Silas-Marner-LitChart Edited

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Silas Marner
world of Raveloe. But the change in Lantern Yard points to
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION coming change all over England, as well as a complete change in
weaving and Silas Marner’s own profession.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE ELIOT
Mary Anne Evans grew up on Arbury Estate in Warwickshire, RELATED LITERARY WORKS
England, where she grew up on one of the estate’s farms. Her
father was the estate’s land agent, received a good education While individual books are not known to have directly inspired
during her youth. After she finished school at age sixteen, she or impact George Eliot’s creation of Silas Marner, her academic
continued learning by reading: she had access to the library at studies did influence her understanding of literature and
Arbury Hall, and her knowledge of Classical literature deeply writing. In particular, scholars have noted, Greek tragedies
affected her later writing. Her writing was also impacted by the directed her literary choices. The novel Silas Marner also clearly
diverse lives and lifestyles she observed on the Arbury Estate, responds to George Eliot’s awareness of the religious ideology
from those of the wealthy landowners to those of the poorer of her time period. Silas Marner’s early devoted faith and
workers farming the land. When Mary Anne moved to subsequent questioning of this faith, allowed Eliot to explore
Coventry at age twenty-one, she befriended Charles Bray at the role faith played in Victorian Society. In the Victorian Era,
whose home she was exposed to a circle of intellectuals and many people believed Christian values and morality secured
freethinkers. She decided to move to London and begin a one’s own happiness, a concept Eliot explores throughout the
career as a writer. In London, she started working as an novel.
editorial assistant for The Westminster Review. She began
publishing essays, writing under the pen name George Eliot in KEY FACTS
order to escape the stereotype of her day that women wrote
• Full Title: Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe
romances. Her personal life received attention and gossip due
to her relationship with a married man named George Henry • When Written: 1860-1861
Lewes with whom she lived for more than twenty years. She • Where Written: London
published her major works during Lewes’s lifetime, including • When Published: 1861
Scenes of Clerical Life (1857), Adam Bede (1859), Mill on the Floss • Literary Period: Victorian Period / Realism
(1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemar
Middlemarch
ch (1872), and Daniel
• Genre: Novel / Realistic fiction
Deronda (1876). Lewes’s death in 1878 left her devastated, and
while she married John Cross in May of 1880, she died later • Setting: The villages of Lantern Yard and Raveloe in England,
that year after a brief illness. early 1800s
• Climax: Eppie decides to stay with her adoptive father, Silas
Marner, despite her biological father, Godfrey Cass, finally
HISTORICAL CONTEXT revealing his past secret marriage
As mentioned above, the Victorian Era, with its emphasis on • Antagonist: William Dane / Dunstan Cass
Christianity, morality, and social values provides a backdrop to
• Point of View: Third-person omniscient
Eliot’s novel. The setting of the novel is critical. Silas Marner, as
a weaver, lives during the early years of the 19th century when
individual weavers made profits in England. By the 1830s and EXTRA CREDIT
1840s, the Industrial Revolution and the economic changes it Biblical Namesake. Eppie’s full name is Hephzibah after Silas
caused were prevalent throughout England. The Industrial Marner’s mother and sister. Marner notes that the name is
Revolution is the time period in which the production of basic from the Bible. In the Bible, Hephzibah refers both to the wife
goods transitioned from hand production methods to of a man named Hezekiah and, in one passage, to God’s chosen
production by new machines. The advancing technology people. The name means “my delight is in her.”
allowed goods, such as woven cotton products, to be produced
more quickly and on a larger scale. This transition resulted in Adaptations. Silas Marner has been adapted for radio, stage,
the development of mills and manufacturing towns throughout and screen, including several movie versions, a Wishbone
England. At the end of Silas Marner, the Industrial Revolution episode, and a 1961 opera version of the novel.
has transformed the village of Lantern Yard into a fast-paced
manufacturing hub. Silas Marner and Eppie are able to retreat
from the business of Lantern Yard to the quiet, unchanged
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weaver’s wealth, Dunstan decides to speak with him and
PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY considers forcing him into making a loan. However, he finds the
door of the cottage unlocked and the place deserted. He
In the early 1800s, when spinning wheels were still popular in
quickly deduces where the gold is hidden, and, taking both
every household, solitary men traveled from village to village in
bags, stumbles off into the darkness.
the rural English countryside seeking work as weavers. Rural
villagers, fearful of any change in their lives, often made Silas Marner returns home to find his gold gone and is thrown
negative assumptions about anything unusual, or even into panic and despair. He goes to the Rainbow, the local pub,
infrequent, such as the visit of a farrier or a weaver. Any special for assistance. The men gathered there help Marner, but half of
skill or intelligence was particularly frowned upon as evidence them believe that the robbery must have been committed by a
of one’s communion with evil forces, for how else was any supernatural force, and the other half are unable to discover
unique ability to be gained? anything about the thief. The villagers begin to reach out to
Marner in his misfortune, and one woman in particular, Dolly
One such rural weaver facing the suspicion and distrust of his
Winthrop, is very generous. Godfrey Cass learns of Dunstan’s
neighbors is Silas Marner, a lonely figure who lives on the
disappearance and Wildfire’s death and decides that he must at
outskirts of Raveloe, in a cottage near the Stone Pits. The
once confess the full story to his father. However, despite his
Raveloe villagers perceive Marner as strange, because of both
deliberations and anxiety, he backs out of this course of action
his lonely occupation and his strange condition in which he
and tells his father only the problem of the loaned money.
periodically falls into a trance-like state, or fit. Marner’s
Dunstan Cass does not return home. No one connects his
isolation is due to his unfortunate youth in the distant town of
disappearance with Marner’s robbed gold.
Lantern Yard. In Lantern Yard, Marner was believed to be a
young man of great promise among the local congregation who On New Years Eve, a large party is hosted at Squire Cass’s
had once witnessed one of his fits during a service and believed home, the Red House. Nancy Lammeter and her sister, Priscilla,
it to be the mark of God’s intervention. However, Marner’s wear matching outfits, and while Nancy’s beauty outshines her
happiness is interrupted when his friend William Dane frames sister’s, Priscilla is admired for her cooking, good sense, and
him as a thief. The congregation decides to draw lots to generally pleasant acceptance of her own appearance and her
determine Marner’s fate. Marner is convinced that God will lot in life. Nancy has determined to never marry Godfrey as he
demonstrate his innocence only to find that the lots declare his has behaved unusually to her, by ignoring her or by paying her
guilt. Having lost his faith, Marner flees Lantern Yard. close attention in a whimsical matter. Godfrey and Nancy
dance together and Godfrey decides to get as much joy from
For fifteen years, Marner lives in Raveloe, withdrawn from the
the brief evening as possible. Unknown to Godfrey, his wife,
community, but making a fair sum of money from his constant
Molly, is walking through the snowy evening to the Red House,
weaving work. He is fascinated by the gold he earns and begins
carrying their child and bitterly intending to expose her
to hoard it. He works for the gold itself and treasures a store of
connection to Godfrey. Molly is addicted to opium and she
it under his floorboards. Every night, he takes out his gold to
cannot resist taking a dose as she travels. From the cold,
admire it, and the gold takes the place in his heart of any human
weariness, and the drug, Molly collapses near Silas Marner’s
affection.
cottage.
Meanwhile, in Raveloe, the older son of Squire Cass, the
Molly’s daughter totters away from her mother and follows the
community’s most prominent man, is dealing with a dark secret.
light to the open door of Silas Marner’s cabin. The weaver is
The older son, Godfrey, has married a woman named Molly
frozen in one of his fits at the open door, and the child moves
Farren of lowly birth and they have a young daughter. Their
past him and falls asleep on the warm hearth. Marner returns
marriage is a secret from everyone, including the Squire, and
to his senses only to see what he thinks is his gold returned to
only the younger son, Dunstan, knows the truth. Godfrey
him. The gold is revealed to be the hair of the sleeping child and
regrets his foolish marriage and has long loved a respectable
Marner is baffled as to how she appeared there, until he finds
young woman named Nancy Lammeter. Dunstan uses his
her dead mother in the snow. Marner rushes to Squire Cass’s
knowledge to bribe Godfrey into doing whatever he wants,
party seeking Dr. Kimble, and Godfrey, in great agitation,
including giving Dunstan a sum of money Godfrey collected
returns with the doctor and Mrs. Winthrop to see the woman,
from one of the Squire’s tenants. In order to repay this money,
realizing that her life or death will greatly impact his future.
and to keep his secret, Godfrey allows Dunstan to take his
Molly is dead, and Marner fixes upon keeping the child himself.
horse, Wildfire, and sell him at the hunt. After securing a price
Godfrey returns to the party realizing that the way has been
for the horse, Dunstan rides the hunting course only to have
cleared for him to find happiness with Nancy.
the horse fall and die. Embarrassed by his predicament, but
unconcerned for his brother’s fate, Dunstan decides to walk Silas Marner’s care for the child, who he names Eppie,
home through the misty evening. On this walk, he passes by the reconnects him with the people and community around him. He
Stone Pits and Silas Marner’s cottage. Remembering talk of the learns much about childcare from Dolly Winthrop. He begins

attending church and has Eppie baptized. He takes her on gold he earns. He does not seek out others’ company, but
journeys and deliveries and receives kind smiles and attention commits himself fully to his weaving work. The villagers
from everyone. Through seeking what is best for his daughter, perceive him as strange due to his isolation, his fits, and his pale
Marner regains trust and faith in other humans and and quiet appearance. Marner is transformed from a miserly
connections throughout Raveloe. recluse into a loving and thoughtful father after he adopts
Sixteen years pass and Eppie grows into a lovely young woman. Eppie, a young girl who appears on his hearth one night. He
Aaron Winthrop proposes to her and the two plan to marry and finds friends in Dolly Winthrop and her son Aaron, and regains
to live with Silas Marner, so that Eppie need not leave her interest in life and community through his love for Eppie.
father. Godfrey and Nancy are married, though they are faced Godfre
Godfreyy Cass – The eldest son of Squire Cass, the most
with the difficulty of having no children of their own. Godfrey prominent man in Raveloe. Despite Godfrey’s good family, he
has proposed adopting a child, namely Eppie, but Nancy firmly makes poor choices and marries a lowly woman named Molly
believes that to adopt a child is to disobey the fate given to one Farren. Together they have a daughter, Eppie. While Godfrey
by Providence. keeps his wife and child a secret from his father and the village,
One Sunday afternoon, a draining project in the fields causes Godfrey’s younger brother Dunstan uses his knowledge of the
the Stone Pits to empty of water, and, at the bottom, Dunstan secret marriage to manipulate Godfrey. Molly also threatens to
Cass’s body is discovered, accompanied by Marner’s stolen reveal the marriage in order to convince Godfrey to support
gold. Godfrey’s horror at his brother’s crime causes him to her, and her opium addiction. Godfrey battles within himself
finally confess all to Nancy. Nancy’s reaction is one of regret about whether or not to reveal his secret. Naturally a good
that she didn’t know earlier the true reason behind his interest man, he is irresolute and indecisive. His fearful circumstances
in adopting Eppie. The pair resolves to adopt Eppie at that point cause him to maintain silence and to keep appeasing Dunstan
and to give her more comfort and security, as well as the life of and Molly. After Molly’s death, Godfrey is free to marry his true
a lady. Godfrey and Nancy visit Marner and Eppie at the love, the respectable Nancy Lammeter. He tries to provide for
cottage and make their offer of adoption. Eppie refuses, saying his daughter, Eppie, by supporting Silas Marner who has
she could never leave her father, and Godfrey, frustrated, adopted her. Years later, after Dunstan’s drowned body is
reveals the truth of her parentage. Eppie is unimpressed by found alongside the gold Dunstan stole from Silas, Godfrey
Godfrey’s insistence and his treatment of Silas Marner, as well confesses all to Nancy and the two attempt to adopt Eppie.
as what she supposes about his connection with her biological Nancy and Godfrey are unable to have children of their own,
mother. Again, she turns away the offer of adoption, reaffirming but Eppie prefers to stay with Silas Marner. Godfrey views this
her commitment to the father who has raised her. Godfrey unhappy outcome as part of his punishment for past wrongs.
feels that it must be part of his punishment for past wrongs for Eppie – The young daughter of Godfrey Cass and Molly Farren,
his daughter to dislike him. Eppie wanders into Silas Marner’s cottage during a snowstorm
Eppie and Aaron are married and the villagers celebrate, happy in which her mother perishes. Eppie is a beautiful, golden-
to see someone like Silas Marner be so blessed after the good haired child and her hair color is linked to the gold, which had
deed he did for a young orphaned girl. Godfrey Cass has helped been recently stolen from Silas Marner. She is mischievous as a
expand the cottage for Marner’s growing family, and Eppie has young girl, primarily because Marner refuses to discipline her
a beautiful garden as she desired. Eppie exclaims that she and in any way. Eppie grows into a sweet tempered, lovely young
her father must be the happiest people in the world. woman who is devoted to her father. The love between Silas
Marner and Eppie reestablishes Marner’s interest in the village
of Raveloe, in faith, and in community. Upon discovering that
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS Godfrey is her true father, Eppie is unimpressed by his willful
desire to take her away from the company and father she has
MAJOR CHARACTERS always known. She stands up to Godfrey and refuses his offer.
Silas Marner – A weaver by occupation, Silas Marner’s move Eppie and the son of the Winthrops, Aaron, fall in love and are
from Lantern Yard to Raveloe creates the back-story for the married at the end of the novel.
novel. In Lantern Yard, Marner was a devoted participant in the Nancy Lammeter – An elegant young woman who lives in
local church. He is near sighted and prone to strange fits in Raveloe, Nancy inspires Godfrey’s love and affection despite
which he becomes still for a portion of time, after which he can his unfortunate secret marriage. Nancy is a strong-minded
never remember what has occurred. He was seen as a young woman who is committed to her ideals. For example, she
man of great promise, but after being framed for a crime of refuses to adopt a child, although she cannot have children,
thievery actually committed by his friend William Dane, because she believes such an act willfully disregards the fate
Marner moves to Raveloe. Marner’s betrayal causes him to given by God. She is precise, tidy, and hardworking. Her elegant
become withdrawn and socially awkward, focused solely on the appearance does not extend to her hands, which show the

marks of her labor. Once married to Godfrey, she becomes a His reasons for this betrayal are unclear other than the fact
good mistress of the Red House, although she reflects that very soon after Marner’s disgrace, William Dane becomes
frequently on her and Godfrey’s lack of children and Godfrey’s engaged to Sarah, who had once been engaged to Marner.
unhappiness. Sar ah – Silas Marner’s fiancé in Lantern Yard, Sarah begins to
Sarah
Dunstan Cass – Squire Cass’s lewd younger son, Dunstan turn away from Marner after he has one of his fits during a
prioritizes drinking and gambling. He is unconcerned for church service. Marner asks if she wants to break off their
others’ interests. He manipulates his brother, Godfrey, into engagement, but they are officially engaged in the eyes of the
giving him money to pursue his various pastimes. He sells church, and Sarah refuses. After Marner is framed as a thief,
Wildfire, Godfrey’s horse, only to later kill the horse while Sarah will not see him and later marries Marner’s once-friend
riding it through a difficult jumping course. He is unconcerned and betrayer, William Dane.
with the horse’s death, and Godfrey’s fate, and walks home, The Osgoods – A prominent family in the town of Raveloe, the
only to pass by Silas Marner’s cottage. He is struck by a Osgoods are often compared to Squire Cass’s family. Like the
memory of talk of the weaver’s wealth and decides to rob him. Squire, the Osgoods host parties during the winter months.
Years later, Dunstan’s body, along with the stolen gold, is found Mrs. Osgood is the aunt of Nancy and Priscilla Lammeter, and
at the bottom of the stone pit by Silas Marner’s cottage. Mrs. Osgood and Nancy are of similar temperaments. Mrs.
Dolly Winthrop – A village woman who befriends Silas Marner, Osgood hosts two young ladies, the Miss Gunns, at Squire
Dolly is a persistent friend to Marner, and the person to whom Cass’s New Years party.
he turns for help and advice after he adopts Eppie. Dolly is Priscilla Lammeter – Nancy Lammeter’s less attractive sister,
overflowing with kindness and local wisdom. She frequently Priscilla is likeable for her good sense and strong character. She
admits to how little she knows, and how little any human can seems happily resigned to a life of caring for Mr. Lammeter,
known, of divine plans for all people. Dolly is selfless with her their father, and she encourages Nancy’s marriage and
time and energy in helping others. She is also a formidable happiness. Nancy wishes that Priscilla’s clothes and her own
mother to little Aaron and attempts to teach Marner how best always match because they are sisters, and Priscilla unselfishly
to discipline Eppie. has them dress in the colors that will favor Nancy, rather than
Squire Cass – The head of the most prominent family in herself.
Raveloe, Squire Cass gives himself airs in claiming the title of Aaron – Dolly Winthrop’s earnest son, Aaron meets Silas
“Squire” in the small village. His home and management of the Marner when he is very young. Dolly hopes to help Marner by
estate is extravagant at times, lacking the presence and visiting him after the loss of his gold, and she brings her son to
guidance of his wife who passed away. He enjoys throwing help raise the weaver’s spirits. The little boy sings and accepts
dances and parties for the neighbors. He is slovenly, yet cake offered by the weaver, who is unsure how else to interact
authoritative. He lords over his sons and is a brusque man who with the child. Once he has grown into a young adult, Aaron
does not like to be disagreed with. Godfrey believes his father falls in love with Eppie and the two plan to marry and to live
would disown him for his choice to marry Molly Farren. with Marner, so that Eppie doesn’t have to leave him.
Unaware of the real situation, Squire Cass tries to force
Sally Oates – A woman in Raveloe whom Silas Marner helps
Godfrey into becoming engaged to Nancy Lammeter.
when he sees that she is suffering from heart disease and
Molly Farren – Godfrey’s first, secret wife and the mother of dropsy. His mother had suffered from the same diseases, and
Eppie, Molly is from a lower class family background than he offers Sally Oates relief with a foxglove mixture. This act of
Godfrey. Molly is addicted to opium, and while she tries to kindness occurs during Marner’s troubled early years in
blame her problems on her husband’s neglect, she recognizes Raveloe, but it does not reconnect him to the people around
her responsibility for the control opium has over her life. She him. The villagers pester him for more natural remedies, but he
dies of an overdose during a snowstorm while traveling turns them away from his cottage door because he does not
through the snowstorm to the Red House, where a New Years always have a remedy and does not want to be pestered.
party is occurring, in order to spitefully reveal herself as
Godfrey’s wife in front of his family and many villagers.
MINOR CHARACTERS
William Dane – A friend of Silas Marner’s in Lantern Yard,
Rodneyy – Silas Marner accuses a young man in Raveloe,
Jem Rodne
William Dane is more confident and self-assured than Marner.
Jem Rodney, of stealing his gold as he once asked Marner about
The two appear to be inseparable friends, but William Dane is
the money. Jem also once happened upon Marner in one of his
harsher on those who are less devoted than himself. Dane also
fits and spread the story to whole village.
expresses assurance of his salvation, whereas Marner only
feels fearful and hopeful when the friends discuss the afterlife. Mr Maceyy – A Raveloe villager who serves both as a tailor and
Mr.. Mace
William Dane frames Marner for the theft of the church’s gold. as the senior parish clerk. An elderly man, Mr. Macey entertains
the other villagers and occupants of the Rainbow with stories

