The novel, Silas Marner by George Eliot :: English Literature

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