Silas then moves to the remote countryside village of Raveloe. It is a typical village before the industrial revolution. It is a beautiful village with "orchards looking lazy" and green hills, woods and open fields surround it. It is far away from all the big major industrial towns. Silas is considered an Alien there. As in Lantern Yard, the old church is the centre of village life. The most important people living in Raveloe are the Casses. The Squire and his family, including his two sons, lived in the big red house. Silas rents his house from the Squire's son Godfrey. The little stone cottage is on the outside, away from the central community next to the old abandoned stone-pits. He is pushing himself away from the community as he has lost all faith in people. He has become a miser and social outcast. None of the people know the sad story of Silas' life. The only way Silas copes is to spend most of his hours working away at his loom, "he seemed to weave like a spider." His days are "monotonous" as he does the same thing every day. Silas has become obsessed with his work and the money that he earns from it. It is as though his golden coins replace the friends that he once had. At night he would take out his coins from their hiding place (in the floor under his loom) and counted them and felt them, bathed them in his hands. "At night came his revelry" He dearly loves his money. To him they are like "an unborn child." The money is the only love in his life; he has no other thoughts than for his money. He hates spending them and only uses his silver coins for his vital necessities.
Although Silas in this "withering" stage of affection, and incident happened that showed there was still a small "sap of affection" in him. One day as he was returning from the well he dropped and smashed his brown earthenware pot, which was one of his most prized possessions. He had had it for 12 years. Silas was devastated at this and he picked up the pieces and took them home "with grief in his heart." He stuck the bits back together and put the pot in the hiding place with his gold.
We get many images of Silas and his life in his first 15 years in Raveloe. He is like a spider spending all day weaving at his 'webs'. He has little affection left and is therefore described as a "shrunken rivulet" or a 'withered' tree or plant. In these first stages of Silas' Life we see dramatic changes in his character and personality as he changes from being a happy, respected and well-liked man with friends and a social life to becoming a social outcast and miser who lives to work and who's only pleasure in life is the money he earns from his "monotonous" day behind his loom. Silas is treated extremely badly at the end of his time in Lantern Yard, but he does not seek revenge or talk badly of the people who have hurt him so much, he just leaves and puts it behind him. This shows us clear points about Silas' character. He is a very caring and honest man but is completely shattered when he loses everything he cares about and he reacts differently to most people. He cuts him self off from society and stops believing in God for he says, "there is no just God" "but a God of lies." His trust in men has "turned to bitterness."
Squire Cass's sons Godfrey and Dunstan are both completely different to each other and Silas. Godfrey is very weak and quite a selfish man although he is described as "fine, open-faced and good natured."
Godfrey has many secrets including that he is married to a drug addict and has had a child with her.
His brother Dunstan though, is all bad. He drinks, gambles and enjoys making other people unhappy and miserable. People in the village describe him as "a spiteful jeering fellow." Dunstan is selfish, bitter, spiteful and evil.
Both of the Squire's sons are complete contrasts to Silas. They are both selfish and weak, whereas Silas is honest and trusting, he makes the right decisions in life. He is neither selfish nor weak. Godfrey uses money to solve his problems and Dunstan is always getting into trouble with money, mainly because he gambles. He is always borrowing money from people and gets into huge debts. When he can't borrow money, he has to find other ways.
One dark and misty afternoon Dunstan was passing by Silas' house. Dunstan had heard about Silas large stash of money and he went up to the weavers partly open door. He knocked it and there was no reply, he continued knocking but there was no reply. He pushed on the door and to his enormous surprise it swung open. He looked across the room and saw the "large door key" attached to a "small bit of pork." Dunstan immediately began looking for the money and because "there were only three hiding-places" he had heard of in cottages where money is often hid, it didn't take him long to find it, "in an instant Dunstan darted to the spot." Dunstan stole Silas' beloved money and quickly ran "forward into the darkness."
There was "a wild ringing scream" when Silas discovered the disappearance of his gold. "His heart leapt violently" and he began "trembling." He was "trying to think it possible that his eyes had deceived him” A quote that sum's up this moment is "there was no untried refuge left for a moment's shelter from the terrible truth." Silas has suddenly lost the only thing that gives any meaning to his life.
When Silas finally comes to terms with the loss of his money he immediately thinks to get help. He has decided that the culprit must be someone locally, possibly a poacher and hurries to the rainbow pub, a place that he has not set foot in his entire life in Raveloe. When he arrives in there, all the men are shocked to see “the pale, thin figure of Silas Marner.” They have never seen this man properly, especially not in their pub asking for their help. Silas immediately accuses the local poacher, Jem Rodney who is outraged at the accusation. We do see that the villagers want to help him as they feel sorry for him and are convinced by his distress; this is another aspect of country life that is different to city life, the villagers are all very close to each other and want to help their fellow villagers.
