What was George Eliot's purpose in writing Silas Marner?
What was George Eliot's purpose in writing Silas Marner? The basis of Silas Marner is that true happiness is achieved only through reciprocated love and respect for another and not through amassing wealth. This is illustrated when Silas' relatively rich, but lonely and monotonous lifestyle is positively transformed by the loss of his money and the gain of the love of Eppie. Some say that the novel is a fable because of its simple, and sometimes contrived, plot. However, Eliot probably recognised that this idea was a little unoriginal and perhaps clichéd, so her purpose, therefore, was - using an extreme, but realistic and contemporary, example - to create an original interpretation of a moral that, in the newly industrialising England in which she lived, was likely to be forgotten. In order to remove the complications of this industrialisation, the novel is set in a rural area of England where village community is central to the novel. Instead of the "great manufacturing town" of Lantern Yard from which Silas comes, the agricultural people of Raveloe are in touch with the community and nature around them. When Silas first enters the Rainbow Inn after the robbery, the first dialogue heard by the reader is that of an argument between the villagers on the very subject of "who it is has got the red Durhams o' this country-side". While it is difficult to respect one's
What is A Room With A View about, in your opinion? What methods does E.M. Forster use to convey this message to the reader?
What is A Room With A View about, in your opinion? What methods does E.M. Forster use to convey this message to the reader? A Room With A View is about the social change occurring in England in the early 20th century, post Queen Victoria's death. Darwin had just published his book on the theory of evolution which was the catalyst for the introduction of more liberal and secular ideas into a conservative and religious England. In order to explain this process of change, Forster likens it to the Renaissance, which is why it is significant that A Room With A View begins in Italy. The problem with a rapidly changing society is that members of that society do not necessarily know how to behave because the boundaries are changing and this is what Forster is trying to portray in A Room With A View. Every character in the novel can be categorised into one of two groups, the Victorian/Medieval characters and the 20th Century/Renaissance characters. Certain characters symbolise different periods. However, Forster is skilful enough to make these characters realistic which is why they are capable of contradiction; for quite a few characters, the reader believes that they belong to one of these groups but then their behaviour is suddenly contrary to that group thus confusing the reader as to what period they symbolise. For example Miss Bartlett is immediately perceived by the reader as
Silas Marner, written by George Eliot in 1861, attempts to prove that love of others is ultimately more fulfilling than love of money.
English Coursework ~ Silas Marner Silas Marner, written by George Eliot in 1861, attempts to prove that love of others is ultimately more fulfilling than love of money. Eliot begins chapter 1 with an overview of the society in which her story takes place. Furthermore she describes those people alienated from society after a traumatic event, like Silas Marner, the character to whom the novel is based upon. Silas Marner is the main character and protagonist of the story. Ever since his youth days he has grown up to love the town he has lived in. Silas has strong religious beliefs and in addition he has devoted himself to the Lantern Yard Church. Marner is a well-respected man who is looked upon. He is an affiliate of the local village church. His very dear and best friend, William Dane, is also a member of the same church. Silas is engaged to Sarah & they are soon to be married. Silas is accused of killing a town deacon whilst being in a state of unconsciousness at his deathbed and as a result of this he is accused of robbing the deacon's money. When his knife, which he later remembers lending to his most trusted friend, William Dane, is purposely found in the bureau where the money has been, the Minister wrongly accuses Silas of stealing the money and killing the deacon judging on the evidence that point towards Silas himself. Having been hurt & betrayed by his
Discuss how the communities of Lantern Yard and Raveloe influence the development of Marners character
SILAS MARNER ESSAY Fiona Kelly A we journey through this study of human life, we witness the progression of Silas Marners character and explore how one can adapt to new surroundings but as a completely different person. We discover how his original home, the restrictive community of Lantern Yard changed the man he once was and watch how he remained this recluse even when he moved to the friendly village of Raveloe. At the beginning of he novel, we explore Marners original home, the village of Lantern Yard. This 'narrow religious sect' thought very highly of Marners 'exemplary life' and his commitment to the Methodist faith. As the chapel took pride of place as the centere of the community, respect and admiration from the congregation should have ensured his life would lie well however after falling at a prayer meeting and entering a what appeared to be a 'mysterious fidgety and suspension of consciousness' he provoked a 'peculiar interest' in himself and many started wondering the reasons behind it. Although Marner was admired by many he was also feared a little as he'd 'inherited from his mother some acquaintance with medicinal herbs,' however his Methodist upbringing eventually tempted him into 'believing that herbs could have no efficacy without prayer'. During this time in Lantern Yard, he had struck 'such a close friendship' with man named William Dane, the were
In 'Silas Marner' good triumphs over evil and leaves each character as he or she deserves. Do you agree?