from earlier days. Upon being accused, Marner believes God will reveal his
Mr
Mr.. T
Took
ooke
ey – Mr. Macey’s young deputy clerk. Mr. Tookey and innocence, but when the church draws lots to make a decision,
Mr. Macey squabble from time to time, when both the youthful the lots declare his guilt. Marner lashes out at William Dane,
man and the elderly man are convinced that he is in the right. accusing him of framing him, and accusing God of being a God
of lies.
Ben Winthrop – A friendly and fun-spirited villager. He is the
husband of Mrs. Dolly Winthrop and the father of Aaron. After this blasphemy, Marner moves to the simple village of
Raveloe where he withdraws from his neighbors, hoarding and
Mr.. Lammeter – An established man in Raveloe society, and
Mr
coveting his money, disenchanted with all human relationships.
the father of Priscilla and Nancy. Priscilla cares for Mr.
When Marner discovers Eppie, an orphan who wanders into his
Lammeter as he ages.
home, he cares for her and raises her. Through his love for her,
Mr.. Snell – The levelheaded landlord of the Rainbow, Raveloe’s
Mr Marner rediscovers an interest in human connection. As he
local pub. Mr. Snell often settles disputes among his guests at seeks what is the best for Eppie, he again attends church and
the Rainbow. he makes friends in Raveloe. Marner again gathers medicinal
Mr
Mr.. Dowlas – A fiery man who works as the village farrier, herbs as he once enjoyed doing, and he feels light return to his
making horseshoes and shoeing horses. life through the love Eppie has for him.
Master Lundy – Another passionate individual, Master Lundy
is the local butcher. He frequently argues with Mr. Dowlas, the MORALITY
farrier. In Silas Marner, the author George Eliot presents a
Mr
Mr.. Cr
Crack enthrop – The rector of the Raveloe church. He
ackenthrop universe in which characters’ personalities and
presides over the investigation of Silas Marner’s robbery. actions determine their fates. This authorial
morality secures justice for Silas Marner and for Godfrey Cass,
Dr
Dr.. Kimble – The village doctor. He is a lively and social man,
as well as for several secondary characters. While Marner is
and Squire Cass’s in-law.
initially wrongly accused of a crime in Lantern Yard, his later
Mrs. Kimble – The wife of the village doctor, and the aunt of generosity toward Eppie determines his ultimate happiness. At
Godfrey and Dunstan Cass. the ending of the novel, the neighbors at Eppie and Aaron’s
The Miss Gunns –Two young ladies who attend Squire Cass’s wedding discuss Marner’s choice to adopt a small orphan girl.
party, as Mrs. Osgood’s guests. The general consensus is that such an act of kindness will
secure his future blessings.
The novel ends with Eppie’s declaration of her and Marner’s
THEMES happiness after she refuses to live with her biological father
Godfrey Cass. Cass is a morally ambiguous character. He is kind
In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
and considerate, but also makes selfish and wrong decisions
coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
when he abandons his daughter, Eppie, to another’s care.
occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
Godfrey’s fate is an appropriate combination of punishment
a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in
and reward for his choices. While Godfrey marries the love of
black and white.
his life, Nancy, his happiness is incomplete, as he and Nancy
can’t have any children. Despite Godfrey’s later repentance,
FAITH Eppie chooses to ignore Godfrey’s attempts to adopt her
Silas Marner describes nearly thirty years of Silas because he has neglected her for sixteen years. For her part,
Marner’s life, in which the protagonist loses his Nancy believes that divine providence determines one’s fate.
faith in God and in human society, and then slowly She strongly resists Godfrey’s interest in adopting a child
regains his faith years later when he adopts a loving orphan girl because adoption is an attempt to circumvent the life given by
named Eppie. Silas Marner’s early faith is distinctly different God.
from the faith he regains in later years. As a young man, Marner In this way, moral outcomes in the novel are linked to the power
lives in Lantern Yard and his faith depends on the community of divine influence. Other secondary characters receive similar
and worship there. Marner believes in an unseen, benevolent moral treatment. Godfrey’s first wife, Molly, dies in a
God and in following only those practices that reflect faith in snowstorm after consuming opium. The drug had been ruining
this God. Marner has acquired some knowledge of herbal her life and her relationship with her husband for some time.
remedies from his mother, but he refrains from using these, Godfrey’s brother, Dunstan, dies in the stone pit directly after
believing that prayer, without medicine, is a sufficient remedy. he robs Silas Marner. His body and Marner’s gold are
Marner loses his faith in a benevolent God when his friend discovered years later.
William Dane falsely accuses him of stealing church funds.

THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY families have lived in the village for multiple generations.
Two societies are at the heart of Silas Marner: After Silas Marner is robbed, the local men discuss a peddler
Lantern Yard and Raveloe. These societies are who carried a tinderbox like the one found by Marner near his
drastically opposed to each other. By the end of the house after the robbery. The highest element of suspicion in
novel, Lantern Yard is a large town filled with factories, busy the peddler’s appearance and character was his “foreignness,”
men, strangers, and travelers. It has experienced the which is described by the villagers as evidence of his
transformative force of the Industrial Revolution. Raveloe is dishonesty. Marner also exhibits fear of the unknown. His
rural and intimate and changes very little from generation to return to Lantern Yard is marked by fear and distrust of the
generation. The inhabitants of Raveloe all know each other and transition that has occurred in his old home. An anxiety with
are resistant to new or dramatic events in their small village. “the new” pervades the book, which ends with the beginning of
the Industrial Revolution, an increase in manufacturing, which
The theme of society encompasses both the nature of life in
was soon to rapidly change lives throughout England.
these very different places and Silas Marner’s own changing
relationship to his neighbors in Raveloe. Marner’s exclusion
from Lantern Yard’s society, his initial willful distance from THE LIMITS OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE
Raveloe’s society, and his eventual inclusion in this society While characters in Silas Marner may influence their
cause his losing and regaining of faith. The loss of Marner’s own future through their choices and actions,
money and his finding of Eppie are both presented in terms of certain key events depend upon inexplicable good
his connection with those around him. After he is robbed, or bad fortune appearing in characters’ lives. Such events may
Marner is more open to help from others because he feels be attributed to chance or to the will of a divine being.
alone and directionless. Marner is changed from a miserly, Regardless of chosen explanations, these events are beyond
isolated weaver into a caring father as he seeks what is needed the control and rational understanding of George Eliot’s
for his adopted daughter, Eppie. By caring for Eppie, Marner characters.
adjusts to Raveloe society, acquiring the customs and beliefs of
While the reader is presented with the full account of
his new home.
Dunstan’s theft and Eppie’s appearance in Silas Marner’s
The social conventions of Raveloe dictate what the town’s cottage, to Marner both the loss and gain are of a magical,
inhabitants perceive to be right and wrong. Social events, such mysterious nature. Upon Eppie’s appearance on his heath,
as the New Years’ Eve dance at Squire Cass’s home, occur Marner assumes that her presence must be the result of a
according to tradition. Such traditions define Raveloe’s unique divine act because he cannot imagine an ordinary way by which
identity and society over generations. At the end of the novel, this child might have appeared. Later, Marner can only explain
Marner and Eppie travel to Lantern Yard. The village has this mysterious event in terms of an exchange from an
transformed into a great manufacturing town, made more unknown source: the money is gone to an unknown place and
unsettling by the strong contrast it presents to the intimate Eppie has arrived from an unknown place.
village of Raveloe. Men on the streets of Lantern Yard are too
Similarly, Marner is never able to resolve the false accusations
busy to stop and assist Marner and Eppie, and both characters
leveled against him in Lantern Yard because the town is
long to return to the familiar comforts of Raveloe. Similarly,
completely replaced by new buildings and new townsfolk when
Eppie is uninterested in Godfrey and Nancy’s offer to adopt
he returns there thirty years later. When Marner recounts this
her, as this would separate her from the society of those “lowly”
story to Dolly Winthrop, she describes the reasons behind
folks who she knows and cares for. Eppie and Marner are both
events as “dark” to human perception. Dolly Winthrop’s
happy at the end of the novel because of the connections they
character presents the viewpoint that human knowledge is
have formed with each other and with Raveloe society.
limited and omniscience belongs to higher powers. Mrs.
Winthrop’s acceptance of the restricted scope of human
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN knowledge is expressed as she discusses why Silas Marner was
An irrational fear of the unknown characterizes the falsely accused in his youth at Lantern Yard. She believes that
attitudes of the people of Raveloe. This fear of the the true good behind all events is known only to some divine
unknown is a key factor in Silas Marner’s initial being. The country wisdom of the men at the Rainbow, the local
separation from the society of the village. On the first page of pub, follows a similar pattern. While the local folks are strongly
the book, the wary perspective of these people is described. influenced by superstition, cringing from fears of ghosts or
The basis of their xenophobia is their narrow circle of other unexplained phenomena, they don’t seek answers to their
acquaintances and the limited travel that would occur in any questions, but instead admit that there are explanations
individual’s lifetime. The villagers of Raveloe are used to beyond human knowledge.
interacting with the same circle of people because the same

the edge of the stone pits. Only by draining the stone pits and
SYMBOLS revealing their hidden depths does the truth become clear:
Marner’s gold and the thief are found, and Eppie’s true
Symbols appear in teal text throughout the Summary and
parentage is revealed directly afterward.
Analysis sections of this LitChart.
LANTERN YARD GOLD

Silas Marner becomes obsessed with the
The town of Lantern Yard symbolizes the change
acquisition and hoarding of gold after he losses his
that Silas Marner undergoes when he is betrayed
faith in God and in other people. Gold, as an object, becomes
and loses his faith in his home community and in God. Early in
the recipient of all the human love and affection that he once
the book, the parish at Lantern Yard is a tight-knit, devote
directed toward his friends and community. Marner not only
community, representative of the type of faith Silas Marner
saves and hides his gold, but he admires it lovingly. He gives it
exhibits. He is committed to his belief in a benevolent God and
attention and care worthy of a child. The gold symbolizes
trusts his safety and innocence to this God. Once he is falsely
Marner’s isolation and his exclusion from human love and
accused, his flight from Lantern Yard symbolizes his emotional
affection. His heart is directed toward the cold and unfeeling
separation from others with a literal physical separation. At the
gold, and he appears cold and unfeeling to those around him.
end of the novel, Marner returns to Lantern Yard a changed
Only through Eppie’s appearance does Marner begin to love
man, only to find that Lantern Yard has changed too and is
and cherish other human beings again. Eppie’s golden hair
virtually unrecognizable. Marner has a new faith that is no
allows her to resemble the gold, creating a strong connection
longer centered on a God who he thinks he can understand.
between Marner’s reactions to his gold and to his adopted
The church community in Lantern Yard has vanished. The
child. His love for gold isolates him; his love for Eppie re-
advance of manufacturing in Lantern Yard represents the
connects him to the community.
change that is so feared by the villagers of Raveloe, and serves
as an ominous indication that the Industrial Revolution will
cause great changes across England. THE HEARTH
Silas Marner’s cottage and his hearth are the
RAVELOE setting for several key events in the novel. Marner
discovers Eppie on the hearth, sleeping, and at first mistakes
The village of Raveloe is strongly contrasted to
her for his lost gold. The cottage and the hearth become the
Lantern Yard both because of its homely
center of Eppie and Marner’s relationship. Eppie refuses
appearance and because of the simple lives and perspectives of
Godfrey’s offer to adopt her because she wishes to stay with
the people who live there. In Raveloe, practicality takes
the father she has grown up with. When Eppie and Aaron
precedence over faith and church attendance. Community and
marry, they move into Marner’s cottage. The cottage and
familiarity are preferred to change and innovation. Raveloe’s
hearth represent the center of love and family for Eppie and
community represents Silas Marner’s new faith, which he
Marner. It is the place where Eppie appears in Marner’s life, a
discovers through Eppie: a faith in humanity and love. Raveloe
place of warmth and familiarity, and it remains the center of
is a haven for Silas Marner, an unchanging world in which he
their home throughout the novel.
and Eppie live happily together; a world that has not yet been
affected by industrialization.
QUO
QUOTES
TES
STONE PITS Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the Dover
The stone pits near Silas Marner’s home in Raveloe Publications edition of Silas Marner published in 1996.
appear only a few times in the novel, but they serve
the key role of hiding the body of Dunstan Cass and Silas
Chapter 1 Quotes
Marner’s stolen gold. The stone pits are a strange geographic
detail near Marner’s cottage, with water filling their hidden In that far-off time superstition clung easily round every
depths. The stone pits represent the “unknown,” the elements person or thing that was at all unwonted, or even intermittent
of nature and fate that cannot be understood or explained by and occasional merely, like the visits of the peddler or the knife-
humans. When Marner loses his gold and finds Eppie, he can grinder. No one knew where wandering men had their homes
only understand this transition in terms of an exchange from or their origin; and how was a man to be explained unless you at
the unknown. In reality, Marner’s gold has disappeared into the least knew somebody who knew his father and mother?
stone pits, and Eppie has wandered out of the wilderness from

this false accusation, Marner holds faith that God will reveal
Related Themes:
the truth. The church “draws lots,” a technique used to single
out one individual, and Silas Marner is declared guilty.
Related Symbols: Marner’s faith is crushed by this outcome. He believes that
the drawing of lots—a seemingly “chance” event—should be
Page Number: 1 controlled by God to protect the innocent if He is a
Explanation and Analysis righteous God. It does not occur to Marner that the odds
may have been manipulated against him by his suspicious
Silas Marner is primarily set in the rural village of Raveloe in
friend.
England in the early 1800s. This setting defines the
character of the people who inhabit Raveloe—inclined to Marner’s angry renouncement of God as “a God of lies”
suspicion of differences, uneasy with change, and causes him to lose popularity among the congregation, who
entrenched in their regular lives. Because travel is difficult also believes him to be a thief. Effectively cast out from his
and social circles are small, the unfamiliar is rare, but when community, Marner sees no choice but to find a new place
it appears—even in the form of a traveling peddler or knife- to live. However, when he settles in Raveloe, he does not
grinder—it is met with suspicion. This passage captures the rejoin a community, but keeps to himself. His faith in God
mood of the people of Raveloe toward outsiders and connected him to other humans. It gave him something to
explains why Silas Marner, who moves there from Lantern live for and made him happily seek fellowship with others,
Yard, is a social outcast and an oddity. Silas Marner’s job as a so without faith, Marner becomes a loner.
weaver leads to a solitary existence consumed by work, and
his limited interactions with the other villagers categorize His life had reduced itself to the functions of weaving and
him as the type of “intermittent” visitor who is regarded hoarding, without any contemplation of an end towards
with suspicion. which the functions tended. The same sort of process has
This thinking among the villagers is explained by their perhaps been undergone by wiser men, when they have been
sedentary lives over generations. In this small community, cut off from faith and love—only, instead of a loom and a heap
every person is accounted for because their home has of guineas, they have had some erudite research, some
always been in Raveloe, as was their parents’ before them. A ingenious project, or some well-knit theory.
man is “explained” when his parentage is known. This
sentiment is partly humorous, as Eliot asks these rhetorical
Related Characters: Silas Marner
questions ironically, but she also emphasizes that one’s
parentage defines one’s situation and identity in a small Related Themes:
village like Raveloe. Social classes and occupations are taken
for granted and passed on through the generations, leaving Page Number: 15
little room for individuality or escape.
Explanation and Analysis
Isolated from his fellow human beings, Silas Marner’s life
“…there is no just God that governs the earth righteously, consists of working and hoarding his gold, but without any
but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent.” long-term goal in mind. The actions themselves consume
him, and he covets his gold, not because he has dreams of
things to buy or build, but because he takes satisfaction in
Related Characters: Silas Marner (speaker) the gold itself. This process is described as an unhealthy
one. His life has been “reduced” from something better.
Related Themes:
This passage also universalizes Marner’s experiences by
Page Number: 9 commenting that this same process has been “undergone by
wiser men” who have latched onto “some erudite research.”
Explanation and Analysis “Erudite” means “highly studied,” and so Eliot is here
Silas Marner’s grim beginnings in Lantern Yard explain his referring to scholars who have committed
move to rural Raveloe. In Lantern Yard, the young man was themselvesexclusivelyto research andstudy. This has
a respected and well-loved member of his community and isolated them from the world, a life they have chosen when
congregation until he was accused of stealing church funds. they have been “cut off from faith and love.” This shows that
His accuser was his closest friend William Dane. Despite faith and love are what connect humans to others. Without

these things, one focuses intensely on isolating projects, be that he has married an "unsuitable" woman. Molly Farren’s
they research or labor. unsuitability for Godfrey is defined by the expectations of
Throughout the novel, Marner’s relationship with others in society, who assumes Godfrey will marry a rich and
his community is key. He is ostracized from his community fashionable woman of his class. Molly is unsuitable because
in Lantern Yard, and that separation from others is directly of her low social class and “drunken” behavior.
linked to a loss of both faith in God and faith in the goodness
of other people. This passage highlights this cause and
effect relationship: loss of love and faith leads to isolation. His [Godfrey’s] natural irresolution and moral cowardice
The novel demonstrates that the reverse is also true: finding were exaggerated by a position in which dreaded
love and faith connects an individual with others. consequences seemed to press equally on all sides, and his
irritation had no sooner provoked him to defy Dunstan and
anticipate all possible betrayals, than the miseries he must
Chapter 3 Quotes bring on himself by such a step seemed more unendurable to
“I might tell the Squire how his handsome son was married him than the present evil.
to that nice young woman, Molly Farren, and was very unhappy
because he couldn't live with his drunken wife, and I should slip Related Characters: Godfrey Cass, Dunstan Cass
into your place as comfortable as could be.”
Related Themes:
Related Characters: Dunstan Cass (speaker), Squire Cass,
Page Number: 21
Godfrey Cass
Related Themes:
Godfrey’s character and his circumstances contribute to his
Page Number: 20 problematic moral dilemma. He is torn between defying
Dunstan (in which case Dunstan would reveal his secret
Explanation and Analysis marriage and child) and obeying Dunstan (because the
Godfrey’s younger brother Dunstan is aware of Godfrey’s consequences of that reveal would be “unendurable”). This
secret: Godfrey is married to an unsuitable woman from a passage characterizes Godfrey as having “natural
low social class, and the two have a little daughter. Dunstan irresolution,” meaning he is bad at making and sticking with
holds this information over Godfrey’s head and repeatedly decisions, and “moral cowardice,” meaning that he is afraid
threatens to reveal his secret. In this way, he is able to of doing what’s right if this will hurt him. His character is not
blackmail Godfrey and control Godfrey’s actions. In this solely to blame for this indecision. His situation is one in
passage, Dunstan points out that if he were to reveal which “dreaded consequences seemed to press equally on
Godfrey’s secret, he would “slip into” Godfrey’s “place as all sides.” This means that Godfrey sees both his
comfortable as could be.” Dunstan, as the younger brother, alternatives—defying Dunstan and obeying Dunstan—as
is not the primary heir of his father’s estate and fortune. horrible. He describes defiance as bringing about miseries
Social class and societal traditions have strongly influenced and his current situation as “the present evil.” Therefore, he
Dunstan and Godfrey’s relationship, because of the legal isn’t inclined to choose one way or the other.
and cultural practice of making the firstborn child the This passage shows how Godfrey’s personality, which is one
primary heir. Dunstan’s power over Godfrey is not only of irresolution, is exacerbated by his situation, which has no
social, but financial. Godfrey be shamed and embarrassed if happy options. Throughout the novel, characters’ lives and
Dunstan revealed his secret (and prevented from marrying situations are impact by their personalities and moral
Nancy, who he loves), and he would also lose his source of choices. Godfrey’s situation is made worse by his indecisive
income and inheritance. personality, which seems to have led him into such a
This power dynamic between the brothers shows how predicament to begin with. He isn’t able to acknowledge
society impacts the lives of individuals. Losing the good Molly as his wife, and he isn’t able to cast her out of his life
opinion of society could change Godfrey’s life. One reason completely. This moral irresolution causes him to remain in
why Godfrey would lose the respect of others and his a situation in which he lives in fear of his secret being
inheritance from his father if his secret were revealed is discovered.

