How are characters and relations made convincing in George Eliot’s ‘Silas Marner’ and Paul Gallico’s ‘ The Snow Goose’?

She deliberately and very cleverly puts lots of symbolism in which carry on as themes throughout the story, the two main themes are light and trust.

Silas's gold gives him pleasure in counting it, the only companion he has, and the gold is a fake friend. The gold is bright and shiny = light, the gold is also very hard and cold; Silas's heart begins to grow like his companion's.

In Chapter 12, page109, just before, and at the time Silas and Eppie are brought together, the page is full of symbolism linked with light: 'bright light dancing on the white round',

'the white ground' (snow), represents the purity of the child. 'Gleam' is repeated constantly throughout this page. ' A bright fire of logs and sticks', 'the little golden head sank down on the old sack', 'In the evening twilight', all these words which are related to light, are all to symbolise the goodness, and beauty of Eppie, and happiness which that new years eve brought to many, as well as Silas. If luck had not chanced upon the child and Silas', then Eppie would probably no longer be alive, Godfrey Cass would have been rejected from his family and his class, Silas would have earned more money again and returned to his miser phase, Silas wouldn't have such a nice house, Silas wouldn't be happy and Aaron would have married someone else. And many more reasons why if this blessed happening had not taken place then the town of Raveloe would not be such a joyful place.

He symbolism of trust is shown first when Silas is betrayed by those he trusts.

In addition, Silas feels as though God has also hurt him, Silas is cynical in trusting his religion again.

When Silas leaves the door unlocked while he goes to get supplies, he trusts that no one will be out on a misty, snowy night, and even if they were, he trusts that they shall know that it is wrong to steal. However, Dunsey takes advantage of Silas's trust.

When Sails reports the missing gold, he doesn't want anyone to be punished, all he wants is his money returned. His confidence in people makes him believe that people ill return his money, because it is the correct thing to do.

The villagers believe Silas's statement, and I think this shows him that people are capable of trusting.

Godfrey trusts Silas to look after his child, though he doesn't have much choice, he feels comfortable with leaving the girl in Sials's care.

Moreover, most importantly Silas believes that Eppie' Love has made him accept the power of trust and friendship again. And now that Eppie has promised to stay with Silas, he knows that he can trust religion and the world as he trusts her. He must have faith and trust that a God sent Eppie to him.