preview

Silas Marner Essay

Better Essays

Silas Marner The novel begins by introducing Silas Marner, the central character, as a man who is lonely and isolated. George Eliot flashes back fifteen years ago to show why Silas is upset and we see from this that money is a corrupting influence. In Lantern Yard, Silas’ former home, we see that Silas was framed of stealing church money by his best friend William, and from this we see that William has used the money to darken Silas’ name and steal his fiancée. After Marner loses his battle to protest his innocence his status is gone and he has lost Sarah, his fiancée. In Silas’ new home in Raveloe we see that he has no friends, refuses to socialise and is feared and misunderstood because of the way he is after moving in. …show more content…

Godfrey does not want his father to find out about as he will lose his inheritance. On page 35 Dunstan says “I might get you turned out of house and home, and cut off with a shilling any day” which tells us that Godfrey can lose everything he’s got if Dunstan tells his father about the marriage . Dunstan, rather then just respect his brother, is jealous that Godfrey is the heir to his dads inheritance. He also says on page 35 “I might let the squire know how his handsome son is married to that young woman Molly, and is very unhappy because he couldn’t live with his drunken wife.” This clearly shows that money is presented as something that controls their lives and is a way for the two brothers to get back at each other. We can see that because of the money the relationship between Godfrey and Dunstan has been permanently damaged. Eliot goes on to link the Cass family with Marner using money. Dunstan makes Godfrey allow him to sell his horse to pay the debt. Godfrey is now in this position where his horse has to be sold to get the money for the debt as he weren’t brave enough to come out and tell his dad the truth even if it meant his dad would take away the money. This shows that Godfrey and his dad don’t have a trusting relationship because it is all about the inheritance. Dunstan happens to accidentally kill the horse leaving him to come up with the money which is when he remembers hearing about Marner’s stash of money. He decides

Get Access