Coursework Pre-20th Century Text In 'Silas Marner' good triumphs over evil and leaves each character as he or she deserves. Do you agree? In 'Silas Marner' several key events happen. These events shape the lives of the main characters. Some characters in the novel are good, kind and thoughtful. However, other characters are just the opposite. At the end of the novel these characters generally got what they deserved and good triumphed over evil.??? The main character in the novel was Silas Marner. He suffers many 'wrong doings'. The villagers in Raveloe did not really understand what kind of man Silas really was. They thought he was different Quote Quote Quote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It may have been the fact that he did not socialise with the other villagers. He started to work more and more. Weaving away in his loom quote!!!! He became a 'miser' and was very 'lone'. 'Poor Silas' was not a bad, selfish man, but because of incidents in the past, he began to 'worship the guineas'. He felt as if the guineas would not let him down unlike other people had done in the past. The guineas were like 'unborn children'. Day after day he would just 'weave away'. His life had become 'monotonous'. He was just slowly dying, but the thought that kept him lively and 'excited' was the thought of his 'treasured' guineas. However, Silas' 'monotonous' life was suddenly shattered into pieces.
Duty In Silas Marner Duty Is Peremptory And Absolute. How Far Would You Say Duty Was Important In George Eliot's 'Silas Marner'
Duty In Silas Marner Duty Is Peremptory And Absolute. How Far Would You Say Duty Was Important In George Eliot's 'Silas Marner' In George Eliot's novel 'Silas Marner' there is much evidence to justify the significant importance of duty. Duty has various meanings, but in the instance of George Eliot's novel it is an obligation. An example of this is portrayed by Silas and Eppie. Another example is Godfrey's obligation to Molly, Nancy and Eppie. In the novel the characters can be divided into two groups. There are those who honour duty and those who neglect duty. There are two main outcomes, one positive and one negative. Those who honour duty are rewarded, and those who neglect it are punished. Throughout the entire novel there are characters who neglect duty. The Cass family neglect duty quite a lot, as Godfrey, the Old Squire, and Dunsey all neglect duty. The community at Lantern Yard neglect their duty, especially William Dane. Godfrey neglects his duty towards other characters. He is obliged to Molly but fails to honour his duty, due to dishonesty and hypocrisy and stopped caring for her. Godfrey is unable to live up to his duty towards his second wife Nancy. He lies to her about his past for sixteen years. He doesn't tell her about his child (Eppie) nor does he tell her bout his previous marriage. He says, 'When I married you, I hid something from you... Eppie's mother
Analyse the representation of multicultural Britain in 'Bend it like Beckham' and East is East
Analyse the representation of multicultural Britain in 'Bend it like Beckham' and East is East Films have the power to represent the different ideas, images and messages that a filmmaker wants to portray. Different cultures, characters or attitudes can be shown in films with just simple words or images on the screen. Also a two hour film is much more interesting and entertaining than a long speech on a particular subject. Although filmmakers can construct different messages for their audiences we can interpret them in different ways. So filmmakers can use stories to grip their audience, make money, while also getting a powerful message across. Britain has become very multicultural in the past fifty years. People have moved here from all over the world looking for a better life. This makes our society more diverse and interesting as traditions and styles from abroad adapt and change this country. In my essay, I will be particularly looking at Asian culture in Britain, which is represented in the two films, 'Bend it like Beckham' and 'East is East'. I'll be looking at some of the characters and scenes and what they might represent. In Bend it like Beckham multicultural Britain is portrayed very efficiently. It shows how young Asians are still expected to be faithful to their Asian roots and to keep the same way of life in a foreign country. Football is used to show how
Superficiality in the poem the wasteland.