At the end of this chapter we have seen another huge contrast in the story. Dunstan is once again used as a foil to Silas. We see how Silas is good as Dunstan is bad. Silas' only concern is that he gets him money back. He does not want to hurt or punish anyone. Dunstan however seem to enjoy the idea of stealing and making the Silas un-happy. We see that Silas is a very good man and we also see that he has regained a little of his faith in people as he rushes straight to the pub for help.
While Godfrey and as the other villagers (bar Silas) are at the New years party at the Red House, Godfrey's secret wife is struggling through the snow, making her way to the party to show everyone the truth about Godfrey Cass. "This journey on New Year’s Eve was a premeditated act of vengeance which she had kept in her heart ever since Godfrey, in a fit of passion, had told her he would sooner die than acknowledge her as his wife." Under one arm she has their child wrapped in a blanket and in the other hand she is clutching her bottle of opium which she is drinking every ten seconds. She is tripping and stumbling through the thick, icy snow. She takes one last dose of her opium before collapsing in the snow under a gorse bush, not far from Silas Marner’s house. The baby, now cold a quite wet, crawls towards the light of the fire coming for Silas' house. She crawls through the open door and lies down on the rug by the fire. Silas has been in one his cataleptic fits and is completely oblivious to what has been happening. He returns to his house, still quite drowsy. When he glances down and sees the thick locks of curly hair he immediately thinks that it is his gold returned to him. When he reaches out and touches the "gold" he is shocked but delighted that is it warm and soft unlike his cold and hard gold. He then comes around completely and sees this new form of his "gold." He immediately begins caring for the child (to be called Eppie - nickname for his mother - Hephzibah) He instinctively thinks that the child would be hungry and he heats her up some porridge which he adds sugar to sweeten it for her. We can see straight away that the loving and caring side of Silas is re-surfacing. We know that he has this caring and loving nature because he cared for his little sister years ago when he was in Lantern Yard. He also takes her soaking shoes off her and dries her feet by the fire. He has immediately began taking care of this child and is rapidly becoming very attached to it. He soon finds the child’s mother lying "dead" in the snow and being the caring man that he is he instantly sets off to get help. Amazing he once again ventures into another public place, the village party. He bursts in carrying the child under one arm desperately telling the people "I'm come for the doctor - I want the doctor". We can see that Silas is doing all he can to help the women and her child. Godfrey on the other hand is once again thinking about himself again. Instead of worrying about hearing the news of his wife (only he knows who she is) the thing that he is afraid of is the possibility that she may not be dead. That was the” one terror in his mind." Again, this is another huge contrast to Silas, and it now seems that that is the main purpose of the Cass brothers in this story. This shows us how fearful Godfrey is that his terrible secret will come to light. Silas has firmly decided, "the child has come to me" "I've a right to keep it." This is another big distinction between the characters of Silas and Godfrey; how good a father they each are. Whereas Godfrey wanted little to do with the child; he constantly gave Molly money to look after her, he didn't get involved himself; he even gave Silas money to buy the baby clothes, he was almost giving money to Silas to take his child away from him (although Silas didn't know this.) Silas on the other hand quickly takes in the motherless (and now fatherless) child and cares for her as a father would. He soon becomes very close to the girl (soon to be called Eppie) and also becomes quite friendly with Dolly Winthrop, a women who he makes cloth for. She helps him by telling how to handle Eppie when she is naughty and she donates some of her children’s old clothes. Although Silas doesn't want to punish two-year-old Eppie who has a "fine capacity for mischief" he is told that he has two. Eppie has a tendency for "exploring" outside the cottage, and Silas, gets worried of the steep drop to the nearby stone pits. This is another aspect of fatherhood that Silas has taken on. He cares for Eppie’s safety, unlike her birth father. He soon start tying a long piece of string loosely around her waist and attaching the other end to his loom; but being the mischievous little girl that Eppie she is, she picks up his scissors and cuts the rope. Silas soon comes to the point where he has to begin punishing the naughty new addition to his house. When she misbehaves Silas puts her in the dark coalhole. After a time she starts behaving very oddly. She soon learns that she goes in the coalhole when she is naughty, so whenever she does something naughty she automatically 'puts' herself in the coalhole. This astonishes Silas.
