salis marner essay
To What Extent Are The Main Characters in 'Silas Marner' a Product of Their Environment? Silas Marner was a successful novel written by George Eliot in 1861. Eliot was born on the 22nd of November1819 in a place called Warwickshire, England. George Eliot is a pen name for the female writer Mary Anne Evans. She gave herself a masculine pen name because male writers were taken much more seriously than female writers in the 1800s. Eliot was an English novelist and poet. 'Silas Marner', 'Romola', 'The Mill on the Floss' and 'Middlemarch', were just some of the successful novels that George Eliot wrote. Her poetry was also taken quite seriously. 'The Spanish Gypsy', 'Agatha' and 'Arion' were just three of her more famous poems. 'Silas Marner' is a classic novel in which a man loses faith in his God, his friends and himself. In the novel, the main characters are a product of their surroundings, but to what extent? Silas Marner's life is filled with events that easily altered his personality and made him a product to his environment. Silas is a middle aged man (about 39 years of age). He lives in the English country side in a small town called Raveloe. His neighbors regard him with suspicion. Silas has epilepsy and occasionally has epileptic fits. Small villages back in the time when 'Silas Marner' was set did not have that much medical knowledge and treated Silas in a
What changes does Eppie make to Silas' life?
What changes does Eppie make to Silas' life? In order to understand the changes that Eppie made to Silas' life we must first understand the kind of man he had become. We can do this by examining why and how he has been mentally hurt in his early life. Silas originally led a very religious life in the church, he was happy and contented. Silas had friends and a fiancée whom he loved. This all led to disaster as his best friend William also loved his fiancée. Silas has a disorder which causes him to have cataleptic fits at irregular times. One day Silas had a cataleptic fit while he is caring for the senior Deacon in the Church. William then betrayed Silas by coming into the room of the Deacon and stealing the Deacon's money by prising open the safe with Silas' knife. Then, when Silas comes out of his fit, he finds the Deacon dead. He calls for help. Later the Church discovers the money has gone and Silas' knife was used to open the safe. Silas is charged with robbery and humiliated in front of everyone, including his fiancée, Sarah. 'The lots declare that Silas Marner was guilty' (9.13). Silas is cast out from the church and told never to return. He is aghast and feels that he has been let down by God, 'But you may prosper, for all that: there is no just God that governs the earth righteously, but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent' (2.14). Silas goes
Consider George Eliot's narrative techniques in Chapters 13 and 19 of Silas Marner.
Consider George Eliot's narrative techniques in Chapters 13 and 19 of Silas Marner. These two chapters are linked by the desires of Silas and Godfrey. Desire for the same person, Eppie, but with entirely different motives. Both see themselves as Eppie's father. In these two characters, George Elliot writes of the overlapping emotions of love and desire. The choice between wanting the best for another person and selfish craving. Silas Marner is a weaver who lives in a close-knit community called Raveloe. He is framed so people believe that he had stolen some money. This does not trouble him as he has a strong faith and trusts God will clear his name. This is what makes chapter 19 so significant. In this chapter, Silas' faith is restored to what it was before he became embittered. With age he had become a bitter old man who had lost his faith and, as a consequence, was pushed away from his community. His faith in God is eventually restored when he learns how to love and that he, himself, is also loved. This love is from Eppie, a baby girl, which Silas believes God has sent to him. This happens in chapter 13. These two chapters also show a contrast in the attitude of Silas and of another main character in the book, Godfrey Casse. Eppie is actually Godfrey Casse's secret daughter. In chapter 13 Godfrey's attitude is that Eppie is his dark secret come to haunt him.
Explain how the character of Silas Marner is portrayed at the start of the novel
Explain how the character of Silas Marner is portrayed at the start of the novel At first, Eliot Introduces Silas Marner as an inexplicably isolated and disconnected character to the reader, very early on into the novel. Eliot narrates his home in the first sentence directly making a clear reference to Silas Marner as a "steep cottage that stands amongst the nutty haunts near the village of Raveloe." The adverb 'near' instantly indicates that Silas is not inside the village but on the brink of it, implying that he does not want to socialise with others from the village and in doing so separating himself from all. This could also indicate that he has not completely cast aside others although he has moved himself apart from society, and hopefully could finally rekindle belief in humanity. Furthermore, his house is described as 'stone' with a sense of dullness, lack of existence, and lack of emotion - which could depict Silas's own condition. This is enhanced by Eliot "his house is close to the edge of a deserted stone pit." The repeat of 'stone' strengthens our sense of Silas as synonymous with the empty, and the adjective 'deserted' continues to add only to our feeling of isolation derived from Silas and perhaps a signal of betrayal. The first introduction of Silas at the beginning of the narrative allows him to become a unique character, provoking the reader to be intrigued
Silas Marner - do the characters get what they deserve?