Chapter 4 Quotes Chapter 5 Quotes

If the weaver was dead, who had a right to his money? Was it a thief who had taken the bags? Or was it a cruel
Who would know where his money was hidden? Who would power that no hands could reach, which had delighted in
know that anybody had come to take it away? He [Dunstan] went making him [Silas Marner] a second time desolate?
no farther into the subtleties of evidence: the pressing
question, "Where is the money?" now took such entire
possession of him as to make him quite forget that the weaver's
death was not a certainty. A dull mind, once arriving at an Related Themes:
inference that flatters a desire, is rarely able to retain the
impression that the notion from which the inference started Related Symbols:
was purely problematic. And Dunstan's mind was as dull as the
mind of a possible felon usually is. Page Number: 35

Related Characters: Dunstan Cass (speaker), Silas Marner
Silas Marner is robbed of all the gold he’d hidden beneath
Related Themes: the floorboards. Although the way this happens is traced by
the plot of the novel and revealed to the reader, Marner is at
Related Symbols: a loss to explain how his gold has disappeared. This robbery
seems particularly mysterious to Marner because his gold is
Page Number: 30-31 well-concealed, yet someone went directly to the spot,
removed the floorboards, and cleared away all the gold.
Explanation and Analysis Marner first wonders if it was a thief who took the gold, and
Dunstan arrives at Silas Marner’s cottage with a plan to ask then wonders if it was “a cruel power” set against his
the weaver for a loan because he has heard tell of the man’s unhappiness. This procession of thinking, from practical
wealth. When he arrives, however, the door is unlatched. explanation to fantastical explanation, shows what happens
Dunstan wonders if Marner could have slipped into the when something unbelievable occurs. Marner is quick to
stone pits outside his hut, as the weather is so foggy. believe in God or god-like beings when something beyond
Immediately, his mind jumps from speculation about rational explanation occurs. Human knowledge is limited, in
Marner’s death to questions about his money. This the time period of this novel and today.
progression of thinking is here attributed to Dunstan’s “dull Marner repeatedly experiences events beyond his
mind.” The narrator argues that a dull mind is inclined to understanding and reaches for a supernatural explanation.
latch onto an inference if this inference “flatters a desire.” In He loses his faith in a benevolent God, but continues to ask,
other words, if an inference, or guess, is made that seems as he does here, about the existence of a cruel power that is
favorable, the dull-minded thinker doesn’t stop to question negatively targeting him. This understanding of “morality” is
the guess, but runs with that hypothetical situation. It is one that is unpredictable and irrational. Marner doesn’t
easy for Dunstan to forget that he only “guessed” Marner believe he has done anything to deserve his two losses—his
might be dead. The questions that follow from this guess lost position in Lantern Yard and his lost money—therefore,
help Dunstan justify taking the money. it must be some cruel power that is targeting him without
This is an interesting moral dilemma. Dunstan is not acting reason. Actually, in both cases, another person has taken
in full awareness, as he doesn't take the money while certain advantage of Marner—William Dane who accused him and
that Marner is alive. Instead, he convinces himself of the Dunstan who robbed him—and yet it could also be argued
reasonableness of taking the money, forgetting that Marner that these humans were just the instruments of Fate or
might not be dead. This is attributed to his “dull mind” which God.
is “as dull as the mind of a possible felon usually is.” This
shows a consistency among a type of person—a possible
felon—someone who might be capable of small scale crime
and cruelty, but isn’t always a criminal. In other words,
Dunstan’s weakness inclines him to criminal activity, if the
opportunity presents itself.

Chapter 8 Quotes
Related Characters: Godfrey Cass, Squire Cass
Mr. Snell gradually recovered a vivid impression of the
effect produced on him by the peddler’s countenance and Related Themes:
conversation. He had a “look with his eye” which fell
unpleasantly on Mr. Snell's sensitive organism. To be sure, he Page Number: 59
didn't say anything particular—no, except that about the tinder-
box—but it isn't what a man says, it's the way he says it. Explanation and Analysis
Moreover, he had a swarthy foreignness of complexion which Godfrey Cass reflects on his father's indulgent treatment of
boded little honesty. him, and the fact that it's difficult for Godfrey to imagine
confessing the truth about his marriage because of this
upbringing. The Squire won’t hesitate to punish his son if he
Related Characters: Mr. Snell (speaker)
learns the truth, but his treatment of his older son has
Related Themes: always been without regular discipline and according to the
anger and whims of the father.
Related Symbols: In this passage, Godfrey’s character, one of “weakness,” is
attributed to the failings of his father in raising him without
Page Number: 50 discipline. The narrator assigns blame to Squire Cass as a
poor parent. A good parent understands that indulgence is
Explanation and Analysis not kindness, and that discipline is required for healthy
In a rare appeal to his fellow men, Silas Marner goes to the development. This idea of parenting is considered and
local pub for help after he is robbed. The villagers of reworked later in the novel when Marner and Dolly
Raveloe offer their advice, which ranges from suggestions Winthrop discuss Eppie’s upbringing. Notably, Godfrey is
of supernatural interference to suspicion of an unknown also blaming his father. Godfrey, because of his weak
peddler who traveled through Raveloe. In this passage, Mr. character, always looks outside himself for solutions to his
Snell remembers several things about this peddler that problems. He blames his father, rather than taking
make him an object of suspicion in the eyes of the villages. responsibility for his actions. He wants to marry Nancy
These suspicious traits reveal the xenophobia of the because she will keep him on the right track in life through
villagers, who are particularly afraid of anyone or anything her focus and goodness. His weakness of character is key in
that is different from themselves. These traits include a bringing about his unfortunate marriage, which continues to
suspicious “look with his eye” and a “swarthy foreignness of impact him for years.
complexion which boded little honesty.” The suspicion cast
on this peddler is very insubstantial. The argument against
him is the way he made Mr. Snell feel, and this is quickly Favourable Chance, I fancy, is the god of all men who
attributed to his foreignness and the darkness of his skin. follow their own devices instead of obeying a law they
The villagers of Raveloe never feel good about foreignness. believe in. Let even a polished man of these days get into a
Mr. Snell goes so far as to acknowledge that the peddler position he is ashamed to avow, and his mind will be bent on all
didn’t say anything particularly suspicious, so there is no the possible issues that may deliver him from the calculable
real evidence against him. Furthermore, he must “gradually results of that position.
recover” the impression the man made on him, which shows
that he is talking himself into his suspicions the longer he
Related Characters: Godfrey Cass
contemplates the peddler's foreignness. The villagers are
much happier to suspect a foreigner than one of their own.
Related Themes:
Page Number: 60
Chapter 9 Quotes
He [Godfrey Cass] was not likely to be very penetrating in
his judgments, but he had always had a sense that his father's This passage universalizes Godfrey’s experience as he
indulgence had not been kindness, and had had a vague longing hopes for a resolution to his terrible marriage to Molly.
for some discipline that would have checked his own errant Because Godfrey is ashamed of his secret relationship, and
weakness and helped his better will. he cannot resolve this situation through his own actions
either by confessing or persuading Dunstan to keep the

secret, he hopes for a chance occurrence that will rescue that “if any help came to him it must come from without.”
him. The voice of the narrator appears in this passage with Therefore, the loss of Marner’s gold is not a bad thing,
an “I” voice and an opinion. Normally, Silas Marner focuses although Marner sees it that way. The reader definitively
on the thoughts and actions of the characters, but learns in this passage that the gold was blocking Marner
occasionally it pauses to provide more universal reflections from focusing on connection with other people.
from the narrator. Marner now begins to feel “expectation” at the sight of
In this universal reflection, the narrator points out that it others and has a sense of “dependence on their goodwill.”
naturally follows that if a person is in an undesirable This shows that his faith in other people has never been
situation, he will focus irrationally on events that could completely lost. Despite his anger and bitterness after his
allow him to escape without consequences. This is notable dramatic departure from Lantern Yard, he is still somewhat
because it presents a counterpoint to the idea highlighted in inclined to believe in the goodness of others. Without his
other parts of this novel that one’s character determines gold blocking his view, he is able to see the importance of
one’s fate. In much of this book, good characters bring other people in his life.
happiness into their lives through their kindness, and weak
characters make mistakes and poor choices that continue to
haunt them. This passage acknowledges that even a Chapter 12 Quotes
“polished man”—one of wealth, good social standing, and
Molly knew that the cause of her dingy rags was not her
(presumably) good character—would rely too much on
husband's neglect, but the demon Opium to whom she was
chance if he were in a situation like Godfrey’s. Even good
enslaved, body and soul, except in the lingering mother's
characters are inclined to look outside themselves for help,
tenderness that refused to give him her hungry child. She knew
to rely on chance, when their poor circumstances seem
this well; and yet, in the moments of wretched unbenumbed
beyond their control.
consciousness, the sense of her want and degradation
transformed itself continually into bitterness towards Godfrey.
Formerly, his [Silas Marner’s] heart had been as a locked He was well off; and if she had her rights she would be well off
casket with its treasure inside; but now the casket was too.
empty, and the lock was broken. Left groping in darkness, with
his prop utterly gone, Silas had inevitably a sense, though a dull Related Characters: Molly Farren, Godfrey Cass
and half-despairing one, that if any help came to him it must
come from without; and there was a slight stirring of Related Themes:
expectation at the sight of his fellow-men, a faint consciousness
of dependence on their goodwill. Page Number: 90

Molly Farren sets out one winter night to find Godfrey and
Related Themes: reveal the truth of their connection. She is motivated by
bitterness, because Godfrey is enjoying an extravagant
lifestyle at his father’s house and she is living in poverty.
Related Symbols:
This passage captures both Molly’s rational understanding
Page Number: 67 of her situation and her emotional understanding of her
situation. From a rational point of view, Molly knows that
Explanation and Analysis she is poor because of her opium addiction. Her money goes
When Silas Marner loses his gold, the loss shakes him out of toward acquiring the drug. But when she is sober, when she
a routine pattern for his daily life. This change is described feels wretched “unbenumbed consciousness,” she feels
with the simile of a locked casket. Marner’s heart was bitter toward Godfrey because she sees her poverty in
“locked” because it was focused only on the gold inside. contrast to his wealth.
Without the gold, the casket (his heart) is empty. The gold is Her bitterness is not without some foundation, however, as
described in this passage as Marner’s “prop,” the thing he she points out that “if she had her rights” she would be
relied on every day. Because of this dramatic shift in his wealthy like Godfrey. By this she means that if Godfrey
focus from the gold to the absence of the gold, Marner were to acknowledge her as his wife, she would be entitled
thinks for the first time about his fellow humans. He feels

Chapter 13 Quotes
to his wealth. Although Godfrey provides for wife and
daughter, Molly sees that this is different than how he Godfrey felt a great throb: there was one terror in his
would treat a different woman. Her bitterness is a rebellion mind at that moment: it was, that the woman might not be dead.
against social classism. She wants to be treated the same That was an evil terror—an ugly inmate to have found a
way as any other woman married to Godfrey would be nestling-place in Godfrey's kindly disposition; but no
treated. Molly’s situation is partly in her control and partly disposition is a security from evil wishes to a man whose
beyond her control, but her choice to link herself to Godfrey happiness hangs on duplicity.
leads to her perpetual unhappiness.
Related Characters: Silas Marner, Molly Farren
[Silas Marner] was stooping to push his logs together, Related Themes:
when, to his blurred vision, it seemed as if there were gold
Page Number: 96
on the floor in front of the hearth. Gold!—his own
gold—brought back to him as mysteriously as it had been taken Explanation and Analysis
away!
Silas Marner finds Molly's body outside his hut and rushes
to Squire Cass’s party in search of the doctor. Godfrey
Related Characters: Silas Marner overhears the news and hurries with the doctor, Mrs.
Winthrop, and Silas Marner to inspect the woman. Godfrey
Related Themes: waits outside Marner’s hut in great agitation as the doctor
cares for Molly. He wonders as he waits if she is really dead,
Related Symbols: and he feels terror at the thought that she might not be.
This passage explains Godfrey’s terror as the natural
Page Number: 93 consequence of his circumstance, which has twisted his
heart and mind enough that he wishes for another person's
death. His wish arises from a desire to protect himself and
In this scene, Silas Marner finds the baby Eppie sleeping on his happiness. If Molly is dead, Godfrey's secret dies with
his hearth. The proximity of the sleeping child to the place her.
he used to hide his gold, and the similar color between the
This passage describes how such a cruel thought could arise
gold and the hair of the child leads to his confusion. This
from the mind of a man like Godfrey, who is weak of
reaction shows Marner’s focus on his gold, which he
character, but kind. Eliot universalizes Godfrey’s
immediately thinks of when confronted with the same color
experience, pointing out that any man who is living a
on his hearth. Marner’s mistake strongly links Eppie and the
duplicitous life will succumb to evil when it is necessary to
gold in more ways than one, however. In addition to their
maintain the duplicity his happiness is based on. For
similarities, and the precious role they play in Marner’s life,
Godfrey to be happy, he must wish for Molly’s death. If he
both the gold and Eppie disappear and appear without an
had never gotten himself into this situation, Godfrey would
easily understandable explanation. The child appears “as
never have been the type of person who wished any ill on
mysteriously” as the gold was “taken away.” As with the
another being.
disappearance of the gold, the appearance of Eppie is
explained to the reader, but not to Marner. Although it
seems unlikely that the child would have been left near Thought and feeling were so confused within him [Silas
Marner’s cottage and would have wandered inside, it is Marner], that if he had tried to give them utterance, he
possible. To Marner, however, it seems impossible that this could only have said that the child was come instead of the
child could have appeared without some influence from a gold—that the gold had turned into the child.
divine power. Therefore, the mysterious nature of the gold's
departure and the child's arrival further contributes to
Related Characters: Silas Marner, Eppie
Marner’s sense that Eppie has replaced the gold in a
spiritual sense. Related Themes:
Related Symbols:

Page Number: 103 community.

The people of Raveloe's dramatic change shows that the
Explanation and Analysis opinions of society play a critical role in the relationship
As seen before, Silas Marner sees a strong connection between society and the individual. If the individual is
between the gold he has lost and the child he has found. mistrusted, he is cast out. If the individual is well-liked, he is
Their physical similarities (gold color and golden hair), their embraced as part of the group. This can be either logical or
mysterious disappearance and arrival, and their location illogical. Marner deserves the respect of the villagers for
near his hearth, link the two in his mind. The timing of the taking care of Eppie. On the other hand, Marner was falsely
loss of one and discovery of the other also leads Marner to accused in Lantern Yard and public opinion turned against
have many confusing thoughts and feelings. He is him without good reason.
devastated by the loss of his gold, which was the only thing
he held dear to his heart. The child fills the gap left by the
By seeking what was needful for Eppie, by sharing the
gold, and, as the novel shows, takes up her place in Marner’s
effect that everything produced on her, he [Silas Marner]
heart in a more meaningful way.
had himself come to appropriate the forms of custom and belief
In this passage, Marner understands the loss of the gold and which were the mould of Raveloe life; and as, with reawakening
the arrival of the child as less of a replacement and more of sensibilities, memory also reawakened, he had begun to ponder
a transformation. He thinks, “the gold had turned into the over the elements of his old faith, and blend them with his new
child.” This transformation is his way of explaining impressions, till he recovered a consciousness of unity between
something that is beyond his ability to understand. Instead his past and present.
of thinking about a cruel power that is bringing him
unhappiness, Marner is considering a fantastical
transformation that isn’t one of loss and gain, but one of Related Characters: Eppie, Silas Marner
change. He is reworking his bitter understanding of the loss
Related Themes:
of his gold, as he grows to believe that he hasn’t lost the
gold, only that it has changed into something far better.
Related Symbols:
Page Number: 118

“…the little child had come to link him [Silas Marner] once
more with the whole world.” Explanation and Analysis
Silas Marner loves Eppie and seeks out everything that is
Related Characters: Silas Marner, Eppie best for her, and, in the process, his personality changes
from one of cold isolation into one who participates in the
Related Themes: “forms of custom and belief” in Raveloe. This has the effect
of helping Marner fit into Raveloe and become a part of the
Page Number: 110 community. It also has the effect of restoring Marner to
something like the person he was before his first hardship
Explanation and Analysis (his expulsion from Lantern Yard). This earlier person was a
When Silas Marner takes in the little orphaned child, the man of faith, and faith is one thing Marner regains as he
villagers of Raveloe gain a new interest in Marner and grow raises Eppie and becomes part of Raveloe society. Marner
to see him in a new light. The once-frightening weaver is must recover elements of his “old faith” and “blend them
approachable with the little girl at his side. Mothers from with his new impressions.” This integration of the old and
the village come to Marner with help and advice. The child the new is important because it allows Marner to see his
gives the people of Raveloe a reason to reach out to Marner, episode as an isolated weaver as an interruption in a
in addition to a new understanding of him as a kind-hearted, connected past and present. He is not meant to be that sad
if lonely, soul. Therefore, it is through Eppie that Marner is and isolated person forever. He regains his natural care for
once again “linked” with “the whole world.” This transition others and the faith he had as a young man.
presents a parallel (yet opposite) transition to Marner's Notably, part of Marner’s transformation involves taking on
departure from Lantern Yard. There Marner severed ties the “mould of Raveloe life.” Not only does he become part of
with the world because others saw him as a threat. He was a community, but he adjusts himself to specific traits and
seen as a thief and a liar and he was cut off from his ideas of that community. This is later very apparent when

Eppie and Marner visit Lantern Yard. Both miss the ways of Related Characters: Silas Marner (speaker), Godfrey Cass
life in Raveloe to which they are accustomed.
Related Themes:
Chapter 18 Quotes Page Number: 141
“Everything comes to light, Nancy, sooner or later. When Explanation and Analysis
God Almighty wills it, our secrets are found out.” Godfrey and Nancy explain the biological connection
between Godfrey and Eppie to Silas Marner and the girl.
Related Characters: Godfrey Cass (speaker), Nancy They state their wish to adopt Eppie and to give her a better
Lammeter (that is, upper-class) than the life she has with Marner.
Marner is very upset by this, because he loves Eppie as his
Related Themes: own child. He speaks of losing Eppie as the same as taking
his heart out of his body. His emotions show clearly how
Page Number: 135 much he cares for the girl, especially in contrast to
Godfrey’s measured arguments.
Marner is upset because he loves Eppie, but he also offers
Godfrey finally finds the strength to confess the truth about
compelling arguments for why Godfrey doesn’t ethically
Molly and Eppie to his wife Nancy. This strength is born of
deserve to take his child. Marner points out that Godfrey
the shame he feels when Dunstan’s body is found at the
“turned his back upon her” with full knowledge of the
bottom of the stone pits with Silas Marner’s stolen gold. As
identity and whereabouts of his daughter. This means that
he begins to explain his secrets to Nancy, he starts with this
Godfrey has no right to her. In contrast, Marner has taken
proclamation: that everything hidden is at some point
her in and cared for her, and, therefore, she is his in God’s
revealed. He sees the hand of God in what has happened to
eyes. Marner’s faith is an important part of his claim on
Dunstan. Despite the long time his brother was missing, the
Eppie, because he believes her to have come into his life
truth of his cruelty in robbing a lonely man is finally
through God’s will. Marner expands his point to say that any
revealed. The chance events that led to this secret coming
blessing a man turns from his door can be claimed by
to light convince Godfrey that all secrets are eventually
anyone who will take it in. This is a sort of “finders keepers”
revealed, and he had better not tempt fate by continuing to
argument. The language of ownership in this passage may
lie.
be startling to a modern reader, as each man claims Eppie is
This is a change for Godfrey, who once struggled to confess "his." Marner argues that belonging is defined by care, and
his secrets, but always failed. Godfrey has clearly grown as a Godfrey argues that belonging is defined by biological
person, although he has not entirely changed. His willful connection.
plan to adopt Eppie, regardless of Marner’s wishes, shows
that he is still self-focused. But he has a new faith and
understanding of God, and he sees events as the products
“…but repentance doesn't alter what's been going on for
of God’s will. Where once he relied on chance to save him,
sixteen year.”
knowing no other way, now he actively engages with the
idea of a God who controls events. Nancy has a very strong
faith and seems to have influenced her husband’s thinking Related Characters: Silas Marner (speaker)
and character, as Godfrey once hoped that his father could
have more positively shaped his character. Related Themes:
Page Number: 141

“…then, sir, why didn't you say so sixteen year ago, and
claim her before I'd come to love her, i'stead o' coming to Explanation and Analysis
take her from me now, when you might as well take the heart Godfrey says that he wants to adopt Eppie to repent for his
out o' my body? God gave her to me because you turned your past wrongdoings, but Marner argues that repentance
back upon her, and He looks upon her as mine: you've no right cannot change the past. Godfrey has ignored Eppie and his
to her! When a man turns a blessing from his door, it falls to responsibility to her every day for sixteen years. At any
them as take it in.” point he could have chosen to care for his daughter. He
does finally do so, but it happens sixteen years too late.

