Discuss the theme of outsider in 'Silas Marner' and 'To Kill A Mockingbird' The theme of 'outsider'
runs throughout both 'Silas Marner', written by Harper Lee, and 'To Kill A Mockingbird', written by
George Eliot. Many other similarities exist between the two novels as well. Both novels are written
by women in a time were oppression, segregation and prejudice were around in some force. Both novels
involve a character that is an outsider by towards the end becomes accepted into the remote communi
ty they found themselves in. Both outsiders in the two novels are also male. Both novels are also se
t 30 years prior to writing giving the author hindsight and retrospective. However, differences also
exist between the two novels. 'Silas Marner' is set in England during the years just before and dur
ing the industrial revolution whereas 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is set in South USA during the 1930s.
Other differences involve the focus of the two novels. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' does not centrally li
e on the theme of Boo Radley as the outsider or on the life of Boo Radley but more on racism and pre
judice and uses Boo Radley as an example of a product of the bad things in Maycomb, Alabama. However
, 'Silas Marner' does lie centrally on the theme of Silas Marner as an outsider, how he became an ou
tsider and how he coped and became excepted. It is these differences and similarities that help port
ray a theme of outsider in the novel's context and is what makes both novels interesting while still
being unique.
'To Kill A Mockingbird' is set in the 1930s in Alabama in a fictional county named M
aycomb. This, historically, places the novel in the midst of social prejudice against the blacks and
how they are not accepted in the communities in the USA. 'Silas Marner' is set in the late 1820s th
rough to the early 1850s in central England in a fictional town called Lantern Yard and the remote R
aveloe. During this time the industrial revolution takes place. Prejudice and racism is not, however
, in full force during this time as few foreigners have yet had the opportunity to immigrate to Engl
and. However, communities, especially remote communities are always wary of newcomers or people who
look different or dress different. This is the basis of prejudice in Raveloe.
These items give both
novels historical and social context, which put issues the novels deal with in perspective with the
time they are set in. This effects the theme of outsider that runs through the two novels as the so
cial and historical contexts of each novel is different. In 'To Kill A Mockingbird', the outsider, B
oo Radley, is an outsider due to his past and certain acts he had committed which had left him locke
d up inside his house over an extensive period and so making him socially impaired. He became and ou
tsider due to rumours and gossip which escalates and grows in such a small community causing the eff
ect of the town being scared and wary of Boo Radley. An example of a rumour about Boo Radley is abou
t him and the scissors incident, "...As Mr Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent'
s leg...". Such a rumour like this told to children makes them scared of Boo Radley and gives him de
scriptions such as, "...a malevolent phantom...". This is somewhat the same in 'Silas Marner' but th
e types of rumours around and the reasons for the character becoming an outsider is relevant and spe
cific to social and historical context. Silas Marner is an outsider due to his differing appearance,
differing habits and differing lifestyle to the rest of Raveloe and rumours develop around witchcra
ft when he helps out another villager 'miraculously' to the other villagers. Silas Marner became and
outsider due to choice. Boo Radley, on the other hand, due to misbehaving as a child was looked up
in his house not to his own choice. Due to the different ideals of discipline and right and wrong, h
is actions resulted in severe punishment against him by his parents forcing him into an outsider.
T
he insular nature of these communities also adds to the 'outsider' theme in two ways. As the communi
ties are so small, rumour and gossip develops and escalates with no escape, the closeness of all the
people in a small ad inward community is also hard to be accepted in to. The second way is that due
to the smallness and inwardness of the communities all people speak, dress and behave in the same m
anner and fashion without much variance. If a new person arrives, or a different type of person live
s in such a community, their differences are heightened due to the fact that people in the community
are so alike.
Religion plays a significant part in 'Silas Marner' as it is Silas' devotion to his
faith that results in him being an outsider in Raveloe but accepted in Lantern Yard. Silas' faith in
his religion is crushed in Lantern Yard and due to naivety he cannot accept any other religion and
does not understand any other religions: "...He had only heard of baptism...of grown-up men and wome
n..."What is it as you mean by 'christened'?" He said at last, timidly..." However, this naivety doe
s not make him an outsider to others in the later stages of the novel, as people then understand him
. However, as seen in this quote, it does distance hi, and make him feel at unease. The quote shows
him asking about christening timidly and taking his time to pluck up the courage to ask about it.