A just world is defined as a world in which people do get what they deserve. I believe that Silas Marner mostly agrees with this point. However there are a few anomalies. Silas in the long term is rewarded (however in the short term he isn't). Whilst Godfrey is punished for his actions he does get off fairly lightly. Dunsey is punished for his sins. Nancy doesn't seem to be rewarded for her hard work. Divine providence (god's intervention in the universe) is very much related to the idea of a just world because if a world is just then god will be interfering (divine providence odes exist) and vice versa. Yet the character who believes in divine providence the most, Nancy, is one of the only ones who doesn't seem to be rewarded for he kindness. Silas' story generally agrees with the idea of a just world because of the fact that he is always good to the world and never commits an unskilful act despite what is going on in his life. His general benevolence is rewarded by the fact that Eppie comes to him thus giving his life meaning again. We know this from when Silas himself says "If you hadn't been sent to save me, I should ha' gone to the grave in my misery". The fact that Silas is recompensed for his suffering demonstrates how the world in the novel is a just one. Dunsey is the character who most agrees with this statement because we can directly see the link between him
Consider fatherhood in the novel, with particular reference to Squire Cass, Godfrey and Silas Marner
Consider fatherhood in the novel, with particular reference to Squire Cass, Godfrey and Silas Marner George Eliot wrote a book called "Silas Marner". The story was set in the Victorian times when the market economy and industries were booming! The book was published in 1861, London, but George Eliot was concerned with the events from 1780s to 1820s about the fact that many did not read books written by women. " The novel's major theme, of loss and redemption through love, is embodied in the experience of its central character, Silas Marner" this is a theme, which is stated in the book. Class society is a key theme in the novel because it shows the rich being more superior to the peasants. Godfrey and Silas both have a role as a father figure, which is a common factor. We can say that Squire Cass is considered to be a bad fatherly figure in the novel. Squire Cass lives in the Red house and he is the greatest man in Raveloe also a rich landowner. He spends most of his time at the Rainbow inn, a place were wealthy men come to keep themselves occupied. The Squire is lazy, self-satisfied, and short tempered. Squire Cass made his children work and when their mother died he did not say anything to comfort them, he lacked in maternal influence. The Squire does not seem to care very much for his sons, only for his money. He allows his sons to do pretty much
‘Eliot ensures that in ‘Silas Marner’ all the characters get exactly what they Deserve’. Do you agree with this statement?
'Eliot ensures that in 'Silas Marner' all the characters get exactly what they Deserve'. Do you agree with this statement? The word deserve means to be entitled to or worthy of. The characters in 'Silas Marner' have things happen to them some beneficial and some detrimental. These are usually a result of what has happened in the past. Many of the characters act foolishly and get what they deserve in return for their foolishness, but others suffer in return for other characters mistakes. Different characters act in different ways when exploring their actions what they deserve will be easily seen. Fair is fair but how fair has George Eliot been to these characters? Silas Marner is one of the only characters that one could say suffers greatly for another character's mistakes. Silas, a man who believes faithfully in G-D, lives in a religious community called Lantern Yard in an industrial town, before he moves to Raveloe. Lantern Yard is a close community; everyone including Silas would go to church together every Sunday. Undeservingly Silas is betrayed by what he thinks is a good friend in the community. He is affected deeply by the betrayal and moves to Raveloe where he begins to live his life in isolation. He loses all trust in man and becomes only involved in material things like his pot which 'had been his companion for twelve years'. When the 'earthenware pot' breaks Silas
How does the community of Raveloe respond to Silas at key moments in the novel?
Document3 Silas Marner How does the community of Raveloe respond to Silas at key moments in the novel? The book, Silas Marner, written by George Eliott, was set in 1860. Therefore it is very different to what we are used to and is full of superstition and tradition. The community of Raveloe responds to Silas differently at separate key moments in the novel. The community, into which Silas entered, evolved form centuries of interdependence. The village people depend upon each other. The lower class villagers gather in the Rainbow Inn to have friendly gossip. They live in a close community and are wary of any newcomers. Most of the villagers believe in doing the right thing, so when Silas explains about his gold being stolen they agree to help, even though he has not been the friendliest of people towards them. They generally try to keep the peace, and their distance from the unexplainable unless they show signs of goodness and kindness. The village community is proven to be dependent upon each other because the writer mentions that punishment for committing a crime in a village was to be "suspended from church-membership". This meant that he was cut off from the community. When someone is cut off from all the other villagers they were lonely and had to become independent. The Squire is portrayed as a greedy and idle character. He is idle; as he is "always the latest" at
East is East.
A.D Antony Meola East is East The play is set in Salford in 1970, prior to the outburst of war between India and Pakistan over the Independence of East Pakistan. The Khans are an "Anglo-Pakistani" family of eight. George Khan's attitude to his children is that he thinks that they should obey him. His children always know what Georges reaction is as Tariq does an impression of George by saying, "I am your farther you are my son, you do as I say bass". He has a weak relationship with his children, as he does not listen to their opinion. Tariq says to Abdul "he (George) is never going to give a shit about how you feel or what you think". He turns evil when things do not go his way or if he cannot get out of a certain situation, by shouting out insults and by using violence as he thinks every one should obey him. He tries to show his sons the right way to live, by saying, "Son (Saleem), you not understand because you don't listen to me. I show you how a good way to live. You no English, English people no accepting you. In Islam, everyone equal see, no black man, or white man. Only Muslim, it special community" He wants he children brought up in a traditional Muslim way but the children do not agree. This is because of his treatment of them, in their diverse racial culture influences.
East Is East - review
Running Length: 1:36 Classification: 15 Cast: Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jimi Mistry, Raji James, Archie Panjabi, Jordan Routledge, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Ian Aspinall Director: Damien O'Donnell Producer: Leslee Udwin It must be strange being an immigrant, uprooting to another country in the sure knowledge that you'll never fit in like a native-born citizen. Having thrown yourself into this voyage, inexorably as a continent you gradually drift away from your birthplace. In essence your destiny is to become stateless, no matter how dutifully one assimilates within the novel culture. Infants luckily appear more resilient to these changes, absorbing them, while the adults around them encounter internal barriers, as if their die is cast. Small wonder that first-generation settlers often cling to childhood teachings, solidity in a world of uncertainty. East Is East presents Om Puri as a conservative Muslim immigrant father in England. In this masterly portrayal, he is in constant conflict with his mixed-race children, seven of them, born to his liberal English wife, admirably played by Linda Bassett. The intense family-drama is rendered as a thoroughly entertaining and farcical comedy. Adapted from an autobiographical stage-play by Ayub Khan-Din. It is the early 1970's, George Khan (Om Puri)is a man who is proud of his Pakistani heritage. He moved to Salford near Manchester