Silas+Marner

=**Title of the Work**= __Silas Marner__ = = =Author= George Eliot/Mary Anne Evans = = =Nationality/Ethnic Background= English = = =Genre and Sub-genres= Victorian novel, Novel of manners, Pastoral fiction = = =Pertinent Biographical Information= Mary Anne Evans, also know by the pen name George Eliot, was a famous English novelist. Mary Anne Evans was born the 22nd of November 1819 and died at the age of 61 on the 22nd of December 1880. Evans was sent to a boarding school at a young age where she developed a strong religious faith. She was greatly influenced by the Evangelical preacher Reverend John Edmund Jones Miss Maria Lewis. Maria Lewis was one of the most influential people in Evans' early life. When Evans mother passed away, she moved to Coventry to take care of her father through his loss. While with her father she met Charles and Caroline Bray, progressive intellectuals that led Evans to challenge her faith. In 1842 Evans relationship with her father had undergone much strain and she continued to question her faith. She continued to attend church until her father's death in 1849. She published her first collection, "Scenes of Clerical Life", published in 1858, under the pseudonym George Eliot brought much speculation as to the identity of this author. After her first novel was published multiple impostors claimed authorship. This brought Evans out of the dark and she claimed the work causing quite a stir. Because of the time period Evans used the male pen name George Eliot to ensure her works were taken seriously. Evans novels are well know for their realism and psychological insight. She published her third novel, //Silas Marner,// in 1861 still under the pseudonym George Eliot.

=Literary Historical Period/Movement and Pertinent Background= This book takes place during the early 19th century. It is centered around Silas Marner who is a member of a Calvanist congregation. He is banished from his town and moves to a village, where he lives disengaged from the world. In this village, Silas has lost all of his material wealth by being banished but while in this new village Silas finds a child whose mother has died. Unknown to Silas at the time, this child is actually the daughter of Godfrey Cass who has been hiding his daugher and her mother who he finds, as well as Silas, that she has passed away. Silas decides to raise this girl and names her Eppie. This gives Silas satisfaction with his life since he can raise this child. Silas Marner is considered a classic example of traditional Victorian literature. During the Victorian period, British society stressed a more moral and proper view of society and life. Victorian Britain believed that Christian values and social status is the true way to happiness. This story tries to show how individuals acted in this period. =Major Characters, Their Relationships, Their Conflicts=

**Silas Marner-** The main character and protagonist of the story. Being shunned from his town and church for false accusations Silas is forced to move to another town. Silas moves to Raveloe where he is the town weaver. Silas's small fortune becomes an obsession and helps him forget about his past life. He is devastated though when Squire Cass steals Silas' small fortune. His luck changes when a young girl finds her way into his home one snowy night. Silas decides to raise her and name her Eppie.

**Godfrey Cass-** The first-born son of the Squire Cass who eventually marries Nancy. Before this marriage, however, Godfrey fathers another child in a secret marriage to Molly Farren. This child, Eppie, is eventually found and raised by Silas Marner, who later finds out about her background. Godfrey does know right from wrong but is unwilling to take blame for obeying his conscience.

**Eppie-** The golden-haired biological daughter of Godfrey who is raised by Silas from a young age. Eppie is the single thing Silas Marner lives for and Eppie reestablishes Silas' connection with society.

**Nancy Lammeter-** The second wife of Godfrey who is unaware of his secret marriage and child until long after their wedding day. She lives by a code of rules that sometimes appear uncompromising.

**Squire Cass-** Father of four sons, including Godfrey and Dunstan. He is lazy self-satisfied and short tempered. Mr. Cass is intent on keeping his family legacy intact and therefore is very demanding upon his sons, who never seem to live up to his expectations. **Dunstan Cass-** Cruel, lazy, and unscrupulous, and he loves gambling and drinking. A son of the Squire who always finds himself getting into mischief. Eventually he steals Silas Marner’s two sacks of gold and falls into a stone pit filled with water, drowning and leaving his body and the gold hidden for sixteen years. =Brief Plot Summary= Silas Marner is a Weaver in the English village of Raveloe. He moves her after he is falsely accused of theft in his former village. He eventually becomes obsessed with earning and hording money for himself, even living on as little as possible to keep all that he can for himself. He is very solitary and when makes an herbal remedy for a neighbor, is accused of being a witch doctor by the villagers. At the same time, Squire Cass' sons are arguing with each other. Dunsey, the eldest, is blackmailing his younger brother, Godfrey with his secret marriage to Molly Farren, a drug addict. Dunsey tells Godfrey that the only way he was to keep his secret was to get Godfrey's prized horse, Wildfire. Yet, before Godfrey could give him the horse, Wildfire dies in a hunting accident, leaving Godfrey to steal Silas' gold horde. Once Silas discovers his missing gold, he is distraught. He tries to get his neighbors to help, but the thief is not found. Many of the villagers come to try and help Silas overcome his loss. Only Dolly Winthrop stands out from the crowd by suggesting that Silas go to the village church, something Silas had not done in ages. On a Opium trip, Molly Farren dies with Godfrey's baby in her arms near Silas' cottage. Seeing the light of the cottage, the baby crawls to Silas. Silas discovers Molly's body and takes it to the Squire's home so the doctor can examine it. Godfrey sees this and realizes that his secret is safe, and leaves the baby with Silas.The baby, named Eppie by Silas, grows up to be a beautiful young woman. She helps Silas integrate back into the community and get closer to God. Many years after his gold is stolen, Silas finds Dunsey's body in a stone pit with his gold after it is drained for its water. Godfrey also takes a legitimate claim for Eppie and asks her if she wanted to live with him and his wife Nancy. Eppie refuses and lives with Silas until she is married to a man named Aaron Winthrop. Through this, Silas learns that a good life is one lived with both faith in God and love for everyone. Eppie assists Silas in integrating back into society. =Motifs (Recurring Images, Ideas, Figures of Speech, Symbols, Colors) & Their Thematic Significance= __The Home__: Almost the entire novel happens within Silas' or the Squire's homes. This stresses the importance of the home in Victorian Society. __Class__: The idea that the upper levels of society are the most intelligent and able is very prevalent in __Silas Marner__. The rich take care of the poor and assist both Silas and the town. __Victorian Society__: Godfrey Cass and other individuals of the village have strong Christian views and live through these views. Godfrey wanted to marry Nancy but he was already married to Molly Farren and because of his commitment does not divorce her to marry Nancy.

=Other Significant Thematic Elements (Significant Character's Names, Significant Quotations, Significant Actions/Events)= Silas Marner taking in Eppie, show that this is the Christian thing to do and he is in turn blessed by God since Eppie turns his life around. = = =Major Themes= The major themes found through out this story are: 1)The individual outcast tries to coencide with the community he or she is not accepted in. 2)Each character has a destiny and their actions decide their fate. 3)The Interdependence of Faith and Community Faith and the sense of community are closely linked to each other and are dependent on one another.