At last the Village of Raveloe, where Silas had been considered an 'alien' for so long, finally accepts him. Silas has Eppie christened and now attends church with her. It seems as though the arrival of Eppie is slowly linking Silas back up with his religion, it is not an overnight change though. Eppie has brought Silas back into the community and re-linked him with his past life. Silas is starting to become happy again and beginning to enjoy life.
Fourteen years pass and slowly Silas begins to gradually morph into his former self. Eppie has blossomed and is well loved by the villages and the animals. Dolly Winthrop’s son, Aaron has fallen in love with her. Throughout her life, Silas has been an excellent father to her and has brought her up with love; he has used no punishment after the coalhole incident. Godfrey has been keeping tabs on Eppie but not getting involved with her life, and still keeping the secret from her, Silas and Nancy. This again shows us that Godfrey is weak and selfish. Eppie and Aaron want to get married; Silas has no objection to this and only wants to do what’s best for Eppie. He wants to please her and see her happy, another of Silas’ good quality’s.
Dunstan Cass, who never returned the night that he stole Silas’ money was found dead at the bottom of the freshly drained stone pits. Only his skeleton remains along with Godfrey’s horsewhip and Silas’ money. When Silas’ money is returned to him, he is not overjoyed. The love of his money was replaced by the love of his child: “It takes no hold of me now” says Silas to Eppie about his money. Silas and Eppie are glad of having the money though, for Eppie’s benefit mainly.
After discovering the death of his brother, Godfrey finally decided to tell his wife Nancy everything that he has been keeping from her for the past 14 years. He tells her everything about his secret wife and Eppie. He thinks that she would leave him for keeping it all from her, but she doesn’t. She is just very upset that he didn’t tell her sooner, if he had then they could have had a child because Nancy cannot have children and they both would love a child. They both eventually decide to try and adopt Eppie. They call at Silas cottage quite late and are greeted by a very polite Eppie she sits them down and goes and stands by her father. Nancy and Godfrey tell Silas and Eppie everything. They both take it surprisingly well. Silas, being the good man that he is even says, “I won’t stand in your way.” He is constantly thinking about her and cares about her so much that he is giving her the chance to go with the Casses so that she may have a more privileged up-bringing. Eppie declines the offer telling them “I can’t leave my father now” but “Thank you ma’am – thank you sir.” Godfrey and Nancy leave, Godfrey finally realising “I wanted to pass for childless once, Nancy; I shall pass childless now against my wish.” Godfrey does though pay part of his fatherly debt and pays for Eppie’s weeding with Aaron.
Silas Marner is a moral fable where individuals are held responsible for their actions and choices. Villains are punished and good honest people are rewarded. George Elliot conveys to us, many ideas through the novel and the protagonist of the story Silas Marner. Her story is about the gift that children bring, as indicated by the quote at the start of the novel of ‘Michael’ by William Wordsworth. “A child, more than all other gifts… brings hope with it, and forward looking thoughts.” The book concentrates on everyday life, religion, communities, the difference between villages and towns and cities before and after the industrial revolution; but above all, love, is the main subject.
Silas Marner starts off as a victim of circumstance. He is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and because of his fits is taken advantage of by his best friend William Dane. William like Dunstan is extremely selfish and throughout the book, Silas appears extremely vulnerable to these types of people because of his kind and honest nature. Silas is devastated when he loses everything he loves and cares about when he is totally innocent. He loses his religion, his faith in his fellow human beings and his beloved fiancée. The only way Silas knows how to deal with this pain is to shut himself of from all contact with people and God, the very people who he cares about more than anything have turned against him.
Despite his antisocial behaviour Silas is at heart a deeply kind and honest person as we see throughout the story. At no point in the story does he do or say anything remotely malicious and, strangely for a miser, he is not selfish. Silas's love of money is the product of his desolation, and his hidden capacity for love and happiness manifests itself when he takes in and raises Eppie.
Some of Elliot’s other ideas include points about the class system at the time. It is often pointed out that the richer higher class gentry are not the only good men. Often the lower class people are more honest and less selfish. Another key point is about the important things in life; love and happiness, especially the love of a child. Money is not important or doesn’t provide love or happiness to a person. In the case of Silas, he began to love his money because they were the only things in his life but the didn’t love him back. With Eppie, it was a two way thing, Silas loved her and she loved him back, making that both happier. The money did not give Silas anything back for all the time he spent idolising them. The love of others is ultimately more fulfilling than the love of money. Making the right (moral) choices is life is extremely important. Sometimes you have to put others first and not think about yourself as many of the characters in the story did. The results of being kind to people and respecting them can be very rewarding and Silas Marner is the perfect example of how love can change a person.
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