In my opinion, though from an overview of the novel, the author might seem to paint a rather negative picture of Godfrey with regards to his relations with Eppie, the author had tried to redeem Godfrey's place in the readers' eyes. Hence, the statement would be largely inaccurate due to its extremity, for at the end of the novel, the reader would definitely feel sympathetic towards Godfrey.

It is in chapter three that we are first introduced to Godfrey, and interestingly, Eliot made Godfrey's introduction coincides with that of Dunstan. Dunstan was the typical villainous character, having a "taste for swopping and betting." He was clearly not well liked by his neighbours who described him as "a spiteful jeering fellow." In...