Forgiveness and repentance are important concepts in scot-free from any blame for his misdeeds. Now, he is more
religious faith. Marner, unlike God, is not interested in willing to bear the burden of living childless after having
granting forgiveness for Godfrey’s wrongdoing. He sees the chosen to reject a biological child. Despite this new
choice that Godfrey made as irreversible. And in many ways understanding of God’s will, Godfrey is as ready as ever to
he's right: there is no way Godfrey can turn back time and play the victim, rather than to take responsibility. His
spend sixteen years devoted to his growing child. During imperfect character ends the book in imperfect happiness, a
that time, Eppie has found a family in Silas Marner and in prime example of the book’s "moral" lesson.
the villagers of Raveloe who move in different social circles
than the wealthy Godfrey and Nancy.
This passage shows that choices have long-term Chapter 21 Quotes
consequences, and also that the novel as a whole provides “It's gone, child," he [Silas Marner] said, at last, in strong
moral justice. Characters suffer or benefit from choices they agitation—“Lantern Yard's gone. It must ha' been here, because
make, and repentance does not always alter these here's the house with the o'erhanging window—I know
outcomes. Godfrey continues to suffer because he ignored that—it's just the same; but they've made this new opening; and
his daughter for sixteen years, and he cannot change his see that big factory! It's all gone—chapel and all.”
past choices through present action.
Related Characters: Silas Marner (speaker), Eppie
Chapter 20 Quotes Related Themes:
“She thinks I did wrong by her mother as well as by her.
She thinks me worse than I am. But she must think it: she can Related Symbols:
never know all. It's part of my punishment, Nancy, for my
daughter to dislike me.” Page Number: 148

Related Characters: Godfrey Cass (speaker), Molly Farren,
Even though Silas Marner’s life has been changed for the
Godfrey Cass, Eppie, Nancy Lammeter
better because of Eppie, he still feels unease about his past
Related Themes: in Lantern Yard. He wonders if his name was ever cleared
from the crime for which he was blamed. Seeking answers
Page Number: 146 to these questions, Marner and Eppie visit Lantern Yard,
only to discover that the town has grown into a city and has
Explanation and Analysis been completely transformed by the Industrial Revolution.
After Godfrey and Nancy fail to convince Eppie to live with A big factory has replaced the local chapel and the
them, Godfrey reflects on Eppie’s dislike of him. He is community where Marner lived. Despite these changes,
troubled by Eppie’s refusal, which is the reason the couple Marner recognizes the location by a house with a distinct
agrees to leave the girl with her adoptive father. Godfrey overhanging window. This confirms for him that the place
says that he knows Eppie blames him for what he did to her, he once knew, and the people he knew there, are gone.
as well as to her mother. He thinks that Eppie’s opinion of This dramatic change shows a contrast between Raveloe
him is too harsh, but resigns himself to this fact because it is and Lantern Yard. In the rural village, little has changed over
part of his “punishment.” Godfrey’s odd opinion shows both the course of the book, but Lantern Yard is transformed.
his inherently selfish nature, as well as the ways he has This transformation heralds the beginning of the Industrial
begun to repent for his past actions. He is reluctant to think Revolution, which will affect even rural places like Raveloe.
ill of himself, and, as usual, pushes the blame off onto This historical context for the novel hints at the changes
another person. He thinks Eppie is too harsh because she that England will face in the near future, which exist
“can never know all” of what he’s been through. But, at the ominously in relationship to the villagers of Raveloe’s fear of
same time, he is more willing to accept Eppie’s opinion than change.
he once would have been. He sees her opinion as fate, or the
Although Marner once defined himself in relationship to
will of God. It is inevitable that she dislike him because of his
society in Lantern Yard, this society is gone—and Marner
past actions.
remains. Society is not more permanent than the individual,
At one point, Godfrey would have been happy to escape

“Since the time the child was sent to me and I've come to
but is always in flux. Yet the consistency and familiarity of love her as myself, I've had light enough to trusten by; and
Raveloe also offers comfort and security to both Marner now she says she'll never leave me, I think I shall trusten till I
and Eppie. Marner is eager to return home after visiting die.”
Lantern Yard—similarly, Eppie didn’t want to live with
Godfrey and Nancy because it would mean leaving the
Related Characters: Silas Marner (speaker), Eppie
comfort of Marner's familiar society.
Related Themes:
“It's the will o' Them above as a many things should be dark Page Number: 149
to us; but there's some things as I've never felt i' the dark
about, and they're mostly what comes i' the day's work. You
were hard done by that once, Master Marner, and it seems as Marner tells Mrs. Winthrop that Eppie has changed his life
you'll never know the rights of it; but that doesn't hinder there because she brought light enough for him to “trusten by.”
being a rights, Master Marner, for all it's dark to you and me.” This idea of light and trust is two-fold. First, Marner is
continuing a metaphor Mrs. Winthrop began earlier in their
conversation when she referred to some things that are
Related Characters: Dolly Winthrop (speaker), Silas “dark” to humans: things we cannot explain or understand.
Marner On the other hand, those things that are "light" to us are so
clear and obvious that they will never be questioned. Silas
Related Themes:
Marner feels this way about his love for Eppie. Marner also
Page Number: 149 gains a newfound trust in God and in humanity because of
Eppie’s presence in his life. Her love showed him the value
Explanation and Analysis of companionship and the value of being part of the society
Marner discusses the changes he saw in Lantern Yard with of Raveloe, and seemed to show him that a benevolent God
Dolly Winthrop after he returns to Raveloe. He worries that brought Eppie to him in the first place.
he will never know whether the truth of his false accusation
was uncovered. Mrs. Winthrop comforts Marner by
pointing out that there are some things that will never be Part 2, Conclusion Quotes
known to humans, but this shouldn’t impact the things that “…he [Silas Marner had brought a blessing on himself by
are certainties in our lives. Mrs. Winthrop speaks of the will acting like a father to a lone motherless child.”
of “them above” that keeps humans in the dark. This
attributes omniscience to God (or gods), while pointing out
that some things will always be mysterious to humans. This
view encourages Marner to accept those things he cannot
Related Themes:
know about or change. On the other hand, Mrs. Winthrop
says that she never feels confusion about what “comes in Page Number: 151
the day’s work.” She knows the things in her daily life and
she feels contented with what she knows. This furthers her Explanation and Analysis
argument that there is value in accepting the limitations of The villagers of Raveloe praise Marner for his kindness in
human knowledge. It is enough to know small-scale things. taking in Eppie years earlier. This praise directly links
Mrs. Winthrop also points out that just because Marner Marner’s act of kindness to his own good fortune years
doesn’t know something doesn’t mean that the right thing down the road. Because he was a father to an orphaned
hasn’t happened in the world. Only “them above” can see child, he has “brought a blessing on himself.” This statement
and understand the big picture, and “the right thing” may be supposes that one’s actions have direct and long-term
happening in the big picture even if Marner cannot see and consequences in one's life. As a whole, this novel upholds
understand how it is happening. Perhaps God has a reason this idea, as good characters meet good ends, bad
for Marner never discovering the truth about his past in characters meet bad ends, and morally ambiguous
Raveloe, even if this reason isn’t clear to Marner. characters have mixed ends to their narratives. This gives
the novel a moral tone, as it presents a lesson about the way
decisions continue to influence one’s life for years to come.
It also relies on a sense of trust that, despite bumps along

the way, people who hold onto their faith and act out of of chance occurrences—actions and character traits are
kindness are blessed. The world of this novel is not a world rewarded or punished according to moral standards.

SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.
CHAPTER 1
In the early 1800s, when spinning wheels were popular in The occupation of weaving is shown to be both a job and a way of
farmhouses and prosperous houses alike, solitary men traveled life that separates the weaver from regular society. The weaver
across the English countryside, seeking work as weavers. often must travel during a time period in which traveling was
Inhabitants of small towns were wary of strangers such as difficult, and, therefore, rare. Rural villagers mistake hard-earned
these weavers, suspicious of anyone or anything from a world skills for evil powers, which emphasizes the backwardness and
not within their direct experience. Any intelligence or skill isolation of these communities.
possessed by a man was seen as further evidence of his
foreignness, or, worse, communion with evil forces.
One linen weaver, named Silas Marner, resides in a cottage Silas Marner’s occupation as a weaver requires him to spend long
near the village of Raveloe, beside a Stone Pit. Local boys are hours in solitary employment. His already suspicious occupation is
both fearful of and fascinated by Marner and often peek in at reinforced by his ability to use herbs to cure sickness, which was a
his windows, only to receive a gaze of disapproval from the “magic” different from prayer to God. Marner’s interaction with the
weaver, who dislikes their intrusion. The boys had heard their local boys and his ability to help others with natural remedies
fathers and mothers hint of Marner’s abilities to cure sickness, demonstrate how the villagers misconstrue his natural goodness.
no doubt acquired through demon worship. The villagers of
Raveloe, who led lives of hard work and possessed little
imagination, could not suppose that the same person could
possess uncommon skill and benevolence.
At the beginning of the story, Silas Marner has lived in Raveloe Jem Rodney’s experience with Marner’s fit both functions as an
for fifteen years. His appearance and lifestyle, fifteen years anecdote of how strange Marner appears to his fellow villagers and
earlier, had discouraged his neighbors from befriending him. To demonstrates how the villagers respond to things they don’t
the young women of the village he resembled a dead man come understand. Marner’s fits, while they could be explained medically
to life again with his pallid skin and large, near-sighted eyes. He or scientifically today, are given a spiritual explanation: his soul is
never invited callers into his home, visited no one else, and loose from his body. Marner’s characterization as a dead man
never spent time drinking at the local pub, the Rainbow. returned to life, as well as his reluctance to make friends, show his
Marner’s strangeness had been further confirmed when Jem dispassionate attitude, his loneliness, and his total lack of
Rodney discovered Marner leaning against a stile in a trance: connection with other people at this point in the book. His faith and
unresponsive, eyes staring, limbs frozen. Suddenly Marner his interest in life have died.
regained his movement and voice, said “good night,” and
departed. Some villagers claimed Marner had been in a “fit,”
while Mr. Macey, the parish clerk, argued that one in a fit
always fell down, whereas Marner’s soul had temporarily come
loose from his body.
©2020 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 19

Despite the suspicions of his neighbors, Marner’s weaving For fifteen years, Marner’s lifestyle and actions change very little,
services continue to be popular in Raveloe, and little changes but his inner life in Raveloe is severely reduced from the thriving
in public opinion of Marner, or in Marner’s personal habits, spiritual life he enjoyed in Lantern Yard. The community in Lantern
over fifteen years of life near the village. Marner’s inner life, Yard respected and admired Marner. Like the villagers of Raveloe,
however, has taken a negative turn. Before living in Raveloe, those in the church community at Lantern Yard attributed Marner’s
Marner lived in Lantern Yard, where he had been surrounded fits to spiritual causes. But instead of finding these fits strange, the
by the activity and fellowship of his community. In this churchgoers felt Marner must be blessed. Marner’s reluctance to
community, Marner had been respected as a young man with use his herbal remedies demonstrates his early faith in the power of
great promise after he had fallen into one of his “fits” during a a benevolent God.
church service. Marner held a strong respect for mystery and
for the power of prayer. He had learned the skills of healing
with herbs from his mother, but he was reluctant to apply these
skills because he believed prayer alone was sufficient for
healing.
In Lantern Yard, young Marner had a close friend named William Dane’s friendship with Silas Marner helps show Marner’s
William Dane, another promising young man who was character clearly. William Dane, unlike Marner, is completely
somewhat severe with those less pious than him. The two confident, both in his pious behavior and in his assurance of
friends frequently discussed whether or not they felt assured salvation. Marner’s tentative nature is shown in contrast. Sarah is
of their salvation after death: where William Dane was certain, fearful of Marner’s fits, and William Dane questions their divine
Silas was only hopeful and fearful. Marner was engaged to a nature. Sarah and William’s reactions show that Marner’s fits may
young woman named Sarah, and he was thankful that this inspire not only awe, but fear and concern.
engagement didn’t interfere with his continued friendship with
William Dane. After Marner’s “fit” during a church service,
however, William responded that such a fit might be a visitation
from Satan, and Sarah started to behave oddly around Marner,
exhibiting signs of dislike.
When the senior deacon of Lantern Yard became ill, the young Marner and William Dane’s decision to share shifts looking after the
men and women of the community took turns sitting by his senior deacon demonstrates their close friendship, and Marner’s
bedside. Marner and William Dane often traded off around two continued perception that they function as a team. William Dane’s
in the morning, splitting a night shift of sitting with the old man. betrayal is first evident when he doesn’t appear for his shift. When
On one such night, Marner realized that the deacon had died the senior deacon dies, Marner worries that he may have fallen into
during his shift. Marner wondered if he had briefly fallen a fit, rather than fallen asleep. Again, Marner’s fits are presented as
asleep, and looked at the clock to discover that it was four in a possible source of danger or error.
the morning and William Dane had not appeared for his shift.
Marner sought help. At six in the morning, William Dane and
the minister arrived and summoned Marner to a meeting with
the church members.
At the meeting, the minister brought out Marner’s pocketknife, William Dane frames Marner using only his borrowed pocketknife
which had been found in the deacon’s bureau, where the and the bag from the stolen money. Because Marner remembers
church money was stored but was now missing. Accused of the loaning the pocketknife to William Dane, the real criminal could be
robbery, Marner insisted, “God will clear me.” He permitted a apparent, but the church looks for divine answers to form
search of his dwelling, and William Dane discovered the bag of accusations. Marner is likewise confident that divine answers will
money behind the chest of drawers in Marner’s chamber. prove his innocence.
Marner, suddenly overwhelmed, remembered that he had
loaned his pocketknife to William Dane and never received it
back.

To determine Marner’s fate, the church community drew lots: While drawing lots relies primarily on chance, the church
an ancient practice used in The Bible of casting stones, straw, community believes the outcome will be divinely directed. When the
or objects to determine an outcome. While Marner relied on truth of Marner’s innocence is contradicted by this practice, Marner
God to demonstrate his innocence, the lots pronounced him loses his faith in any divine power. Marner’s public rebuke of William
guilty. Shaking in anger, Marner accused William Dane of Dane turns the community against him. William and Sarah’s
framing him and renounced God, accusing God of being a liar. subsequent marriage makes Marner even more of an outcast in his
The community was horrified by this blasphemy. Marner’s trust hometown (while also indicating Dane's motive in framing Marner).
in God and in other humans was broken. Sarah broke off their
engagement, and, in less than a month, Sarah married William
Dane, and Marner left Lantern Yard.
CHAPTER 2
Silas Marner discovers that his new home in Raveloe is vastly The physical details of Raveloe reveal the community’s insular
different than Lantern Yard. The familiar figures, church, nature, as well as its relationship with faith. While details describing
minister, and doctrine of Lantern Yard had been the basis of Lantern Yard include primarily the people and the religious
Marner’s faith and the presence of religion in his life. Raveloe practices, Raveloe is a farming society, where people prioritize work,
seems to Marner to be a world of country abundance in which money, and local gossip over church attendance. It is as if Marner
the villagers do not know of nor need the faith that Marner had has moved to a new world.
relied on when he lived in Lantern Yard. Therefore, Marner
feels little connection between his past life and his new
present.
Marner’s first response to his shock at his false accusation had Marner’s commitment to weaving is described as spider-like, a
been to commit himself fully to his weaving work. Once settled comparison which emphasizes the incessant nature of Marner’s
in Raveloe, he wove without thought, as if from instinct, like a weaving, and the way in which weaving is necessary to his survival.
spider. Upon completing his first project, Marner was paid in His soul has grown greedy and animalistic, and he desires only
gold, and the five guineas shone brightly in his hand. Money, in money, as a shiny object to hoard.
the past, had been the means to an end for Marner. But now,
when any end he had sought was no longer attainable, the
money itself became desirable.
One day, Marner sees the cobbler’s wife, Sally Oates, suffering Marner’s generous act for Sally Oates is a solitary kindness that
from heart disease and dropsy, which had also afflicted nearly reminds Marner of what is missing in his life since his
Marner’s mother. He brings her some foxglove to ease her pain, departure from Lantern Yard. However, this kindness does not
and through this act of charity, Marner feels emotions that he improve Marner’s relationship with his neighbors. Marner is
has not experienced since his departure from Lantern Yard. unwilling to offer other medical services, or to deceive his neighbors
Soon other villagers come to Marner's cottage seeking charms and take their payments by pretending he could help. Once again,
and herbs to cure sicknesses. Marner turns each visitor away, his attempt to do right by others results in their increased dislike.
disinclined to do anything false as he has limited ability to
provide assistance with herbal remedies. The villagers resent
his willful withholding of the skills he used to help Sally Oates,
despite their dislike of skills they believe are acquired through
devil worship.

