There are those who feel sympathy for Godfrey, a compassionate man, tricked into a double life. First of all, we find out that Squire Cass is a widower, meaning that Godfrey’s mother has passed away, signifying that he had little maternal influence in his life, “the Red House was without the presence of the wife and mother which is the fountain of wholesome love and fear in parlour and kitchen.” Squire Cass, not being the father sort, left his sons to grow-up, without being neutered and being felt un-loved. Does this affect his choice in abandoning his child, feeling that the child will grow-up fine, just as he did, without a male role-model, or the fact that his child has a mother, Molly, to love and care for it, unlike him?
Godfrey Cass can also be sympathised for, by his lack of discipline. The fact that his father raised him without punishment or rules, made him feel that he needed guidance in his life, which he never received. He also felt vulnerable and unloved “…and had had a vague longing for some discipline that would have checked his own errant weakness and helped his better will”. Does this show that he was not brought up for the better? Does this show that it was not his fault how he was raised, and he should not be judged by his up-bringing?
Another point is that Godfrey was tricked into his loveless marriage by Dunsey. He did not love Molly, as it was just “an ugly story of low passion, delusion and waking from delusion”, but did marry her, as he felt it was the appropriate thing to do, as they had a child together. After all, he did jeopardise his own chances to marry Nancy, by marrying Molly, for he felt it the right decision considering the situation (their child). It was not Godfrey’s fault that Dunsey “saw in his brother’s degrading marriage the means of gratifying at once his jealous hate and his cupidity”, which means that he tricked Godfrey into this marriage, as he felt inferior to him, and jealous that he would not inherit his father’s estate, but his ‘perfect’ elder brother would. This was not an act of Godfrey’s, but of Dunsey’s, so should Godfrey really be judged by his swindled marriage?
On the other hand, we could feel antipathy for him; a surge of hostility towards him, because of the terrible deeds that he committed. First of all, we see that he has come from a privileged background; an education, delicious meals, a big house, but grow-up to be rather spoilt. The fact that he has the whole village ‘under his feet’, where he can do good and help the people is the result of a privilege; but how Godfrey spoils that by wanting things, for e.g. to marry Nancy and still keep a secret marriage, can be said to be ridiculous! “He had not moral courage enough to contemplate that active renunciation of Nancy”.
The next issue we will discuss is that of the way Godfrey treats Molly, his wife. He treats her with no respect or gratitude, leaving her to look after their child alone, with only a little sum of money each week, to buy food. Molly, under an agreement of not telling anyone about their marriage, in return for some money (which she buys opium with, rather than to buy food for the baby) judges Godfrey very harshly, and not just because of abandoning her child, but because she believes that the wife of a Cass, should be privileged, and live in the Red House, “he was well off; and if she had her right she would be well off too”, and this would happen if she got any rights. Should Godfrey be judged harshly by this, by the fact that he treats Molly like nothing, let alone his won wife?
Another issue that has been raised earlier, but can be discussed in further detail, is the fraudulence of Godfrey. He was deceitful about his marriage to Molly, pretending not to know his own child for sixteen years, and about not telling Nancy that he had a child, even when they married, later on in the novel. When the truth eventually did come out, Godfrey’s deception was relieved of, but dealt with, with high suspicion and that Nancy said she would have accepted the ‘concealed baby’ even if it was not her own. But this only occurred after Dunsey was found dead, and Godfrey very pleased! This means that Godfrey stooped so-low, that the death of his brother was a joy for him, as he felt that his secret “had been taken to the grave” with Dunsey. Little did Godfrey know that he was the one who would tell Nancy anyway! Could the deceit be harshly judged against Godfrey, or would the fact that he owned-up to his lies account for anything?
The fourth point we can discuss, in more depth, is that of Godfrey abandoning his child, so that he can marry Nancy. A very selfish act from Godfrey, as he would rather put his own feelings before the care and health of his child! “It drives me past patience…that way o’ the men- always wanting and wanting, and never easy with what they’ve got.” (Priscilla-Nancy’s sister) is the term to describe Godfrey, as he has a wife and child, but still wants to marry Nancy, even if it means abandonment! “Is she dead…If she is, I may marry Nancy; and the child – shall be taken care of somehow”, a quote of Godfrey’s, whilst he is waiting to hear if Molly is dead or not, just shows how he thinks of his well-being first, rather than of his child!
Another reason to feel antipathy towards Godfrey, is because he makes Nancy (when they are married) feel guilty for the fact that they have no children, “I feel I was right to say him nay, though it hurt me…but how good Godfrey has been about it! Many men would have been very angry with me…ill luck in marrying me…if he’d married a woman who’d have had children.” Godfrey makes it seem that it is her fault, which it isn’t. I feel that this is a valid argument for judging harshly against Godfrey. “Nancy’s deepest wounds had all come from the perception that the absence of children from their hearth was dwelt on in her husband’s mind as a privation to which he could not reconcile himself”.
Finally, there is the fact that Godfrey, after neglecting his daughter for sixteen years, and keeping it a secret, suddenly goes to Silas’s house, with Nancy, to claim Eppie! He demands that Eppie come and live in the Red House. Eppie chooses not to and says that Silas raised her, and gave her love, which is better than money or the Red House. I feel that he deserves the consequences of his action. “(Godfrey) Was it not an appropriate thing for people in a higher station to take a charge off the hands of a man in a lower?” Also, Godfrey behaves arrogantly towards Silas, when Eppie chooses to stay with him, rather than move to the Red House with himself. “It’s my duty, Marner, to own Eppie as my child.” This defiantly shows the arrogance of Godfrey, and also links to him having a privileged background, but growing up spoilt, meaning that when he doesn’t get what he wants, he becomes stubborn.
In conclusion, I do feel that Eliot was too harsh, in the treatment of Godfrey, but I mostly feel that she has a right to treat him harshly, because of all the corrupt things that he has done, throughout the novel, Godfrey, as a once good-natured man didn’t deserve to be treated ruthlessly, but Godfrey as a disdainful, changed character does. I feel that the vote that influenced me to not feel sorry for Godfrey being too harshly judged is the neglecting of his child, and I feel that he should suffer the consequences for it. Godfrey expects too much of his power as a ‘king’ in the rural hierarchy, which he thinks he can use, to reclaim his daughter-sixteen years after!!! Abandoning a child and expecting her to follow himself (Godfrey) to the Red House is a foolish act, as Eppie even claimed not to go to the Red House, but stay with Silas, which agitated Godfrey. I feel that here; Eliot was rightly harsh enough on Godfrey, as she made Eppie stay with Silas, and Godfrey embarrassed. “Then, sir…why didn’t you say sixteen year ago, and claim her before I’d come to love her,” were the words of Silas to Godfrey, which made him think just how much of a mockery he had made of himself, expecting too much, which I believe to be a good judgement of him.
Also, the fact that Godfrey lied to his family, and wife, made me believe that he deserves these consequences even greater.
Overall, I have to come to a final conclusion that I believe to be true – Godfrey deserved the consequences he suffered for abandoning his child, but at times, has been judged a bit too harshly by Eliot.
