The novel, Silas Marner by George Eliot

The novel, Silas Marner by George Eliot

Silas Marner

The novel, Silas Marner by George Eliot is a prime example of a tale

which enlists the use of the literary archetype of the quest. Silas

Marner is a lonely man who lives in the town of Raveloe with nothing

but his hard-earned gold to console him. His call comes unexpectedly

when a man by the name of Dunstan Cass steals the money. This marks

the point where Marner sets out on his quest to find the gold. The

protagonist’s other in the novel is in the form of Dunstan’s older

brother, Godfrey Cass. While Silas and Godfrey are complete opposites

on many levels, they are ultimately the same person. Godfrey is a man

still in his youth, who has been blessed with a luxurious lifestyle,

whereas Silas is portrayed as a miserly old man. Differences in

social class aside, both Silas and Godfrey are lonely; a product of

their own actions. Godfrey is lonely because he chooses not to tell

Nancy of his secret marriage, and Silas is alone because he chooses

not to associate with the townsfolk. That is, until he is called upon

to do so with the theft of his gold. Silas is aided by his adopted

daughter Eppie, who acts as the helper, or guide. Silas’s journey is

both physical and psychological. At first, Silas sets out to discover

who it is that has stolen his money, and means to get it back, and has

no intention of punishing the thief. It is evident that this is not

the quest the author has in mind for him. Through the journey of

raising Eppie, George Eliot has Marner discover true happiness, even

though it is not what he set out for in the first place. Even though,

through the events that transpire, Marner is able to get back his

stolen money, in the end, he is able to obtain a treasure far greater

than the gold he anticipated, that is, happiness with another person.

At the conclusion of the novel, Silas Marner is a man who has

transformed from a cold-hearted and lonely person, to one who has

found love and acceptance in another.

One of the major themes George Eliot employs is that of the individual

versus society. Throughout the novel, Silas is contrasted to the

community in which he is situated. In Lantern Yard, Silas is

excommunicated because the rest of his church does not believe in his

innocence, and in Raveloe, Silas is seen as a crazy witch doctor of

sorts. Most people feel it is safe to stay away from him, and Silas