Marner’s stash of money grows, and, with it, his desire for more The frequent, detailed descriptions of the gold reflect Marner’s
gold. He stashes his money beneath some loose bricks in the obsession that has replaced his faith. His practice of taking out the
floor under his loom. In the evenings, when his work is done, he coins to admire them, and the mutual awareness between him the
takes out the money to admire it. He begins to feel that it is coins, establishes their relationship as the type normally existing
aware of him, like a conscious being, and he would not have between two people rather than between a person and an object.
willingly given up those specific coins. He rarely fears robbery, The theft of Marner’s money is foreshadowed.
as hoarding one’s money was a common practice among
country villagers where everyone knew everyone, and no one
was inclined to run away from their village after robbing a
neighbor.
Marner’s life has withered to the solitary practices of weaving The brief story of Marner’s broken pot shows that Marner’s heart
and hoarding his gold. After twelve years in Raveloe, he is has not hardened beyond sympathetic feelings. However, these
fetching water from the well one day when he stumbles and feelings are directed at an inanimate object. Marner’s obsession
drops his earthenware pot, which breaks. The broken pot with things has replaced any connections with human beings. He
saddens Marner, and he reassembles the pieces, and stores the treats objects, primarily his gold, with the sentimentality, respect,
broken pot in his cottage as a memorial. Likewise, Marner and attention normally reserved for people.
treasures his growing pile of coins. At night, he takes them out,
counts them, spreads them out in piles, and runs his hands
through them. His thoughts linger on his coins when he
ventures outside to deliver his woven products.
CHAPTER 3
The most prominent family in Raveloe is that of Squire Cass. The Cass family, the Osgoods, and the Lammeters are wealthier
Squire Cass is one of several occupants of Raveloe who own families with a different lifestyle than those of the lowly villagers.
land, but he alone possesses the title of a squire and keeps Their extravagance is often contrasted to Silas Marner’s humble
tenants on his land who work for him. During the winter existence. Their lifestyle is not more inclined to happiness, however,
months, the richer inhabitants of Raveloe have time and leisure as Eppie’s choice at the end of the novel demonstrates.
to feast and celebrate freely and are invited to the Red House
(Squire Cass’s home) for long periods of time before moving to
Mr. Osgood’s home for further celebration.
Squire Cass’s wife died years earlier, and the Red House has At this time period, and especially in a small village like Raveloe,
lacked a woman’s touch. Likewise, Squire Cass’s two sons one’s reputation was of the utmost importance. One’s social class
appear to the people of the village to have gone astray from the determined whom one could marry. Godfrey Cass, as the son of the
properness of the Squire’s family. In particular, Squire Cass’s Squire, is an excellent match for Miss Lammeter, however, a bad
second son, Dunstan Cass, spends his time betting and reputation could cause Nancy to refuse any offer of marriage from
drinking, having been kept at home in leisure all his life. him. As the second son, Dunstan will not inherit as much as Godfrey
Recently, Godfrey Cass, the elder son, has appeared troubled (if anything at all) and his reputation is less important to maintain.
and perhaps is taking after his younger brother’s bad ways. The
village folk feel that such behavior on Godfrey’s part will cost
him the heart of a young woman, Nancy Lammeter, who has
looked favorably upon him for the past year.

Godfrey and Dunstan confront each other in the parlor of the Dunstan’s power over Godfrey is significant in several of Godfrey’s
Red House one November afternoon. Dunstan is drunk, but decisions and actions. Godfrey is willing to go to long lengths to keep
has appeared at his older brother’s summons. One of Squire his secret, rather than confessing the truth, and this often means
Cass’s tenants, Fowler, paid his rent to Godfrey, and Godfrey appeasing Dunstan. Godfrey’s inability to be honest shows his weak
loaned this money to Dunstan. Now their father is short of cash character. While the consequences of honesty would be great, he
and demands that the tenant pay him. Godfrey insists that prefers to rely on chance and hope rather than taking responsibility
Dunstan should pay him back, so he can deliver the rent money for his actions. Godfrey isn't bad; he's just weak.
to the Squire. Dunstan tells Godfrey to get the money himself
or, he threatens, he’ll reveal Godfrey’s secret marriage to a
drunken, low-class woman named Molly Farren.
When Godfrey argues that he has no money to offer in place of Godfrey’s horse Wildfire is well cared for and a far nicer horse than
the loaned rent money he gave Dunstan, Dunstan suggest that Dunstan’s own. Selling Wildfire and entrusting him to Dunstan is
he sells his horse, Wildfire. The horse could be sold the next day evidence of Godfrey’s fear of his brother’s knowledge of his secret.
at the hunt, but Godfrey protests that he is supposed to attend Wildfire demonstrates the difference between the brothers:
Mrs. Osgood’s birthday dance the next day. Dunstan teases him Dunstan is careless and Godfrey is anxious, as their treatment of
about Nancy Lammeter who will be at the dance and who Wildfire reveals.
doesn’t know of Godfrey’s secret marriage. Godfrey
desperately claims he could tell the Squire himself of his secret
marriage, so that Dunstan could no longer hold the secret as
bargaining power.
Godfrey’s naturally irresolute personality and his fear of losing In numerous scenes and passages, Godfrey Cass debates the pros
Nancy Lammeter’s affections, should his secret become known, and cons of revealing the truth himself. Godfrey is irresolute and
have stopped him from telling Squire Cass everything. He unable to commit to a strong course of action. The nature of
argues to himself that while telling the Squire would have a Godfrey’s mind is revealed through these internal debates, which
certain outcome, Dunstan’s betrayal of his secret is not certain give insight into his inner character, a unique technique in 19th
and, if he keeps silent, he may be able to avoid losing Nancy, his century literature.
claim to Squire Cass’s inheritance, and the village’s respect for
a while longer. Godfrey agrees, therefore, to let Dunstan take
Wildfire and sell the horse at the hunt the next day.
After Dunstan’s departure, Godfrey curses both his brother’s Nancy Lammeter holds a powerful position in Godfrey’s heart and
careful manipulation and his own folly for having gotten himself mind. He perceives her to be entirely good and without fault. He
into this situation. For four years, he has wooed and dreamt of thinks she is his only hope for changing his life and becoming a
Nancy Lammeter. He longs for the comfort of a domestic life better person. Such idolization of Nancy places all his hope on her
with her, having grown up in a home without the comfort and such that he doesn’t realize the need to change himself through his
orderliness he desired. He longs for the presence of Nancy individual choices.
Lammeter in his life to make the good and happy things he
prefers, rather than the sporting, drinking, and card playing
that tempt him currently.

Godfrey can only imagine one situation worse than his present Godfrey’s reliance on chance is frequently referred to throughout
one: the one he will be in when his secret marriage comes to the events of the novel. Despite many events occurring as if by fate
light. By keeping the secret, and prolonging the time until the or a divine power, Godfrey’s hesitancy and indecision is always
secret is revealed, Godfrey hopes that the chance he will be referred to as him preferring to rely on chance rather than his own
rescued by some outside event is increased. Despite his natural actions. Godfrey’s relationship with his dog demonstrates his
good humor and affection, Godfrey begins to hope for terrible dismissive attitude toward those he does not care for, including his
chance outcomes that could change his situation. As Godfrey secret wife and child.
leaves the room to go to the Rainbow, he pushes aside Snuff,
the patient spaniel, who waits for attention from her master.
Despite his disinterest, the dog loyally follows him from the
room.
CHAPTER 4
Dunstan Cass rides Wildfire to the hunt the next morning, and, Dunstan’s first noting Marner’s cottage and reflecting on the
on his way, he passes by Silas Marner’s cottage. Dunstan weaver’s supposed wealth serves as foreshadowing for his theft of
realizes that the weaver must have saved a large sum of money Marner’s money. The reader is aware that Dunstan is self-centered
and wonders why he never thought of manipulating Godfrey and spendthrift, and that he is thinking of the wealth of the weaver
into taking a loan from the old man. Such a suggestion would and hoping to manipulate Marner.
surely be agreeable to Godfrey, who would want the chance to
preserve his secret and keep his horse. But Dunstan, eager to
sell the horse and drive a bargain, continues onward.
Dunstan meets two men—Bryce and Keating—at the hunt and The buying and selling of Wildfire demonstrates Dunstan’s
tells them that he has swapped his own horse with his brother’s underhanded character. He is not forthright about his intentions to
and now owns Wildfire. The two men nevertheless discern sell the horse or about why he has his brother’s horse to sell.
Dunstan’s true purpose of selling the horse, and eventually the
bargaining concludes with Bryce agreeing to buy Wildfire upon
his safe delivery to Bryce’s stables.
Despite a fleeting thought that he should deliver the horse and Dunstan’s immediate concern upon Wildfire’s death is that others
return home, Dunstan decides to ride Wildfire on the hunting will see what happened and think poorly of him. He is focused on his
course. He pushes the horse too hard and the horse falls. own reputation, not on the waste of a high quality horse and its
Dunstan is uninjured, but Wildfire dies. Dunstan, glad that needless death.
others did not witness his mistake, decides to leave the horse
and walk home so as not to encounter anyone else.
Dunstan is unconcerned by Wildfire’s death as he plans to Dunstan carries Godfrey’s inscribed whip, a detail that will
suggest his earlier idea to Godfrey: taking a loan from Silas eventually help identify his body sixteen years later. He again
Marner. Dunstan walks toward Raveloe through the misty contemplates Marner’s money.
evening, all the while tapping Godfrey’s inscribed gold whip
that he carries.
Dunstan sees light gleaming through the mist as he nears the The light from Marner’s cottage is what guides Dunstan to the door.
Stone Pits and realizes it is the light from Marner’s cottage. As Likewise, the light encourages Eppie to follow it when her mother
he walks, Dunstan fantasizes about the bribing and threatening lies dead. Light is commonly associated with faith or goodness, and
necessary to secure a loan from Silas Marner, and he decides to Marner’s light shines into the world causing several key changes in
go speak with the weaver directly when he sees the light from his life.
his cottage. At the very least, he hopes to borrow a lantern
from the weaver.

Dunstan knocks loudly at Marner’s door only to be met with Dunstan’s assumption that the weaver may be dead is not logical or
silence. He intends to shake the door, but it swings open before supported by evidence. However, this idea leads him to the idea of
him to reveal a blazing fire in Marner’s inviting hearth. robbery. The author demonstrates the danger of assumptions and
Marner’s dinner is cooking on the fire, and Dunstan wonders if poorly founded opinions, and shows how Dunstan rationalizes his
he left for some brief errand, but slipped into the Stone Pits, way into committing crimes.
never to return. If the weaver is dead, who has a right to his
money, Dunstan ponders.
Dunstan wonders, where is the money? He does not stop to Dunstan steals the gold and tries to hurry out of the light of the
consider that Marner might not, in fact, be dead, but quickly cottage, which could reveal him in the act of theft. Again light has a
notes the one spot on the floor well covered with sand and the link to the good or the just. Dunstan’s willingness to take the gold is
marks of fingers. Dunstan lifts up the loose bricks and discovers unsurprising to the reader after the development of his
the two bags of money. Feeling a sudden dread, Dunstan underhanded, self-centered character.
hurries out of the house into the darkness. The rain and
darkness thicken as he moves quickly beyond the light from the
cottage.
CHAPTER 5
Just as Dunstan is leaving the cottage, Silas Marner is about to Silas Marner’s false sense of security in leaving his home unlocked is
return. While he had left his home and his money defenseless, the result of habit. Habits and familiarity may prevent one from
Marner is not uneasy. His feeling of security has become a seeing a potential problem. This is different than the faith in
habit, as he’s never had reason before to suspect a thief might benevolence that Marner held previously. He does not believe he is
take his gold. Marner is looking forward to a gift of cooked pork protected or looked after.
for his supper and to pouring over his treasured gold in the
evening.
Marner had ventured out earlier because he recalled he Marner’s fixation with accomplishing as much weaving as possible
needed to purchase a fine twine for the next day’s weaving leads to his evening outing. His obsession with the gold allows it to
project and didn’t want to lose time in the morning with a trip be stolen. Marner’s poor eyesight overlooks the marks of an intruder
into the village. And so he set off through the mist and rain, in his home. His nearsightedness may also represent a metaphorical
leaving his door unlocked, the latch tied to help string up his blindness to everything he is missing in life.
cooking supper. Upon entering his home, Marner’s poor
eyesight notices no difference, and he sits down to tend his
supper.
Silas Marner has lost all his faith, and his isolation has turned Marner’s reaction to losing the gold transitions from disbelief and
his power of loving onto only his gold. He decides to take out denial to incredible pain. His emotions resemble those one might
his gold before supper and admire it as he eats. He removes the experience at the loss of a loved one. He grieves for his gold, which
bricks without noticing any change and sees the empty hole. was the object of his love and attention.
Shocked and shaking, Marner at first hopes he himself moved
the gold and searches every inch of his cottage until he must
face the absence of the gold. He cries aloud, a desperate,
desolate cry.

Marner wonders suddenly if he has been robbed, but it had Marner considers the possibility of a supernatural “thief” rather
appeared to him as if the sand and the bricks had been than a robber who entered his home. Having lost faith in a
unmoved. Was it some cruel supernatural power, and not a benevolent power, he is nevertheless quick to think of a divine
human thief, who had taken his gold? His thoughts fix on Jem explanation for his loss, attributing it to some evil force. He also
Rodney as the probable thief. Jem had once lingered too long considers Jem who he suspects because of Jem's attempted
on a visit to Marner’s house, which had irritated the weaver. socializing, which Marner misunderstood and disliked.
Marner feels he must go and proclaim his loss in the village, not
so any thief can be punished, but so that he can reclaim his
property.
Marner runs to the Rainbow, which he thinks of as a place The Rainbow is the social center of Raveloe where conversation
where the most prominent people of Raveloe, and those most occurs and diverse folks gather together. In appealing to his fellow
likely to help him, pass the time. The nice parlor at the Rainbow men, Marner is rejoining society and placing some trust in the power
is dark that night, as the important townsfolk at all at Mrs. of others to help, rather than hurt, him. Need forces Marner to
Osgood’s birthday dance. The bar where the lesser townsfolk connect with other people.
gather is well occupied and Silas Marner stumbles into that
crowded room.
CHAPTER 6
The conversation is lively when Silas Marner enters, having A heated discussion between the butcher and the farrier on the
reached a pitch after a slow and quiet start to the evening. subject of a cow brings to life the world of Raveloe. The simplicity
Earlier in the evening, Mr. Snell, the landlord, had started and passion of the villagers is apparent. Mr. Snell, as the landlord, is
conversation by asking the butcher about the fine animal he’d also the instigator of conversation, community, and agreement. The
bought the previous day. The farrier asks if the animal was a red richness of these secondary characters adds depth to the novel.
Durham, a type of cow, and says he knows the only red
Durhams in the area come from Mr. Lammeter. Quickly the
discussion between butcher and farrier becomes heated.
To dispel the argument between the butcher and the farrier, Mr. Macey, as an elderly figure, brings a sense of tradition and
Mr. Snell appeals to the elderly Mr. Macey who remembers history to the Raveloe villagers gathered at the pub. The
when Mr. Lammeter’s father moved to Raveloe. Mr. Macey, generational gap between Mr. Macey and Mr. Tookey results in
tailor and parish clerk, says he prefers to let the young ones several comical struggles in which both the old and the young are
talk, and the young deputy, Mr. Tookey, taking offence, says he’s convinced they are each right.
not one to speak out of his place. Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Macey
tease Mr. Tookey about his poor singing in the choir, and
receive laughs from the whole group.
The landlord settles the disagreement among the group, as Mr. Mr. Macey’s account of Raveloe’s past adds more depth and
Macey bemoans the absence of great musicians in Raveloe, richness to the portrait of this quiet little village. His story of Mr.
when there used to be some in the village. Mr. Macey speaks Lammeter includes the Raveloe philosophy that there are events
warmly of Mr. Lammeter’s father. He reports that the man sold and reasons beyond human understanding, a viewpoint also
his own land to move to the village and rent land after his wife expressed by Dolly Winthrop.
died. While such a choice may seem odd to the villagers, Mr.
Macey notes that there are reasons for certain things that no
one knows.

Mr. Macey recounts the locally famous tale of Mr. Lammeter The anecdote of Mr. Lammeter and Miss Osgood’s wedding
the younger’s marriage to Miss Osgood. The elderly pastor, Mr. ceremony serves both as a humorous story and as a portrait of the
Drumlow, misspoke during the marriage vows, asking whether small and insular Raveloe society. A story like this one has been
the bride would take this woman for her wedded husband, and preserved and retold. Little of note or excitement must happen in
the groom would take this man for his wedded wife. No one Raveloe to give this small dramatic tale the interest and humor that
else seemed to notice the error except for Mr. Macey, the it has.
parish clerk. Mr. Macey wondered if the words themselves or
the meaning behind them had more weight in securing Mr.
Lammeter and Miss Osgood in marriage.
In confusion, Mr. Macey later, respectfully, pointed out the Raveloe villagers mean well and yet they often choose the ideas or
problem to Mr. Drumlow, only to be reassured that the opinions they find least troublesome. Mr. Macey is happy to accept
register, and not the words or the meaning, secures a marriage Mr. Drumlow’s reply and does not question its truth. The listeners in
officially. Mr. Macey’s audience in the Rainbow has listened to the Rainbow treat the tale as a local favorite.
this familiar tale with the air of hearing a favorite tune, and,
upon its conclusion, question him further about Mr.
Lammeter’s land and stables.
Mr. Macey says that if you go to Mr. Lammeter’s deserted The pub conversation moves to the topic of ghosts, further evidence
stables at night you’ll see lights and hear horses inside. The of the backwardness of thought in the village. Superstition and fear
farrier, Mr. Dowlas, is skeptical and dares anyone else to visit of the unknown holds significant sway over the uneducated
the stables with him at night. Ben Winthrop points out that villagers. And while some scoff at the idea of ghosts, others attempt
anyone else believing the ghost story would be unlikely to risk to explain their presence and who can see them. The discussion of
such a thing. Mr. Snell attempts to settle this new disagreement ghosts also sets the tone for Marner’s sudden and startling arrival.
by pointing out that some people can probably see ghosts,
while others cannot. Such ability is like the sense of smell,
which his wife has lost. She cannot smell what is right in front of
her, and the landlord says he’s never seen a ghost because he
doesn’t have the smell for them.
CHAPTER 7
Just as the farrier is scoffing again at ghosts, Silas Marner Silas Marner’s appearance in the pub like an apparition causes Mr.
appears like an apparition in the midst of the group. Everyone is Macey to reflect on his theory that Marner’s soul can come lose for
startled and Mr. Macey feels a brief triumph at this evidence to his body during a fit. A supernatural, rather than a physical or
support his theory that Marner’s soul becomes loose from his medical, explanation is given. The impressionable villagers are
body while he is in one of his fits. The landlord is the first to stunned by his appearance.
speak to Marner, who finally gasps that he has been robbed.
The landlord calls to Jem Rodney to calm Marner down, but the While Marner is perceived as a suspicious character, the villagers
young man has no interest in approaching Marner, still begin to trust him because of his obvious emotional distress. They
apprehensive of his ghostly appearance. Marner whirls on Jem do not suppose anyone could fake such emotions and trust they are
and accuses him of stealing his gold. The landlord encourages genuine. Marner’s behavior is erratic, as he wildly accuses Jem
Marner to sit down and to share his full story and the others Rodney of being the robber. But he is not entirely unaware of the
finally speak up in curiosity. At first slightly suspicious, the powerful community feeling in the Rainbow, and he responds to
others are soon convinced by Marner’s simple and apparent them.
distress as his story unfolds. Marner feels, but does not
recognize, the stirring of old feelings of faith and community as
he sits in the circle of attentive listeners.

