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An Intersection of Characters: The Relationship of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass

Summary:   Examines the novel Silas Marner, by George Eliot. Analyzes the characters Silas and Godfrey. Details how each of their meetings in the story furthers the character development of Marner.

Material wealth, love, and dark, terrible secrets compose the life of Godfrey Cass. False accusations, deceits, losses, and disappointments make up the life of the linen-weaver, Silas Marner. In the novel Silas Marner, by George Eliot, Godfrey and Marner's stories come at abrupt intersections three prominent times in the novel. These meetings express the progression of Marner's status in their community. During the three intersections, Silas grows from a state of pity to a state of fulfillment, and, finally, to a state of contentment.

"It came to pass that those scattered linen-weavers- emigrants from the town into the country- were to the last regarded as aliens by their rustic neighbors, and usually contracted the eccentric habits which belong to a state of loneliness" (Eliot 10). Silas Marner is a lonely man. He has just left his beloved home and church after being falsely accused, by his dearest friend, William Dane, of stealing money from a dead deacon. Silas works interminably with his linen work to take his mind off of the pain of his excommunication. He completely loses faith in God and uses his gold as his source of religion. He becomes distrustful of his fellow man and becomes reclusive. The locals see him merely as a pallid, hunch-backed, mysterious old man. The local people of the community of Raveloe view Silas as an outsider.

Godfrey is the son of the richest man in Raveloe, Squire Cass. He is the heir of the entire Cass fortune. Yet, Godfrey has a terrible secret. He is courting the beautiful Nancy Lammeter, the daughter of another prominent Raveloe citizen, and at the same time that he is unhappily married to Molly Farren, a drug addict. Godfrey has a young child with Molly. He fears that his father will disown him if he knows of his secret life with the opium addict. Godfrey reveals his secrets to only his conniving brother, Dunstan Cass.

The two parallel narratives first intersect when Silas is living in a state of pity. "Robbed! I've been robbed! I want the constable- and the Justice- and Squire Cass- and Mr. Crackenthorp" (Eliot 53). Marner's beloved gold has been stolen! As Silas is returning from selling his linen to Priscilla Lammeter, Nancy's sister, Dunstan Cass goes into the unlocked cottage and discovers the brick that is covering Marner's hidden gold. He takes the riches and leaves into the night.

Godfrey is enlightened with the knowledge of the theft of the gold when he goes into town the next day. Godfrey goes into town inquiring about the whereabouts of Dunstan. Dunstan is supposed to sell Wildfire, Godfrey's prized horse, in order to acquire money in order to pay back debts. He goes into the Rainbow, the local hangout, and finds out that Dunstan has actually staked and killed his horse. While he is in town, he hears the gossip about the robbery. Everyone believes that a roaming peddler has stolen the money. No one even conceives the idea that Dunstan has anything to do with the crime. In this first intersection of Godfrey and Silas' narratives, Silas' status in the community transitions from that of suspicion and mystery to a communal sense of pity and a sense of wonderment of Silas in his dilemma because some do not know whether to believe Marner or not.

"But yet men are led away from threatening destruction; a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and that hand may be a little child's" (Eliot 133). The second intersection between Godfrey and Marner's narratives occur when Eppie comes along. This changes Marner from being in a state of pity to living in a long state of fulfillment. It is the wintertime, and Godfrey is having a massive ball at the Red House, the Cass family's home. Molly Farren is on her way to the party to reveal Godfrey's dreadful secret. With her, she carries along her and Godfrey's baby and a dose of opium. Before she makes it to the Red House, she falls under the drug's spell. She drops to the snow-covered ground. Eppie sees the light of Marner's house and makes her way towards it. Silas has left the door of his cottage open with the hope that the thief would return his gold. As Silas scrutinizes his front door, he goes into a cataleptic fit, and the baby walks in. Silas sees her golden hair and believes that his gold has miraculously returned. Then, Silas realizes that it is a child.