superficiality in the wasteland The Wasteland is concerned with the 'disillusionment of a generation'. The poem was written in the early 1920's, a time of abject poverty, heightening unemployment and much devastation unresolved from the end of WW1 in 1918. Despite this, or because of it, people made a conscientious effort to enjoy themselves. In doing so they lost their direction, their beliefs and their individuality. They were victims of the class system which maintained a system of privilege, snobbery and distrust. Advances in machinery brought new products onto the market, like cars, but the people were so disillusioned with the social turmoil caused by four years of war, that even the glamour of new possessions could not fill the spiritual and emotional void left by the war. The consciousness of a nation had been battered into submission by the horrors of the first world war that people now were living a shell of what was once life. People went through the motions of life but there was no feeling just a mechanical existence. This kind of surface existence, the inability to see beyond the obvious, is portrayed throughout the Wasteland. The Wasteland is a soulless picture of a world deprived of fertility. Everything has become sterile in this barren landscape, people have nowhere left to look but to the outer shell because the inside is emotionally dead. As a result, the
Discuss how the two communities of Lantern Yard and Raveloe influence the development of Silas Marner's character in the novel.
Silas Marner Coursework Discuss how the two communities of Lantern Yard and Raveloe influence the development of Silas Marner's character in the novel. The purpose of this essay is to discuss how the two communities of Lantern Yard and Raveloe influence the development of Silas Marner's character in the novel. By exploring aspects of the community such as social, religious and class this essay will underline Silas' change throughout the book. The communities of Lantern Yard and Raveloe are very different from each other. Lantern Yard is a very upper class society but we know Raveloe is a classless (no class system) community because Godfrey Cass helps out Silas Marner with money for Eppie. We know this because it says, " Mr Godfrey Cass, as every one said in the village, did very kindly by the weaver; and it was nothing but right a man should be looked on and helped by those who could afford it." This evidence shows that the two communities differ because no one would have done something like that in Lantern Yard because there wasn't a friendly, giving community like the one in Raveloe. The way these two communities are is the most important part in the way Silas' character develops. Lantern Yard is a very tightly closed community because of its strict religious principles. We know that is a place of narrow and restricted vision as once they have made their mind up about
How does the character of Silas Marner change and develop throughout the course of the novel?
"How does the character of Silas Marner change and develop throughout the course of the novel?" In Lantern Yard Silas Marner was a valued man who showed a great devotion towards God and kindness towards his neighbours. Because of unfair accusations and betrayal by both God and man he lost all faith in God and in humanity, thus putting a halt to the philanthropy that he previously practised. Silas moved to a far off country named Raveloe where he lived a spider-like existence weaving in his loom, isolated from the community. It was in Raveloe that Silas first entered his selfish misanthropist way of life. Silas' devotion to God became replaced by devotion towards an inanimate object - his gold. Silas experienced a great shock when his dearest companion (his gold) was stolen. The feelings of devotion towards the hard objects disappeared when a young girl, Eppie entered his life. Eppie was the reason for Silas' redemption and his chance of becoming reintegrated into society. His selfishness turned into selflessness and he showed sociability rather than dedication to gold. This discovery of love and loves resurrection was the ultimate development and growth within him. A respected and credulous man, Silas Marner lived an altruistic lifestyle surrounded by the security of the "little hidden world" of Lantern Yard where he lived a purposeful existence. Within this narrow