The group at the Rainbow feels someone or something other The villagers consider, as Marner did, a supernatural explanation for
than a human thief must have completed the crime of robbery the robbery. The supernatural is, at this time period and in this
because of its perfect timing with Marner’s brief and unique community, considered as legitimate an explanation as a rational
absence from home and the appearance that nothing else had account of events, such as robbery by a passing tramp. Marner’s
been touched or changed in the cottage. Marner is urged to not realization that he has falsely accused Jem causes him to think of
point a finger at Jem Rodney, or to accuse the innocent, and his own past and reflect on injustice, perhaps softening his heart a
upon hearing this he is moved by the memory of his own false little as he realizes that he, too, can err.
accusation and apologizes to Jem. The farrier believes Marner
has been robbed by a passing tramp and points out that
Marner’s eyesight is poor and he might have overlooked
footprints or other slight disturbances.
The farrier proposes going with Marner to the constable’s The disagreement among the villagers as to who is best suited to
home, where he is ill, and asking him to appointment another serve as a deputy constable on Marner’s case is ironically
man as his temporary deputy, a role the farrier hopes to fill. The contrasted to Marner’s distress. The villagers squabble over self-
landlord is also interested in going with Marner to the importance when they should be focusing on what is best for
constable’s home, and Mr. Macey offers himself as a fitting Marner. Their good intentions are sidetracked by a trivial concern.
temporary deputy. An argument breaks out, which is once again The villagers seem incapable of talking without arguing.
resolved by the landlord. The farrier consents to go along, but
without a specific interest in being appointed deputy, and the
three set off into the rainy night.
CHAPTER 8
Godfrey Cass returns home from Mrs. Osgood’s party to find Dunstan’s absence indicates that something above and beyond the
Dunstan has not returned. His thoughts are too occupied with robbery of Marner may have occurred. The village unites around the
having seen Miss Nancy Lammeter, and despair that he cannot story of Marner’s loss. In a village where everyone knows each other
free himself from his secret wife, in order to dwell on Dunstan’s the idea of a thief is shocking and the villagers conclude that it must
absence. The next day, the whole of Raveloe is fascinated by be an outsider, and one who owned the found tinderbox. The
the story of Silas Marner’s robbery. A close examination of the villagers, like Dunstan, are not afraid to build ideas and actions
area near Marner’s cottage produces a tinderbox found in the upon poorly grounded assumptions.
mud. Many of the villagers are convinced that the tinderbox is
connected with the robbery, while others maintain that Marner
is fabricating his story or partly crazy. Mr. Macey is convinced
of supernatural intervention in Silas Marner’s robbery.
At the Rainbow, Mr. Crackenthorp (the rector). Squire Cass, The peddler who is connected with the robbery exemplifies the
and several others carry out an investigation of the tinderbox. Raveloe community’s fear of the outsider. The most incriminating
The landlord Mr. Snell, now appointed deputy constable, recalls detail that Mr. Snell can recall about the peddler is his “foreignness.”
a peddler who stopped in for a drink a month earlier and who To be foreign is nearly the same as being a criminal, in the minds of
stated that he carried a tinderbox to light his pipe. Upon further the villagers.
reflection, Mr. Snell recalls his foreignness and a certain look in
his eye, which he had disliked.
Mr. Crackenthorp asks if the peddler wore earrings. Mr. Snell The question over whether or not the peddler wore earrings
can’t recall, but as the peddler stopped at nearly every house in demonstrates the impressionable nature of the uneducated
town, the question is posed to the villagers of Raveloe. villagers. The villagers are always well intentioned, however, they
Through the power of this suggestive question being passed are strongly influenced by superstition, fear, and prejudice.
among the villagers, there are at least two who are quickly able
to declare, with certainty, that they noticed earrings in the
peddler’s ears.

Silas Marner’s memory of the peddler is generally Despite Marner’s innocuous memory of the peddler, fear of the
disappointing: he recalls the man turning away at once and not individual has escalated from his foreignness to the likelihood of him
entering his house when Marner wasn’t interested in buying being a murderer. Godfrey Cass’s lighthearted response sets him
anything. The villagers wondered that the peddler didn’t apart from the superstition and gossip of the villagers.
murder Marner because earring-wearing individuals have been
known to resort to murder. Godfrey Cass treats the matter
lightly. He recalls that the peddler was rather a merry fellow,
but his opinion is dismissed as the talk of youth.
By afternoon, Godfrey’s concern about Dunstan’s absence has Godfrey’s anxiety directs him to seek out what happened to
grown and he leaves for Batherley. He worries that perhaps Dunstan and Wildfire. He learns the truth from Bryce. Bryce and
Dunstan has vanished with the money from selling Wildfire, Godfrey’s assumption that Dunstan is unlikely to return home
only to return at the end of the month having gambled away immediately with such news indicates that Dunstan may have
everything. On the road, he runs into Bryce. Bryce reports that behaved badly before, but returned home later to escape the
he’d been planning to purchase Wildfire only to have learned Squire’s passionate, but fleeting, wrath.
that he was found dead after Dunstan rode him on the hunt.
Godfrey and Bryce suppose that Dunstan is unlikely to return
home immediately with such a bad piece of news.
Godfrey is convinced that he must now tell his father the whole Godfrey becomes briefly convinced that he must now admit the
story of loaning Dunstan the money and why he did so, or else truth of the matter to his father. He imagines the outcome of his
face Dunstan’s anger if he returns to find himself blamed by confession in the best possible light. Godfrey can only convince
their father. Godfrey thinks that he could take the blame for himself to follow the right course of action by working himself into a
spending the money himself, and so secure Dunstan’s state of determination and agitation. Telling the truth is more
continued silence, but he feels he cannot lie this much. Godfrey difficult for Godfrey than keeping the secret.
is familiar with the Squire’s unforgiving nature, but he hopes
that his confession will cause the Squire to want to hide his
secret marriage rather than turn Godfrey out of his house and
expose him.
Despite Godfrey’s conviction, he awakes the next morning When Godfrey changes his mind the next day and decides to
unable to persuade himself that he should tell the Squire appease his father and keep the secret, the reader fully feels the
everything. He feels again the inclination to rely on the chance futility of Godfrey’s attempts to convince himself and his weakness
of not being betrayed rather than to betray the secret fully of character. The reader has experienced, in detail, the internal
himself. What would be wisest, he decides, would to be try and battle of the previous day.
soften his father’s anger at Dunstan and to try to keep
everything as it had been before the loss of Wildfire and the
money.

CHAPTER 9
Godfrey rises early the next morning, and, after eating The Squire is a one-dimensional character: he does not change over
breakfast, waits for the Squire’s appearance in the parlor. The the course of the novel. His character, however, is detailed and
Squire is a slovenly man, but one who has always been aware of reveals aspects of Godfrey’s character and Raveloe society. His
his own superiority, never having interacted with men of a indulgences have contributed to his son’s indecisiveness. His
higher rank, and living among the villagers of Raveloe for his position at the top of Raveloe society means that he employs others
whole life. The Squire leads an idle life, but believes youth is the and his management impacts the lives of villagers.
time of folly in a man’s life. Godfrey tells his father that there’s
been a bad piece of luck with Wildfire. His father scoffs at his
foolishness and remarks that he is short of money, and
mentions that some of his tenants are not inclined to pay their
rent.
Godfrey tells his father that Wildfire has been killed when Godfrey reports the true story to his father, but omits the most
Dunstan rode him to the hunt. The result of this is that he significant detail: his secret marriage and Dunstan’s knowledge of it.
doesn’t have the money to repay his father. Fowler, their When Squire Cass focuses on this omission and wonders why
tenant, did pay his rent to Godfrey, but Godfrey loaned the Godfrey would give the money to Dunstan, Godfrey is startled into
money to Dunstan hoping to repay his father earlier. His father lying further rather than telling the truth. His instinct is for self-
is outraged that Godfrey would let Dunstan have the money preservation, which means hiding the truth, when he is caught by
and proclaims that there must be some lie at the bottom of this his father’s question.
situation. With sudden perception, the Squire accuses Godfrey
of having been up to some trick and bribing Dunstan with the
money to keep quiet. Fearfully, Godfrey claims it was only some
foolishness between Dunstan and himself.
Squire Cass declares that it’s time Godfrey outgrew any Squire Cass and Godfrey both feel as if the other is in the wrong
foolishness. He has been a good father, he feels, and his sons when it comes to their father-son relationship. Squire Cass feels it is
have turned into good-for-nothing fellows. Godfrey reflects high time his sons repaid his fatherly kindness and financial support,
that his father’s indulgence has not always been helpful in and Godfrey wishes his father had guided him with discipline and
guiding them, and wishes for some discipline in his life. Squire strength of character. Squire Cass’s questions about Nancy cause
Cass mentions that he’s never dissuaded his son from marrying Godfrey to lie further.
Nancy Lammeter who he seemed interested in, whereas some
fathers might forbid their sons from making certain matches.
He questions why Godfrey hasn’t proposed to her, and
pressures him to do so.
Squire Cass says he’ll ask for Mr. Lammeter’s daughter’s hand Squire Cass’s statement that he’ll do what he chooses gives a
for his son himself, if only cowardice is holding Godfrey back. perfect portrait of his character. He is less interested in Godfrey’s
Godfrey pleads with his father to let the matter alone, to let plea that his father allows him to manage his own affairs than he is
him speak for himself, and to not say anything about it. The in doing what suits himself at any given moment. The Squire’s
Squire replies that he’ll do as he chooses and then sends rejection of Dunstan shows that he is capable of dismissing his sons
Godfrey away to sell Dunstan’s horse and to tell his brother on the basis of their behavior, and with little thought or feeling. The
that he need not bother returning home. Godfrey says he has Squire does not treat his sons with respect or love, a direct contrast
no idea where his brother is and departs unsure if he should to how Marner treats Eppie.
feel relieved by the outcome of his conversation with his father.

Favorable Chance takes over the minds of any men in Again chance is the governing force in Godfrey’s life. He hopes,
unfavorable circumstances, and Godfrey’s hopes all depend on rather than praying or believing, that his circumstances will change
some chance outcome that will settle everything for him. and free him from his dreadful secret in time.
Rather than admit to his circumstances, he hopes that a chance
occurrence will change his situation before his father can make
any comments to Mr. Lammeter about a union between their
children.
CHAPTER 10
When Justice Malam is notified of Silas Marner’s robbery and Silas Marner’s robbery loses the interest of the villagers when it is no
the tinderbox, an inquiry is sent out about the peddler in longer new and exciting news. Even after Dunstan’s disappearance,
question. But as no news arrives over the next few weeks, the the villagers would be unlikely to attribute any true evil to a member
villagers of Raveloe slowly lose interest in Silas Marner’s of Squire Cass’s family because they are so used to seeing the Cass's
robbery. Dunstan’s disappearance on the same day as the as their superiors. The author emphasizes the power of holiday
robbery is not seen as remarkable. Even if any villager were celebration to turn these villagers’ minds away from any real
able to connect these two events, he or she would not be likely analysis of either event. The people are distracted by the pleasures
to share a theory that would cast an unfavorable light on the of the season.
Squire’s family. Furthermore, the upcoming Christmas season,
complete with festivities, food, and drink, is likely to discourage
any thoughts on the subject.
When the villagers speak of the robbery, disagreements Silas Marner has lost his direction and purpose in life with the loss
continue as to whether the robber was a man or a supernatural of his gold. His misfortune, however, has improved his relationship
force. As interest in the case falls away, Silas Marner’s grief with his neighbors. Because he is no longer self-sufficient and
continues. The basis for his continued work and existence has independent, he must reach out to the villagers and the villagers, for
been removed, and often, as he sits weaving, he moans aloud, in their part, do not suspect him of any evil powers. He is pitied, rather
pain and loneliness. Yet, his misfortune has changed his than feared.
reputation in Raveloe and his neighbors become more likely to
help him than to avoid him.
Neighbors share gifts of pork and black puddings with Silas In addition to gifts, Marner receives advice from his neighbors, and
Marner, as well as kind words. Mr. Macey encourages Marner this advice is most often encouragement to attend church. Dolly
to get a Sunday suit and to start attending church. Mrs. Dolly Winthrop’s interest in Marner and her advice that he comes to
Winthrop also visits Marner with the purpose of asking him to Sunday service depends on her belief in the goodness of the world
come to church. While the villagers of Raveloe are not religious and the church.
churchgoers, it is still expected that one attend church
occasionally. Mrs. Winthrop is a patient and kind woman, who
also loves to be working and taking on new tasks, and such a
woman is naturally drawn to Silas Marner and his troubles.
One Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Winthrop brings cakes and her Marner is more vulnerable after the loss of his gold and therefore
little son Aaron along with her as she goes to visit Silas Marner. unresisting to Mrs. Winthrop’s determined charity. His vague
Marner receives them without impatience. Before the loss of understanding that other humans could help him hints that he will
his gold, any interruption would cause him to lose work time eventually discover the help, love, and assistance that he can
and profit, but after his loss he is left groping in the darkness of receive from others.
loneliness, with the vague sense that any help he might receive
could come from other human beings.

Mrs. Winthrop gives Silas Marner the cakes, which she has Mrs. Winthrop’s inscribed cakes demonstrate that faith and belief
inscribed with letters she’s seen in church: I.H.S. Neither of need not be grounded in knowledge. Dolly believes in the goodness
them can understand the meaning of the letters, but Mrs. of anything associated with church or religion even if she cannot
Winthrop says they must be good letters to appear in church. understand it. Marner is used to a different religious community and
Marner is struck by her kindness and thanks her with genuine practices than those of Raveloe.
feeling. Mrs. Winthrop encourages Marner to attend church on
the upcoming Christmas day. Marner says he’s never been to
church, only to the chapel in Lantern Yard.
Mrs. Winthrop tells him that it’s never too late to turn over a Mrs. Winthrop’s use of the plural pronoun to refer to God or the
new leaf by coming to church. Her simple Raveloe theology, in divine reflects the difference between her faith and the faith Marner
which she refers to the divine “They” or “Them,” has little held in Lantern Yard. “They” implies a divine that does not need to fit
impact on Silas Marner because it does not resemble the faith the exact description of the traditional Christian God. Dolly
he had known in Lantern Yard. Flustered by her discussion, Winthrop’s God is ambiguous, not benevolent or perfect, but all
Marner attempts to return her good will by offering Aaron a bit knowing. Aaron’s childish innocence shines through in his song.
of the cakes. At his mother’s bidding, Aaron sings, “God rest you
merry, gentlemen” for Marner. Mrs. Winthrop hopes that
hearing the Christmas music will help entice Marner to come to
church.
Silas Marner tries again to respond to her kindness in the only Marner’s confused attempt to respond to Mrs. Winthrop’s kindness
way he knows, by offering Aaron more cake. Dolly Winthrop by offering Aaron a cake demonstrates how unfamiliar he has
urges him again to stop working on Sundays and then the pair become with adult interactions. He is relieved to be alone and to
takes their leave. Marner is somewhat relieved to be alone to spend Christmas in isolation. He has grown disused to human
weave and mourn in peace. Marner spends his Christmas day society and what it can offer him.
alone, a very different person from the Silas Marner who had
once loved and trusted other men and in an unseen goodness.
In Raveloe, the bells ring merrily on Christmas and the villagers Squire Cass’s humble Christmas gathering sparks enthusiasm for
celebrate. At Squire Cass’s family party, no one remarks on the upcoming extravagant New Year’s party. Godfrey’s anticipation
Dunstan’s absence. The affair is quiet with only the doctor and of seeing Nancy is only heightened by Dunstan’s prolonged absence,
his wife, uncle and aunt Kimble, visiting the Red House. On which is mixed with his fear that his brother may return. Godfrey
New Year’s Eve, however, Squire Cass always hosts a large fears Dunstan’s power, even in his absence.
party where all the society of Raveloe and the neighboring
village of Tarley gather. Godfrey is looking forward to this party,
half anxious that Dunstan will return and reveal his secret and
half eager to see Nancy Lammeter and to dance with her.
CHAPTER 11
Miss Nancy Lammeter arrives at the Red House with her father Nancy Lammeter’s interactions with Godfrey reveal her character
on New Year’s Eve. She sees Godfrey standing at the door, and to be both proper and strongly grounded in her moral beliefs. She
wishes she could have her sister Priscilla at her side to cast has determined to not marry a man who appears so inconsistent to
Godfrey’s attention onto someone else. She does not know her, and yet she is also a young woman who cannot help but be
what to make of Godfrey’s strangeness, his fluctuating interest flattered by his attention and, perhaps, to sense his inner goodness
in her, and she has determined to not marry him. As Godfrey (despite his weakness of character).
lifts her down from her carriage, Nancy hides her confusion
and hurries inside.

Mrs. Kimble, the Squire’s sister and the doctor’s wife, greets The New Year’s Eve event provides a portrait of the time period,
Nancy. In nearly every bedroom in the house, women are from the details of the women’s preparations for the evening to the
getting dressed and ready for the tea and the dance. Nancy extravagant house that can accommodate many guests. The
finds her way to the Blue Room where her and her sister’s manners of Nancy, her aunt, and the Miss Gunns show the civil
things were delivered earlier in the day. She meets her aunt society author George Eliot observed.
Mrs. Osgood and her aunt’s guests, the Miss Gunns, who are
similar to her aunt in thought and opinion.
Nancy prepares for the evening. Everything she owns is neat Nancy ’s appearance reflects her character: her well cared for
and pure. When she is ready, the Miss Gunns think she looks belongings demonstrate her diligence, and her work-worn hands
completely perfect other than her hands, which reveal the show her humility and her active nature. Nancy ’s uneducated
marks of labor, but Nancy is not ashamed of her hard work. Her speech is the result of how little Raveloe values freethinking and
speech, however, shows her lack of education. Otherwise, education, regardless on one’s place in society.
Nancy has all the delicacy, honor, and refined personal habits of
a lady, in addition to a slight pride and over-commitment to her
strongly held opinions.
Nancy’s older sister Priscilla arrives and comments on her and Priscilla’s character creates a foil for Nancy’s. Where Priscilla is
Nancy’s matching gowns. Nancy wants her and her sister to blunt, Nancy is shy; where Priscilla is honest, Nancy is sensitive to
match despite the fact that the color of their gowns does not others’ feelings. The matching outfits link the two as sisters, despite
flatter Priscilla. However, Priscilla cheerfully owns to being their personality differences. Priscilla’s deference to her young
ugly, and to having no interest in marrying. Once the Miss sister’s gown color highlights Nancy’s uniquely beautiful appearance
Gunns and their aunt leave, Nancy insists that she had wanted for a woman in Raveloe society.
her sister to choose the color of their gowns. Priscilla says it
would be silly for them to dress to match her coloring and skin,
but she does find fault with Nancy’s insistence that sisters
should dress alike.
Priscilla remarks that she’d rather see the men fawning over Nancy struggles with her vow to not marry Godfrey, in conversation
Nancy, and Nancy, blushing, says she won’t ever marry. To with her sister and in her own heart. Her love for Godfrey, which is
which Priscilla responds that one old maid among two sisters is rarely the focus in the novel, is proven by her decision to never
enough. The sisters descend to the parlor and Godfrey guides marry if Godfrey is not the man. Nancy’s love for Godfrey often
Nancy to a seat near himself. Surrounded by the Squire’s conflicts with what is right, as she later struggles with the idea of
family’s wealth, Nancy is very conscious of her decision to adopting a child to make her husband happy.
never marry Godfrey, for she feels she could not marry a man
so careless of his character. However, her love for him has
caused her to vow that she will never marry another.
Nancy blushes as she takes her seat and Mr. Crackenthorp Dr. Kimble is a minor character who, nevertheless, has life and
teases her that he saw the roses blooming on New Year’s eve. depth. George Eliot brings the world of Raveloe to life through her
The Squire also compliments Nancy, and Mr. Lammeter is portraits of secondary characters. Squire Cass, Mr. Lammeter, and
flattered, but reluctant at the thought of a union between his Dr. Kimble all note Nancy’s beauty in this scene. Despite Nancy’s
daughter and the Squire’s son. He feels Godfrey would have to moral resoluteness, her beauty is her most visible characteristic to
make some changes before he would consent to such a the members of Raveloe society. Priscilla, lacking beauty, is noted for
marriage. Dr. Kimble compliments Priscilla’s pork pie, and then other abilities.
her witty responses. The cheerful doctor skips to Nancy’s side
and implores her for a dance. Squire Cass teases him, telling
him that Godfrey must have secured the first dance with
Nancy. Godfrey asks, with as little awkwardness as possible, if
Nancy will dance with him.

