Summary:
Silas Marner, by George Eliot, explores the relationships between parents and their children. This essay also touches upon Eliot's writing style in terms of period and language.
The novel Silas Marner was written by Mary Anne Evans who used a male pseudonym for her novels. She used the name George Eliot because at the time she wouldn't have gained as much respect for her writing being a woman.
The novel was written in the Victorian period when novelist's aimed to educate and entertain their readers whilst at the same time attempt to influence their beliefs and judgements and the world. The Victorian system of society meant that male writers became successful and popular and they over shadowed the female writers. George Eliot did not want to be seen as a rather insignificant writer but more like the male ones. The Attitudes and opinions of people would have affected her writing.
In the 1800's childhood had not been established, most children worked from the age of five to help support their families. It was mainly only the richer children who has time for their own leisure and did not have to work. Children were seen as extra labourer and considered an adult at a very young age. I do not think that George Eliot agreed with these opinions as it shows in the novel.
Silas moved to Raveloe from lantern Yard, he felt the need to move after being falsely accused of stealing. After this incident he felt betrayed and lost all trust in others. Silas lived by himself in Raveloe; he worked as a weaver and accumulated gold from his work. His gold was his one purpose in life, he felt there was "no unseen love that cared for him." - Page 16.
In the village lived Squire Cass, the "greatest man in Raveloe" and his two sons Dunstan and Godfrey. Dunstan was like his father; he liked to drink and was in a lot of gambling debt. Godfrey was the opposite and was secretly married to Molly who he didn't love. He longed to marry Nancy Lammeter instead. Dunstan knew about the marriage and continually manipulated his brother over it. Godfrey ended up giving him his horse and Squire Cass's rent money. One night Dunstan stole Silas's gold, fled off into the night and was never seen again.
Silas was devastated when he discovered his gold was missing, he reported the incident but no one was found responsible and as the weeks went by people lost interest.
Occasionally some neighbours would visit him but Silas was at his lowest point and had never been unhappier. H e has lost the one thing he cared about.
On one snowy night, like fate, Silas woke up and saw what appeared to be a glowing golden light coming from near the fireplace. At first his eyes deceived him and he thought it was his gold returned but when he looked closer, to his surprise, it was a golden haired little girl. Little did Silas know that this child was to be his future.
Silas followed her footprints into the night to discover where she had come from and found her mothers body lying dead in the snow. It was Molly, she had been on her way to the annual new years eve party to expose the secret marriage and daughter.
Silas took the girl in his arms and fled to where the party was being held. When Godfrey saw his child that Silas had brought along with him he raced to Molly. He realised that he had to make a decision weather to claim the child or not to and marry Nancy. He chose not to.
No one believed the girl had an existing father, so later that night Silas startled the village by announcing he would be her new guardian. "Why, you wouldn't like to keep her, should you - an old bachelor like you"" asks Godfrey on page 119. This shows how unexpected Silas's announcement is. But Silas replies saying "Till anybody shows they've a right to take her away from me" He appears to be a less cold hearted man that perceived earlier. "The mothers dead, and I reckon it's got no father; it's a lone thing, and I'm a lone thing. My moneys gone - I don't know where - and this is come from I don't know where. I know nothing - I'm partly amazed." Says Silas on page 119. From this we can see that he believes that she had come to replace his gold. Silas feels the girl will fill a gap that he has been missing. He named her "Hephzibah" after his mother and sister yet she was called Eppie for short. Silas claiming Eppie is seen as a blessing by Silas and Godfrey.
Having Eppie not only opened Silas's eye to love but she also opened his eye to the community. He began to feel more and more attached to Eppie. This is turning point in his life, his whole image changed. His fellow villagers don't see him as unsociable anymore and he achieves a significant role in the community.
While Silas is bringing up Eppie there are some decisions he has to make. One is Discipline. Dolly's advice is to physically hit Eppie if she misbehaves. Silas does not want to do this, he would not be able to do it. For Eppie's own good Silas ties her to a long piece of material, which is tied to the loom. This is so she can walk around almost free. However, Eppie cuts the material with scissors. Silas says "Naughty, naughty Eppie" as he knows she must learn her lesson so "Eppie must go into the coal-hole for being naughty." - page 130. Never the less he only puts her in there for a few moments because he feels sorry for her.
