretic’ writings.
Silas’ trial itself is an excellent example of religious belief within the novel as the drawing of the lots is based upon the religious idea that God will free the innocent and punish the guilty, even Silas himself at first agreed with this idea, his words “God will clear me.” and George Eliot’s own narration “ Silas knelt…relying on his own innocence being certified by immediate divine intervention.” show that Silas believed that God would intervene and prove his innocence, however upon his realisation that he had been declared guilty (“The lots declared that Silas Marner was guilty”) his statement of “a God…that bears witness against the innocent” shows he has no belief in God’s judgement any longer.
George Eliot’s clever use of names for some of the characters also reflects upon their religious ways, for example, Sarah and William (residents of Lantern Yard) both have been given biblical names that mirror their strict religious beliefs, whilst Godfrey sounds like the two words God and free so it can be suggested that Mary-Anne chose this name to portray Godfrey as a man who does not abide to the religious laws of God.
It can be argued that George Eliot also uses the views of the villagers from Raveloe to clearly show the reader exactly how important and respectable a suitable religious name was during the period at which she wrote, as to the small village of Raveloe, although less strict in religious judgement than Lantern Yard, it is still a great care to the villagers that “the child” is christened under a carefully chosen Christian name this is evident from the quote “every thing to save it from harm,” (spoken by Dolly Winthrop to Silas) this quote also shows a great link between superstition and religious traditions – a child might be doomed to suffer if it is not christened. It can also be proposed that this also shows that the villagers take all possibilities of evil seriously.
Religious beliefs and ideas influence greatly the moral, social and philosophical values of the characters within the novel, the strict moral values within Lantern Yard are based upon religious beliefs of right and wrong and the ways in which they shall be judged. These moral values within Lantern Yard are also linked to the social behaviour of the characters, for example, it is a well known religious belief that if you sin you shall go to hell, Silas Marner himself is believed to be a sinner after he is found guilty and so the other residents of Lantern Yard wish not to associate with him at all.
The strict religious values of Lantern Yard also affect any philosophical questions regarding the origin of existence that might have otherwise been asked by the villagers for example after the description of Silas’ trial, the omniscient narrator, George Eliot makes a generic statement “We are apt to think it inevitable that a man in Marner’s position should have begun to question the validity of an appeal to the divine judgement by drawing lots; but to him this would have been an effort of independent thought such as he had never known.” This extract from the text clearly shows that although the reader may think it normal for a man in such a position as that of Silas to question the reasonability of his conviction however, as Silas’ had been brought up under the belief that the judgment of God was true and should never be questioned, to Silas this sudden inquiring of justice would have been against all he had ever known.
The images that Mary-Anne creates through the use of her language of Raveloe is much lighter and less harsh in comparison to that she gives of the strict Lantern Yard, for example in George Eliot’s introduction of Lantern Yard to the reader the sentence “life of an artisan early incorporated in a narrow religious sect.” uses a complicated and standard English structure which creates in the readers mind the impression of the strict religious town that Lantern Yard is, however, during her description of the village of Raveloe, George Eliot writes the sentences “stone cottage that stood among the nutty hedgerows” (of Silas’ cottage) and “to whom a hard life of toil has never been illuminated by any enthusiastic religious faith.” (of the villagers), through these quotes Mary-Anne’s almost calm tone portrays Raveloe as a picturesque village where life is greatly more relaxed to that of the residents of Lantern Yard.
Towards the end of this inspired novel, Silas Marner returns to his home town Lantern Yard only to discover that it is no more, it can therefore be suggested that George Eliot wished to show that lives based upon unjust laws and superstitions will never last. Some could also add that as Mary-Anne herself was cast out from her hometown for blasphemy and Silas suffers a similar situation (“There is no just God that governs the earth righteously, but a god of lies, that bears witness against the innocent”), though the destruction of the strict Lantern Yard Mary-Anne’s gained a small means of revenge for her own treatment.
Through the use of superstition and religious beliefs Mary-Anne Evans, known to the literary world as George Eliot, transformed an otherwise simple and almost ‘fairytale’ plot into a masterpiece of realism, moral, social and philosophical values. Her expert use of language is carefully woven in to create a microcosm with what she herself describes as “a single drop of ink” (Adam Bede) and contributes greatly to the superb example of pre-20th century realism Silas Marner that greatly mirrors her own life.