Hearing the fiddle beginning in the hall, Squire Cass calls the The fiddle playing, dancing, and card playing all follow a familiar
fiddler into the dining room as the young people wish pattern at Squire Cass’s party. Onlookers feel that the very society
impatiently for the end of the meal and the beginning of the of Raveloe is strengthened and glorified by maintaining such
dance. With another lively tune, the fiddler leads a procession traditions. What is right and proper corresponds to what has always
into the White Parlour and the dancing begins. The older folks been done. The onlookers comment upon the dancing, another
lead the early dances before sitting down to cards, and tradition in which the villagers take pride in their society through
upholding this proper tradition seems to reinforce Raveloe’s the beauty and skill of the dancers.
society and quality. Those villagers sitting and watching
comment upon the dancers. Mr. Macey and Ben Winthrop
comment upon the figures of the dancers, and, while Mr. Macey
criticizes Godfrey’s shoulders and coat, Mr. Winthrop can find
no fault in him.
In the middle of the dance, Nancy’s skirt is caught under the The chance event of Nancy’s torn skirt allows Godfrey the
Squire’s foot and stitches are torn out at the waist of her dress. opportunity to speak with her and to make his feelings more
Godfrey leads her into the adjoining parlor until Priscilla can apparent to her. Chance governs Godfrey’s life, both in keeping or
come help her fix her dress. Godfrey tells her how much revealing his secret, and in allowing him time with Nancy. Nancy
dancing with her matters to him and asks if she could ever upholds her moral conviction that Godfrey’s character does not
forgive him for the past. Nancy replies that she’d be happy to meet her standards, in large part because he is so inconstant and
see any person improve his character, but that it would be relies on chance rather than his own moral understanding of right
better if such an improvement were not necessary. Priscilla’s and wrong.
appearance to fix the dress interrupts their confrontation.
CHAPTER 12
While Godfrey is caught up in spending his precious moment Molly’s attempt to reveal her connection with Godfrey is the result
with Nancy, his wife, unknown to him, is making her way of bitterness. She hopes to bring her unhappiness upon him too and
through the village to the Red House. Molly, his wife, has knows that the best way to do this is to shame him in public. The
decided to appear at the Squire’s party with her child in her power of public opinion is evident in Molly’s knowledge that she
arms and reveal, once and for all, the secret connection could punish her husband by revealing their connection to Raveloe
between herself and Godfrey. Molly knows that the real cause society.
of her poverty is not Godfrey’s treatment of her but her opium
addiction. However, she wants to punish her husband who is
well off.
As she walks through the snow, she takes a dose of opium, Molly’s downfall is her addiction to opium. Because she is so
seeking comfort. Due to the cold, her weariness, and the drug, dependent on the drug she cannot resist taking it and losing both
she is overcome by a longing to sleep. She collapses in some her life and her vengeance on Godfrey. Molly’s death, which occurs
bushes, and relaxes her hold on her daughter. A light on the as she is on her way to hurt Godfrey, is her moral punishment.
snow catches the child’s eye and she follows it to the open door
of Silas Marner’s cottage. She wanders inside and falls asleep
on an old sack near the warm hearth.

In the weeks since the loss of his money, Silas Marner has Marner’s sense that his gold could come back to him prepares both
formed the habit of opening his door from time to time and the character and the reader for the link between the golden haired
looking out as if he thought his money might be coming back to child and the lost gold. Marner even mistakes her for his gold at first,
him. On New Year’s Eve, as he peered out his door, he was indicating to the reader that one thing is intended to replace the
frozen in one of his trances, his eyes fixed and unseeing. Upon other in Marner’s life.
recovering from his trance, Marner felt that no time had passed
and, turning to his hearth, he saw, with his poor vision, his gold
on the hearth.
Stretching his hand out to his returned gold, Silas Marner Marner’s inclination to believe the child has appeared by
touches curly hair. Marner examines the sleeping child. Is this a supernatural means, just as he thought his gold might have
dream? He wonders. He cannot understand how this child disappeared through non-human intervention, demonstrates how
could have entered his house without his knowledge and he willing he is to turn to the unexplainable to account for an event in
feels as if it must have appeared by some supernatural method his life.
because his imagination cannot supply a rational explanation.
The child awakens, crying, and Silas Marner is kept busy The child’s wet boots are a concrete piece of evidence pointing out
feeding her porridge and following her tottering steps about her arrival by realistic means. The child’s limited speech can identify
his house. He removes her wet boots and realizes, finally, that the dead woman as her mother, but she is young enough to not
she must have been walking in the snow and entered his house understand what is happening. She is innocently trusting of the
on foot. As he opens the door, the child cries, “Mammy!” He weaver.
notices footprints in the snow and follows them to discover the
human body collapsed in the bush and half-covered with snow.
CHAPTER 13
After the early suppertime at the Red House, festivities All is normal at the Red House until Marner’s sudden appearance.
reached a stage of jolliness and freedom and the servants and Like his earlier appearance at the Rainbow, he interrupts a moment
villagers crowded to the doors of the white parlor to look on of joviality and startles everyone. Godfrey’s reaction is clearly the
the dancing. Nancy is seated with her father, as Godfrey stands strongest because, with the arrival of his child, his secret life has
a little ways off, attempting to avoid his father’s jokes about his collided with his happiness in the Red House. Godfrey’s wish that
and Nancy's relationship. At that moment, Silas Marner his wife be dead shows his desperation and dislike for the woman,
appears in the doorway carrying Godfrey’s own child. Marner his connection to her, and his fundamental weakness as a person
says he’s looking for the doctor and that he has found a woman who would rather evade responsibility by any means necessary.
in the snow near the Stone Pits, dead, he thinks. Godfrey feels
a sudden terror that the woman might not actually be dead.
The ladies encourage Silas Marner to leave the child there, but Marner’s inability to part with the child shows the strong bond he is
he finds he cannot part with it. Godfrey offers to get Mrs. already forming with the little girl. Godfrey’s agitation causes him to
Winthrop for assistance, as Dr. Kimble heads toward the Stone leave the party to learn the truth about his wife. It is noteworthy
Pits with Marner. Dolly tells Godfrey he need not come all the that he is most preoccupied with the outcomes of life or death and
way to the cottage with her, but he insists. He waits outside the how that will affect his life rather than concerned for his child, or his
cottage as Dr. Kimble inspects the body, his thoughts jumping wife.
between hope and fear about the two outcomes of the
situation. Dr. Kimble leaves the cottage and pronounces her
dead.

Godfrey enters the cottage to see his secret wife’s body, but Godfrey’s gesture of giving Marner money for the child’s clothes
casts her only one glance. He asks Silas Marner if he’ll take the reduces his relationship with his daughter to a monetary
child to the parish the next day. Marner says he wishes to keep transaction. The only responsibility he feels for her can be covered
the child. His money’s gone and this child has appeared from with money. Godfrey lies to deceive Dr. Kimble, Marner, and Dolly
the unknown. Godfrey gives Marner some money toward about his true interest in the situation. He is relieved and glad, as he
buying clothes for the child. Godfrey overtakes Dr. Kimble on has not been up until this point in the novel.
the walk back and lies easily about his willingness to leave the
party. With a sense of relief and gladness, he reappears in the
White Parlor.
Godfrey feels strongly the opportunity he has from this point Now that his happiness with Nancy is achievable, Godfrey has no
onward to say tender things to Nancy and to make promises to interest in revealing the truth. This indicates that a past interest in
her. He realizes that Dunstan may still return and betray his telling his story was created from fear and anxiety and not any
secret, but he hopes to persuade Dunstan to be silent. What inclination to integrity. He wishes to have his happiness with Nancy,
would the point be now of confessing the truth and losing what finally.
he has finally gained: his happiness with Nancy Lammeter?
CHAPTER 14
Molly’s burial occurs without great notice, and without any Molly’s death is characterized as fate, not chance, that has
tears, but her death has redirected the lives of several redirected several lives in Raveloe. Marner’s interest in raising the
individuals in Raveloe. Silas Marner’s decision to raise the child child is out of character for a man at this time period. It is only the
is met with surprise, and women throughout the village advise women of Raveloe, and not other men, who give him help and
him on what he must do to care for the girl. Dolly Winthrop is advice about raising children. Dolly Winthrop’s growing friendship
the one whom Marner prefers to take advice from. She talks with Marner allows the two to discuss his lost money and the found
with Marner about the disappearance of his money and the little girl.
appearance of the girl, saying it’s like the night and the morning,
or sleeping and waking…one goes only to be replaced by the
other.
While Silas Marner appreciates Dolly’s advice, he prefers to do Marner’s decision to tie the girl to his loom to keep her out of trouble
everything he can himself to care for the little girl. Marner may shock a modern audience, but is perfectly acceptable within
decides to tie the child’s leg to his loom with a long linen strip the context of the book. Bringing her to church and christening her
while he works, in order to keep her out of mischief. Dolly tells makes the child officially a part of Raveloe society, accepted by their
Marner that he must bring the girl to church and have her religious customs.
christened in order to raise her properly. Christening is not a
religious concept Marner was exposed to in Lantern Yard.
Silas Marner decides to do whatever he can that is best for the Marner’s choice of Eppie’s name links him to his family and his own
girl, and to have her christened he names her Hephzibah after youth. Finally attending church, however, does not remind him of
his mother and deceased little sister. Dolly says she ought to his past for the church of Raveloe is vastly different. The religious
have a nickname, and Marner decides to call her Eppie. Marner organizations in the book highlight the diversity of practices and
finally attends church for Eppie’s christening, but the practices ideas within Christianity at this time.
and congregation are so different than what he knew in
Lantern Yard that he cannot identify any of the experience
with his old faith.

Silas Marner’s gold, when it had been the center of his In growing and changing in order to help and care for Eppie, part of
attention, needed nothing, and could be worshipped in Marner’s change is a renewal of ideas and memories from his past,
isolation. Eppie, on the other hand, needs many things that such as his collection of herbs. The gold had closed off his heart, and
carry his attention away from his solitary weaving and form ties also his memories, for it did not cause him to think about and face
between him and his neighbors. As he walks outside with Eppie, his past, as Eppie’s presence does.
Marner begins to again gather the herbs for remedies that had
once interested him. As the child grows, Marner’s mind grows
back into his memories, allowing him to think on a distant past
he had tried to forget for years.
Eppie grows into a troublesome toddler, but Marner finds he Marner cannot bear the idea of punishment because of his
never has the heart to punish her despite Dolly Winthrop’s desperate need for Eppie’s love. Marner may fear punishment
insistence that some discipline is for her own good. Because because of his past, in which he was punished for something he did
Marner will not hit or scold his daughter, Dolly suggests not do. Marner’s failure to discipline Eppie recalls the Squire’s failure
shutting her in the coal hole as a form of punishment. Marner to discipline his sons, though there is a sense that Marner refrains
fears punishing her because he worries she will love him less because of his love for Eppie while the Squire’s indulgence is
afterwards. founded not in love but laziness.
One day, however, Eppie causes more mischief than usual. Eppie’s act of cutting herself free of her tie to the loom shows not
Using Marner’s scissors, she cuts herself free of the linen strip only how strongly Marner clings to her, but may remind readers
and runs outside. When next Marner reaches for his scissors, that, at some point, most children are cut free from their parents.
he discovers Eppie is gone and instantly fears she has fallen in Marner is concerned primarily for her safety, rather than disciplining
the Stone Pit or is hurt or dead. When he finds her in the field, her, and he does not punish her immediately. The failure of the
he is so relieved that he hugs and kisses her, only remembering, punishment portrays Marner as an inexperienced parent.
after carrying her home, that he should discipline her. Feeling
he is using a strong measure, he shuts her in the coal hole for
just a moment. Later, after Eppie’s bath, Marner turns around
to find her happily back in the coal hole.
The failure of the coal hole punishment discourages Marner Eppie receives not only Marner’s unwavering kindness, but his full
from ever again attempting to discipline Eppie. Marner carries attention. Their bond strengthens from the time they spend
the little girl with him on journeys and deliveries. Everywhere together, but also through Marner’s new engagement with Raveloe
the pair goes they are met with cheerfulness, questions, and life and society. Eppie directs and consumes his life as much as his
neighbors eager to talk about the child. The children of the gold did, but this causes him to interact with others rather than
village are no longer afraid to approach Marner when Eppie is withdraw.
with him. She links Marner with the community and with other
people. He no longer is interested in gold, other than as a
means to secure what Eppie needs.
In the olden days, there were stories of angels who descended George Eliot presents Eppie as an angel-like figure, golden-haired
to earth to save men from destruction. While such angels may and innocent. Her role in Marner’s life is to save him from isolation
no longer be seen, men may still be guided from destruction, and darkness, as an angel might have done.
even by the hand of a child.

CHAPTER 15
From a distance, Godfrey watches Eppie grow up in Silas Godfrey has transformed in spirit and in behavior. Freed from his
Marner’s care. Occasionally he does what he can to help the secret and Dunstan’s presence, he becomes both devoted to Nancy
weaver, but he does not want to do too much and raise and confident. He consoles himself about Eppie by promising that
suspicion. Godfrey seems determined and firm. Dunstan has the time will come when he’ll be able to do more for her. However,
not returned and Godfrey no longer feels the threat of his now that this secret no longer threatens him, Godfrey feels no guilt
brother’s presence. Everyone, including himself, thinks he has about having kept the secret: it is not his conscience that has
reformed and set his feet on a better course. He rides to visit bothered him throughout the book, but a rather selfish concern for
Nancy nearly every day and feels the imminence of his own his own future.
happiness with Nancy, and their future children. He promises
himself, however, that when the opportunity presents itself, he
will see that Eppie is well provided for.
CHAPTER 16
Sixteen years have passed since Silas Marner discovered Eppie Part Two opens with a reintroduction of the major characters as
asleep on his hearth. The villagers of Raveloe are leaving their they leave the church. The visual scene functions like a stage on
Sunday morning church service. Godfrey Cass and his wife which each character is presented by the author. The author speaks
Nancy depart first, as their humbler neighbors watch them of the characters as if they are familiar to her readers as old friends
pass. The pair turns to wait for Mr. Lammeter and Priscilla to might be. For example, Silas Marner is “impossible to mistake” for
accompany them as they walk toward the Red House. Silas readers who have “seen” him before.
Marner is impossible to mistake in the church congregation,
although his posture, white hair, and near-sightedness are
marks of age beyond his actual years. Close by his side is Eppie,
now a blond, polite girl of eighteen.
Aaron Winthrop, now a good-looking young fellow, follows Aaron’s enthusiasm to help Eppie create her garden shows his love
Marner and Eppie from the church. Eppie expresses to her for her. The author does not state that Aaron loves Eppie, however
father how much she wishes they had a garden like Mrs. the reader can infer so through his actions and conversation. This
Winthrop’s. Aaron quickly volunteers to dig the garden and to indirect characterization brings Aaron and his earnest personality
bring some soil and plants from his employer, Godfrey Cass’s, to life.
garden. Eppie makes her father promise he won’t work too
hard when he and Aaron start the garden that very afternoon.
Once Aaron turns back to the village, Eppie skips in happy Marner and Eppie’s new pets are physical indications of the
triumph, declaring that she knew Aaron would volunteer to happiness and life in the small cottage. The transformation of the
help. At the cottage, their new brown terrier and tortoise shell space from a room including only the bare necessities to the home
kitten greet them, while a mother cat looks on. The cottage has where Marner and Eppie live together is evidence of the change
been transformed in many ways, from the presence of these Eppie has brought about in Marner’s life. Godfrey Cass’s generosity
lively pets to the new furniture given by Godfrey Cass. No one has been unquestioned.
in the village is jealous of Mr. Cass’s generosity to the poor
weaver, for he is regarded as an exceptional, generous person
worthy of neighborly help.

Marner watches Eppie as she prepares their Sunday meal at The hearth is the center of Eppie and Marner’s home. It remains
the hearth. He has kept the hearth and never added a grate or unchanged, which shows that Eppie and Marner’s familial love for
oven because it is the precious spot where he found Eppie. each other remains unchanged. Marner’s smoking habit indicates
After their meal, Marner goes outside in the sunshine to smoke that he will pick up any practices, even personal habits, which he
his pipe, a new daily habit of his. He was encouraged to smoke thinks will benefit Eppie’s happiness and relationship with Raveloe
by Dr. Kimble, and he has acquired many such habits and society.
beliefs which are held to be good by Raveloe society. By
seeking out everything that could help Eppie and add to her
happiness, Marner has adapted to Raveloe life.
Marner has opened up his heart so fully that he has even been Marner’s ability to tell Dolly about his past misfortunes allows Dolly
able to share the story of his early life with Dolly Winthrop. She to pinpoint the most significant and painful problem: Marner’s loss
is confused and grieved by his account of the drawing of lots of faith. Dolly’s belief will not let her accept that the powers that be
that falsely demonstrated Marner’s guilt. Dolly recognizes that could intend Marner any ill will.
Marner must be troubled most by the betrayal of a divine
power that should have caused the lots to show his innocence.
Dolly is sure that the powers that be cannot be bad, but she is
puzzled by Marner’s tale.
One day, Dolly arrives at Marner’s with the pronouncement Dolly is able to reconcile Marner’s tale with her own belief system
that she has had a sudden realization about his story. She says by accepting the fact that there are things she will never
that there are things in the world that she can’t understand, but understand. She trusts that there was some greater purpose to
the power that created all humans knows what’s best and Marner’s false accusation, even if she can’t see it. Marner’s own
understands all things. One must trust that there’s a good and faith has been restored, though it is not the same faith. Eppie’s love
right plan bigger than what any individual can understand. and trust, and his neighbors’ friendship, are the new sources of his
Marner says that he finally believes there is good in the world, faith
and that he again feels there’s more goodness than he can
understand, despite the evils and troubles that also exist.
Marner has been able to talk of his past with Eppie too as she Despite Eppie’s awareness of her past, it is clear neither she nor
has grown older. He’s always been honest with her about her Marner ever worry about who her biological father may be. Her
past, and her unknown parentage. Eppie wonders and asks mother is of more interest to Eppie. The wedding ring found on her
about her mother as she grows up because her interactions mother’s finger indicates that, at some point, everyone will have to
with Mrs. Winthrop make her believe having a mother must be face the truth of Molly’s marriage.
very wonderful. With Marner as her father, however, she rarely
wonders about her unknown biological father.
Eppie and Marner sit outside discussing their garden and the The Stone Pit is mentioned throughout the novel, as a recurring
stones they could gather to build a wall that keeps out their image. The attention given to the pit, even in a brief passage,
donkey. As Eppie points out all the stones they could gather, prepares the reader for the key role the location will play in the plot
she skips to edge of the Stone Pit only to notice the low water of the novel.
level. Marner says this must be because of the draining in Mr.
Osgood’s fields that Godfrey Cass has directed.