Silas sees the child's mother in the snow. He runs to the Red House for help. Immediately, when Silas busts into party with the beautiful, blonde child in his hands, Godfrey recognizes the baby and knows that there is some possible trouble brewing in the atmosphere. Silas exclaims, "It's a woman. She's dead, I think--dead in the snow at the Stone-pits--not far from my door" (Eliot 115). Godfrey worries that Molly is not dead. He attempts to not look suspicious when he goes to confirm that his nightmare is truly over, but he forgets to take off his dancing shoes and rushes off into the snow. Someone questions him about his peculiar actions, but he laughs off his conspicuity. After Godfrey finds that Molly is truly dead and no longer a threat, he goes back to the Red House and is happily and unconsciously able to propose to Nancy, his true love.

Meanwhile, as Godfrey is confirming the end of a dreadful marriage, Silas and the child have become inseparable. The ladies at the ball attempt to assist Silas with the child, but he will have none of their help. Silas tells them, "I can't part with it, I can't let it go... it's come to me - I've a right to keep it" (Eliot 116). He returns to his little cottage with the child. Silas names the child Eppie, which is short for Hephzibah, after his mother. Silas raises Eppie as his own child. When he needs advice, he talks to Dolly Winthrop, who becomes his confidant and Eppie's godmother. When Eppie comes into his life, Silas rids himself of his obsession of gold. He tells Eppie, when she is older, "It takes no hold of me now, the money doesn't. I wonder if it ever could again - I doubt it might, if I lost you, Eppie" (Eliot 166). After Silas becomes the guardian of the beautiful Eppie, he wins the sole sympathy of the women of Raveloe and the respect of all the citizens. With Eppie, Marner loses his fear of his fellow man and Raveloe forgets their fears and suspicions of Silas.

Godfrey becomes the supplier of Eppie's monetary needs. He plays no major role in her life because he fears that the revealment of his fatherhood would harm his marriage. He is sure that all of Eppie's needs are met. Godfrey believes that what is not known will not hurt anyone. "He would not forget it (the child); he would see that it was well provided for. That was a father's duty" (Eliot 135).

The final intersection of the parallel narratives occurs after Dunstan is found dead. Sixteen years after the disappearance of Dunstan Cass, his body, along with Silas Marner's missing gold, is found in the Stone-pits near Marner's home. After Godfrey realizes that all secrets are eventually revealed, he finally releases the skeletons in his closet and tells Nancy the truth. Nancy is upset with Godfrey because they are unable to have their own children. She believes that if Godfrey would have told her years ago, they could have raised Eppie as their own. They decide that the teenaged Eppie would be happier living in the riches of the Casses, so they go to Marner to claim her.

Godfrey and Nancy attempt to convince Silas and Eppie that it is better for her to live with the Casses. Silas tells Godfrey, "God gave her to me because you turned your back on her, and He looks upon her as mine; you've no right to her! When a man turns a blessing from his door, it falls to them as takes it in" (Eliot 170). Silas eventually sees Godfrey's point in a better life for Eppie and allows Eppie to speak for herself. Eppie politely declines Godfrey's offers, and he storms out of the door. After they leave, Godfrey and Nancy accept that it is best that they leave things as they are because it would be useless to try and separate the two. Nancy tells Godfrey, "It wouldn't be right to want to force her to come to us against her will. We can't alter her bringing up and what's come of it" (Eliot 174).

Eppie marries Aaron Winthrop, her Godmother's son. Nancy provides Eppie with the wedding dress of her dreams. Eppie and Aaron have a beautiful wedding. Everyone is present, except for Godfrey Cass. Silas receives complementary pats on the back during the wedding procession. Silas becomes a true, respected citizen of Raveloe. Silas is content now that he knows Eppie will never be taken away from him. Over the span of the sixteen years he lives in Raveloe, Silas transforms from being mysterious, to being pitiful, to reaching a sense of fulfillment with Eppie, to finally feeling content in his old age with no more worries.