Their relationship blossoms over the sixteen-year leap that the book takes. Eppie reawakened all that was dormant in him. Also Over the time gap Nancy and Godfrey marry and are very happy together but they were not blessed with any living children and Godfrey felt deprived of his greatly missed daughter. Godfrey recently found out that his brother's body had been unearthed from a freshly drained quarry along with Silas's stolen money. Godfrey saw this as a sign that all truths should come to light and be out in the open once and for all. He plucked up all his courage and told Nancy about Eppie being his natural daughter, thinking it was the right thing to do. "Everything comes to light, Nancy, sooner or later. When god almighty wills it, our secrets are found out" Says Godfrey. He believes that finding out about his brother is a sign or coincidence that is telling him to share his secrets. Nancy didn't frown upon this when Godfrey told her, much to his delight! She accepted it and together they decided that they wanted to adopt Eppie.
Silas was on top of the moon when his gold was returned, now he had two treasures; but Eppie remained by far the more precious of the two.
As a huge shock to both Eppie and Silas they are visited by Godfrey and Nancy. Godfrey Blurted out the truth that he was Eppie's father and asserted his "claim" on her. They wanted to adopt Eppie right away. Luckily Silas and Eppie returned their love for each other and felt the same on the matter. Silas's reaction is shocked and baffled but he always only had Eppies best interest at heart. Yet Silas stands his ground and does not want to give her up, "I cant part with it, I cant let it go ... Its come to me - I've a right to keep it" Silas says longingly and with all his heart on page 140. Eppie is then asked what she would like and she replies, "I cant feel as I've got any father but one" and "I can't think o' no other home" - page 173.
Silas and Eppie are left be, much to Godfrey's protest. They are very happy together and wouldn't like it any other way. We can see this from many things said such as " There was love between him and the child that blent them into one, and there was love between the child and the world" on page 159.
Another parent child relationship in the novel is that of Squire Cass and Dunstan. Their relationship is very much different. As a result of Squire Cass bringing up Dunstan badly his life fell to pieces. Dunstan had no discipline unlike Eppie and did as he pleased which lead to disasters. I feel that Squire Cass as a father failed his son and was not responsible. He did not mould Dunstan into a respectable young adult. Which is the opposite to which Silas achieved with Eppie.
There are many ways in which we can tell this book was written in the mid 1800's. It follows the same style as other novels written in this time period. The book is written in tow parts, which break up the sixteen-year gap. It is also written in very long paragraphs and extremely long sentences compared to the ones we use today.
Throughout the novel it is clear to us that characters are of a different social standing. This is noticeable from their speech, someone of a lower class such as the butcher would say "some folks 'ud say that was a fine beast you druv in yesterday, Bob"" The lower class would have been brought up to talk like this and not pronounce every word fully. Whereas people of a higher class do pronounce each word like "gentlemen" and their range of vocabulary is much wider than those slightly below them.
Another thing to notice is the clear accent of the village, which is conveyed from "aye aye", "eh", etc.
George Eliot decided to write the words exactly as how they were pronounced. I think it helps the reader understand they way the characters spoke. Without this technique it would seem like every character spoke the same and was at the same social standing. Words like "hoss-fly", "o" and "ha" are all examples of this.
Furthermore in the conversation about claiming Eppie Silas abbreviates his words whilst at the same time using dialect words. Silas uses "i" and "I'stead" which show he may also have the same accent as the villagers and is not a well off man. In this particular novel, the way a character speaks reveals a lot about themselves.
In conclusion I do agree with the words from William Wordsworth that children bring hope and forward looking thoughts. Yet this may not be true in all cases such as the relationship between Squire Cass and Dunstan. This is because Dunstan brought nothing positive to the life of his father. I do believe that a child in any ones life brings hope with it and whether or not that hope stays depends on how it is acted on.
Fortunately Silas's and Eppie's relationship did survive and even blossomed into something magical. As the novel comes to a close Eppie expresses; "I think nobody could be happier than we are."
This is the complete article, containing 1,863 words
(approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page).