After the pair has been sitting a while in silence, Eppie asks her Eppie refers to her mother’s ring, reminding the reader that
father whether, if she were to be married, she should be Godfrey’s secret marriage has never been revealed. Eppie and
married with her mother’s ring. She confesses that Aaron Aaron’s plan to marry and move in with Marner is fitting considering
Winthrop has asked her to marry him now that he has a lot of the old man’s attachment to Eppie. Marner’s existence and faith
gardening work and a steady career. Aaron told Eppie that he’d depend on not just Eppie’s happiness and time spent with her, but
never take her away from her father, but that they could all live on never separating from her. Marner wants to secure Eppie’s future
together, so Marner wouldn’t need to work at all. Eppie intends happiness, however, despite his own attachment to her.
to marry Aaron, someday. But at the moment she doesn’t want
anything to change. Marner reminds her that someday things
will change and that he’ll keep growing old, and that he’d like to
know Eppie would be cared for her whole life.
CHAPTER 17
At the Red House, Nancy tries to persuade her sister to stay for The beauty and comfort of the Red House, which has been
tea. The Red House has been changed by Nancy’s presence, improved by Nancy’s orderly management, contrasts the
and all is purity and order where some rooms were once dreary unhappiness at the edges of Godfrey and Nancy’s marriage. Nancy
or imposing. Priscilla insists that she and their father cannot chooses to confess her concerns over her husband’s low spirits to
stay for tea, as there is too much to do on their family farm, her sister.
which she manages. Before leaving, the two sisters walk alone
in the garden and Nancy tells Priscilla that she is contented, but
worried about Godfrey and his low spirits.
Priscilla is frustrated by men like Godfrey who, she believes, Nancy complains to Priscilla about her predicament, but also
always want what they don’t have, but Nancy defends her defends her husband, which Priscilla has little patience for. Nancy’s
husband. It’s natural and understandable that he wishes he had contemplation on Sunday afternoons focuses primarily on the hole
children because he works hard and wants to have someone he in her marriage: she and Godfrey are childless. This situation is
can pass his property and income to, she says. After Priscilla linked to Godfrey’s past and his unacknowledged biological
and Mr. Lammeter depart, Godfrey leaves for a walk around daughter and it seems Godfrey’s past actions must, in a moral
the draining fields near the Stone Pits. During Godfrey’s sense, be linked with his present unhappiness.
customary Sunday afternoon walks, Nancy tries to read the
Bible, but ends up reflecting. Her thoughts often focus on her
own choices and character, replaying memories in her mind to
make certain that she has done everything well. “I can do so
little—have I done it all well?” She repeatedly asks herself.
Nancy is hurt by the knowledge that their lack of children has The death of a child of Nancy and Godfrey’s, perhaps a stillborn
been an aspect of their lives to which Godfrey cannot reconcile death or an infant death, shows the emotional trauma Nancy and
himself. Nancy had once prepared a drawer of baby clothes, Godfrey have gone through over the years as they’ve hoped for a
enthusiastically expecting a child, but only one small dress had child of their own.
ever been used, for a burial dress.
Nancy had resisted over the years Godfrey’s few attempts to Nancy’s conviction that adoption is wrong is one of her many
suggest that they adopt a child. Nancy holds strongly to her strongly held, but relatively indefensible, moral beliefs. The villagers
opinions and principles, and one such principle is her refusal to of Raveloe do not always make rational decisions or assumptions.
adopt a child. She feels such a course of action attempts to Nancy’s conviction is tied to her faith and understanding of God’s
change the lot in life given by Providence, which would bring role in human lives, as she believes that if God has not granted her
about a curse on anyone who tried to get what a high power children then she must not try to get children by other means.
had determined they were better without. Any child adopted
by them would turn out badly.

From the first suggestion of adoption, Godfrey had specifically Godfrey’s interest in adoption focuses on his true daughter Eppie.
spoken of Eppie as a child whom they could adopt. Surely the Godfrey is unable to see the pain that separating Eppie and Marner
weaver would be pleased by this Godfrey felt, to have his could cause. His position in society has always been such that he
adopted child raised to such a high station and himself taken supposes anyone would love the opportunity to improve their
care of for the rest of his life. Godfrey knew nothing of the circumstances and secure their wellbeing. Godfrey is not bad—he
weaver’s true connection with and feelings for the child. His would not try to attempt adopting Eppie if he understood the pain it
natural kindness would not have allowed him to contemplate would cause—but he is blind and weak.
such a plan otherwise.
Nancy, during her Sunday afternoon reflection, reassures Nancy’s natural orderliness and properness causes her to strive to
herself that she was right to discourage any consideration of create a perfect life with Godfrey, in every way that she can. If not
adoption. Nancy labors to make her life with Godfrey perfect in for Nancy’s deference to her husband and her desire to please him,
every way except the one that in unchangeable, consoling perhaps Godfrey could not have been as happy as he is. He does
herself that a different woman may have had children, but know Nancy’s value and importance to him, which is why he
could not otherwise have made her husband so happy. Nancy’s continues to hide the truth of his past.
earnest goodness makes Godfrey certain that he’ll never be
able to confess his past to her. He feels the confession would
cause an irreparable separation between him and his beloved
wife.
Godfrey’s conscience is never easy about Eppie and his lack of Godfrey himself recognizes a connection between his past wrong in
children with Nancy feels like an intentional punishment. The not claiming Eppie and his current lack of any children. The couple’s
couple hasn’t spoken of the idea of adoption in four years at the concern with their childless lives has the moralistic tone of several
time of this Sunday afternoon, and Nancy wonders if Godfrey events in the novel. Bad choices have consequences that may be
will mind their childless lives more or less as they grow older. indirect or manifest years later.
Jane, their servant, enters the parlor to report that outside all
the villagers are hurrying in one direction. Nancy waits at the
window, overcome by a vague fear, and wishing Godfrey would
return.
CHAPTER 18
Godfrey returns, but he is trembling and pale. He tells Nancy to Dunstan’s body found with the gold is a tidy resolution—narratively
sit down and that he’d had a great shock, but has come back to and morally—to the mystery of Marner’s lost money and the
tell her what has happened in order to avoid her hearing it from disappearance of the younger Cass son. In Raveloe society any
anyone but himself. Godfrey tells her that Dunstan’s body, his association with a crime of this nature is shameful and Nancy and
skeleton, has been found. The Stone Pit has dried up from the Godfrey are embarrassed to be connected to Dunstan. Family
draining and at the bottom of the pit was Dunstan Cass’s body, connections last a lifetime in this novel, whether they are biological
with his watch and seals, Godfrey’s hunting crop, and, most or chosen.
horrifyingly, all of Silas Marner’s stolen money. Nancy is
surprised and ashamed for herself and Godfrey, having been
raised to consider any connection with crime a dishonor.

Godfrey’s tale continues as he reflects aloud that all secrets Godfrey’s admittance that everything comes to light when God wills
come to light sooner or later, when God wills it. Nancy’s feeling it finally places his fate in God’s hands, rather than on chance, for
of dread returns. Godfrey says that when he married her he the first time in the novel. Directly after this statement, Godfrey
kept his past a secret: the dead woman found by Silas Marner takes charge of his situation and tells Nancy everything. Nancy,
was his wife and Eppie is his child. Nancy is silent as Godfrey selfless as always and eager to do what’s right, wishes that they
tells her that he couldn’t bear to give her up, that he couldn’t could have adopted Eppie sooner.
acknowledge the child as his own. Nancy wishes regretfully
that they could have had Eppie all along, to ease their childless
lives and the death of their little baby.
Godfrey reminds Nancy that if she had known the secret Nancy’s high moral principles are most troubled by the wrong
earlier she would never have married him. Nancy insists that Godfrey has done his daughter by not acknowledging her, and they
she wasn’t worth Godfrey doing anything wrong for, as he seek to correct this wrong by finally adopting her. Nancy’s
pleads for her forgiveness. She’s more troubled by the wrong acceptance of Godfrey’s story is, Godfrey feels, different than how
he has done Eppie for fifteen years. Godfrey says they can still she would have responded sixteen years earlier, which demonstrates
adopt the girl, although it will be different, Nancy feels, to take that even Nancy has changed over the years. Though Godfrey and
her in when she’s already grown up. But she agrees that it is Nancy’s sense that Eppie has been harmed by not being adopted by
Godfrey’s duty to acknowledge her and provide for her, so they them betrays a lack of understanding on their part about everything
decide to go that very evening to see Marner and Eppie. Eppie has gained by having a father as loving and devoted as Silas
Marner.
CHAPTER 19
That evening, Silas Marner and Eppie are sitting alone in the The presence of the gold and Eppie in the same place is ominous,
cottage. Marner is exhausted by the events of the afternoon, especially when Marner is speaking of how he once worried Eppie
and has been craving the quiet of being alone with only Eppie. would be changed back into the gold. The exchange between the
Near them on the table is the gold, arranged as Marner used to gold and Eppie has established in Marner’s mind that, by fate or
arrange it. He has been telling Eppie of how he counted the divine will, he cannot possess both at once, raising the dramatic
gold every night. At first, he admits, he worried that Eppie tension as the reader knows that Godfrey and Nancy are about to
might again be changed into the gold after she had appeared on appear and offer to adopt Eppie. Might Eppie agree and leave
his hearth. The gold holds no power over Marner now, but he Marner?
worries aloud that if Eppie were lost he might again feel God
had forsaken him.
There is a knock at the door and Eppie blushes when she opens Godfrey presents his offer to adopt Eppie in terms of an attempt to
the door to admit Mr. and Mrs. Cass. Godfrey first apologizes apologizes for his brother’s crime and to help the weaver rest and
to Marner for the loss of his money, hoping that he can make it not be occupied supporting a daughter. From the first, Godfrey
up to him, as one of his own family members was the thief. stresses his social position and the fact that he could make Eppie
Godfrey tells Marner’s it's time that he had some rest, as he’s into a lady by adopting her. What’s missing from his offer is any hint
worked so hard at his weaving to survive before and after the of love toward his biological daughter.
robbery. Godfrey says to Marner that he has done his part by
Eppie and he’s sure it would be a comfort to the weaver to see
her taken care of by folks who could make her into a lady.

Godfrey points out that he and Mrs. Cass have no children and, Marner’s response is a true act of selflessness, as numerous details
therefore, they would like to adopt Eppie as their own. As have established that Marner’s entire life and happiness revolves
Godfrey speaks, Eppie puts her arm around Marner and feels around Eppie’s presence. However, he feels he cannot stand in her
him trembling. Marner is clearly distressed, but says only that way because he wants only what’s best for her. Despite his words,
he will not stand in Eppie’s way if this is what she wishes. Eppie Marner is overwhelmed by Eppie’s declaration of commitment to
steps forward and she thanks Mr. and Mrs. Cass, but she her adoptive father.
refuses their offer, unwilling to leave her father, and to give up
the folks she’s familiar with by becoming a lady. With a sob,
Marner takes her hand.
Godfrey, irritated, exclaims that he has a claim on Eppie Godfrey attempts to claim Eppie on the basis of her parentage and
because she is his child and her mother was his wife. Eppie is Marner raises the point that Godfrey has not been in her life for the
startled. Marner speaks with new fierceness, asking Godfrey past sixteen years. Through this exchange, the novel asks: who has
why he didn’t claim his daughter sixteen years earlier. Godfrey claim over a child? Who is a true parent? Christian children at the
turned a blessing away, Marner points out, and so God gave the time firmly believed they had a duty to honor and obey their
child to him. Godfrey no longer has any right to the child. parents.
Godfrey claims he has repented for this past choice, but
Marner insists, “repentance doesn’t alter what’s been going on
for sixteen year.”
Godfrey urges rationality. Such a change wouldn’t tear Marner Godfrey mentions his duty to his daughter, but ultimately the
and Eppie apart forever, he argues. He says that he feels it’s his decision falls to Eppie. She loves Marner, but she is also
duty to care for his own daughter, and that Marner ought to be unimpressed with Godfrey. She sees that he sees himself as being
happy to see her elevated to better circumstances rather than superior to Marner and treats Marner with frustration and
marrying a lowly man. Eppie's initial decision to refuse the offer contempt when he doesn’t get his way, and she wonders also about
of adoption was determined by her love for Marner, but Godfrey’s connection with her deceased mother whom he never
Godfrey’s insistence and his treatment of Marner cause publically recognized as his wife.
repulsion toward her biological father to grown in her heart.
Marner, on the other hand, is struck by a fear of raising his own
desires in the way of what’s best for Eppie and he again defers
to her decision.
Eppie insists that she would never again be happy if she were Eppie chooses to see Marner as her true father, whom she loves and
forced to leave her father, Silas Marner. He had no one to love obeys, rather than Godfrey who is her father only by birth. For her,
or care for him before she appeared in his life, and she’d again the behavior and attitude of a father, rather than blood, is what
be leaving him alone. He cared for her and loved her first, and determines parentage. Eppie’s choice demonstrates that one can
she is certain that no one will ever come between them. Nancy choose one’s family and one’s community. She chooses to stay with
reminds Eppie that what she says is a natural way to feel, but those she loves, having faith in those around her.
that she also owes a duty to her true father. Eppie says she can
only think of Marner as her father, that she wasn’t raised to be
a lady, and that she’s engaged to marry a workingman.
Godfrey is frustrated that his attempt to atone for his past Godfrey’s abrupt departure shows his frustration that he cannot
wrongs has been thwarted. He leaves abruptly, unable to say adopt Eppie. His haughty mannerisms are contrasted to Marner’s
anything else to Marner and Eppie, and Nancy follows more quiet love for Eppie.
gracefully.

CHAPTER 20
Nancy and Godfrey walk home in silence and stand together in Godfrey and Nancy’s mutual acceptance of each other’s thoughts
the parlor. They look at each other in mutual understanding. and feelings demonstrate that they have not lost everything. They
Nancy admits they’ll have to give up hope of adopting Eppie. love each other, even though they have no children. It is too late for
Godfrey says that Marner was right about turning away a Godfrey to reclaim the blessing of having a child when he once saw
blessing from one’s door: it falls to another. Godfrey decides he the presence of his child as a burden.
won’t make it known that Eppie is his daughter, but that he
must still do all he can for her regardless of the life she has
chosen.
Nancy is relieved that Priscilla and her father won’t be troubled Godfrey and Nancy both believe that Eppie’s dislike of Godfrey is
with the truth. Godfrey realizes that Eppie didn’t like the idea of more than chance, and is in fact a punishment given by the divine
him being her father, and that she thinks he did wrong by her because of his past choices. The novel relies upon the power of fate
mother and herself. But this is part of his punishment, he and divine intervention in the lives of the Raveloe villagers. The
admits, for his daughter to dislike him. Nancy is silent, for she characters can control their actions and their attitudes, but certain
feels Eppie’s response to be a bit of fair justice for Godfrey’s things occur which are beyond their control. The novel’s plot relies
past choices. Godfrey says that he has been unhappy wanting upon these meaningfully connected events.
something else, above and beyond his lovely wife who he got, in
spite of his past errors. “It is too late to mend some things,”
Godfrey says, but it’s not too late to mend his longing for
children and his unhappiness with his lot in life.
CHAPTER 21
The next morning, as Silas Marner and Eppie are eating The reappearance of the money in Marner’s life, rather than reviving
breakfast, Marner tells Eppie that there’s something he’s been his interest in gold, allows him to continue his interest in his own
meaning to do for a while, which is achievable now that his past, by visiting Lantern Yard again and discovering what he can.
money had reappeared. He wants to visit his old home in Marner has changed. Eppie has changed him so that gold can never
Lantern Yard and to see if anything ever came to light again have a claim on his heart.
concerning his innocence and to ask about the ritual of drawing
lots. Dolly Winthrop approves of the plan, telling Marner that
she hopes he’ll be at ease once he knows the truth.
Silas Marner and Eppie arrive in Lantern Yard only to find a The alteration of Lantern Yard is a key moment in the novel.
great manufacturing town, altered to a bewildering degree Change, which the villagers of Raveloe so fear, has happened in
within the last thirty years. They are ill at ease on the noisy, Lantern Yard, and it marks the beginning of the Industrial
crowded streets filled with strangers. Eventually the pair finds Revolution, which will have profound impacts throughout England.
their way to Prison Street, which Marner recognizes. The shops Both Eppie and Marner now prefer Raveloe, its isolation,
are all altered, but Marner knows it’s the third street after the community, and its nature. Their preference for the stone pits
jail. Eppie is surprised by the closely proximity of the houses suggests a preference for the unknown versus the bustling known of
and remarks how pretty the Stone Pits will look when they an industrial town.
return home.

There are people leaving the Yard, as if they’d gone to chapel at Lantern Yard is gone and, with it, Marner’s past and his opportunity
noon on a weekday, Marner exclaims, and then stops in to discover whether the truth of his case was ever revealed. Yet if the
amazement. They are in front of a large factory where workers community that made him an outcast no longer exists, should he
are leaving. “Lantern Yard is gone,” Marner cries. The large still think of himself as having been cast out? Strangers and workers
factory has replaced the chapel and everything Marner have replaced human connections in Lantern Yard.
remembers. Eppie leads her father into a brush shop to ask
about the old chapel, but no one they ask recalls the former
chapel or anyone from that congregation.
Upon their return to Raveloe, Marner reports to Dolly Lantern Yard’s strong contrast to Raveloe shows how Marner
Winthrop that the old Lantern Yard has completely vanished. himself has changed into a man who fits into the world of Raveloe.
He realizes that he’ll never know whether the truth of the The remaining mystery of Lantern Yard’s disappearance and
robbery was uncovered, or why they used the practice of Marner’s unresolved false accusation force Dolly and Marner to
drawing lots. Dolly replies that there are many things in this come to terms with those things in life that they will never
world that are dark to humans, but there are other things that understand. Despite this, Marner knows he can trust again, his faith
she has never felt confused about. Silas Marner was falsely having been restored by Eppie’s love for and commitment to him.
accused, but that does not stop there being something good
about the event, even if it’s not for Marner or Dolly to see and
understand what that may be. Marner says that since Eppie has
appeared in his life he’s been able to trust again in the world,
and because she’ll never leave him, he will trust until he dies.
PART 2, CONCLUSION
Eppie and Aaron are married on a beautiful sunny day. Eppie Like many nineteenth century novels, the book follows “the
wears a dress of white cotton, which Nancy begged that she be Marriage Plot”: it ends with the wedding of Eppie and Aaron. While
allowed to provide for the young bride. Eppie tells her father the domestic bliss of the ending cannot fully account for Marner’s
that on this wedding day he won’t be giving her away, but unresolved past, or for Godfrey and Nancy’s childless home, it does
instead taking Aaron as his son. Priscilla and Mr. Lammeter show the way that bliss can coexist with the mysteries of the
stop to watch the wedding procession on their way to the Red unknown and of moral fate.
House. Priscilla wishes Nancy could have had a child like Eppie,
someone to occupy her and Godfrey’s minds above and beyond
the lambs and calves.
The wedding party passes into the humbler part of Raveloe The wedding unites the Raveloe community in celebration. Mr.
and stops to greet old Mr. Macey, seated outside his door. Mr. Macey reminds the wedding party that Marner wasn’t always
Macey says he always insisted that there was no harm in trusted and liked in Raveloe. But, after his kindness towards Eppie,
Master Marner and that he’d live to see him get his money all the villagers agree that he deserves all his blessings—the village
back. Guests are already assembled early at the Rainbow, sees Marner as having achieved morally appropriate happiness. The
chatting about Silas Marner’s strange story, and the great cheering villagers show that Marner and Eppie are now truly loved
blessing he brought upon himself when he adopted a child. The members of Raveloe society.
villagers agree that they ought to wish a man joy who, like
Marner, deserves all his luck and blessings. The group gives a
cheer as the bridal party passes.

The cottage at the Stone Pits now has a larger garden than Despite Marner’s restored faith and connection to his community,
Eppie ever dreamed of. Other alterations were made by the novel ends with the true source of blessing in the weaver’s
Godfrey Cass to accommodate Silas Marner’s growing family in life—the mutual love between he and his daughter, the family they
the home where they preferred to stay. As their beautiful home have built— and suggests that such things are more valuable than
comes into view, Eppie exclaims that no one could be happier wealth, privilege, or even knowledge.
than they are.

To cite any of the quotes from Silas Marner covered in the Quotes
HOW T
TO
O CITE section of this LitChart:
To cite this LitChart: MLA
MLA Eliot, George. Silas Marner. Dover Publications. 1996.
Champlin, Nikola. "Silas Marner." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Mar CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
2014. Web. 21 Apr 2020.
Eliot, George. Silas Marner. Mineola: Dover Publications. 1996.
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Champlin, Nikola. "Silas Marner." LitCharts LLC, March 3, 2014.
Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/silas-
marner.

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LANTERN YARD GOLD

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Chapter 4 Quotes Chapter 5 Quotes

Explanation and Analysis

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Explanation and Analysis

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Chapter 18 Quotes Page Number: 141

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Explanation and Analysis

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

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