T
he social and class structures appearing in the novels are similar except for differences in jobs. F
or example, the rich are at the top and the poor are at the bottom. In 'Silas Marner' The outsider S
ilas Marner is a working class man, a weaver, with some skill. Boo Radley, however, is much like a c
hild, and has not grown up and so has no job, but is in the working class section because of his par
ents. Silas Marner is close to the bottom of the social structure but is slightly more skilled than
the other peasants or working class people which adds to him being as an outsider as he does not fit
with a group of people. Boo Radley, however, is closer to the middle of the social structure and is
not at the bottom like the Ewells. In Boo Radley's case, it heightens his sense of being an outside
r as he does not go out and worki like the rest of the middle class.
The structure of the two novel
s are also similar, both contain two parts and frequently flash back to the past. In 'Silas Marner'
the two parts are relevant to the theme of outsider in the novel as they depict the life of Silas Ma
rner. The first part shows his transition from being an outsider in Raveloe to finally being accepte
d in part 2 due to his opening up when he started raising Eppie. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' also shows
Boo Radley as the outsider in part 1 but being accepted by the end of part 2. The flash backs in 'Si
las Marner', show us the reasons he became an outsider and what forced him to leave the life he was
living in Raveloe. This gives a way to emphasise or at least sympathise with the character and feel
sorry for him. In 'To Kill A Mockingbird', the structure reveals bits about Boo Radley in parts, and
creates little episodes such as when Jem runs up to the house and touches it, the presents in the t
ree etc that build up suspense and intrigue about Boo Radley. The novel reveals speculation about wh
at happened to Boo Radley but the truth is never revealed creating a kind of aura around his charact
er making him mysterious. Between part 1 and part 2 in 'To Kill A Mockingbird', there is no differen
ce of years. In 'Silas Marner' however, there is a leap of 16 years from part 1 to part 2. Part 2 sh
ows his acceptance into Raveloe and how his character has developed. This shows the reader that Sila
s Marner is actually an ordinary person. The same occurs in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' but as a sub plo
t and without any jump in time. What this shows us is that they are not bad people, just different p
eople with an unfortunate past.
Scout as the narrator in 'To Kill A Mockingbird' adds an innocent p
erspective from which we view the events. This allows us to see the ignorance and naivety by the old
er characters and how rumours, differences and gossip effect the prejudices of children. This also a
llows us to see how wrong these rumours are and how they are quite silly. The omniscient narrator in
'Silas Marner' gives a perspective from which the reader can view all events. It also gives an unbi
ased view on all events. It adds an outlook on the story of Silas Marner from which the reader can j
udge his situation in relation to the rest of the village without biased from perspectives of villag
es and Silas Marner himself.
Boo Radley is potrayed as an outsider as he lives a different life fro
m the rest of the community. Cut off from civilisation and friends and never comes out and is never
seen by anyone. The speculation regarding his 'current' position involves him misbehaving when he wa
s a child and being punished for it by his dad. He is portrayed as a ghost or as a phantom, "a malev
ont phantom" and is portrayed as scary and violent. Boo Radley does interact with Jem and Scout in t
he novel by watching them from a distance and placing presents in the tree for them. This shows him
as more of an outsider as it shows his inability to communicate properly with people his own age, an
d his lack of social skills. Silas Marner became an outsider when he moved to Raveloe due to him bei
ng wrongly convicted of stealing money by the drawing of lots. This left him sad and bitter. His fai
th shattered and "his trust in man...cruelly bruised". He moved to Raveloe where he became a weaver
interested only in money and gold guineas, which his faith now lay in. It became his one purpose in
life. The language in the novel shows his loneliness: "He hated the thought of the past; there was n
o northing that called out his love and fellowship towards the strangers he had come amongst; and th
e future was dark, for there was "no Unseen Love that cared for him"..." This quote shows how Silas'
trust in god or in faith and even in other people had been diminished and the only thing he felt pe
aceful with was money so he took refuge in work. In this way he scared the people of Raveloe, "...It
was partly to this vague fear that Marner was indebted for protecting him from the persecution that
his singularities might have drawn upon him...". This quote shows how a fear in the community devel
oped because of his cataleptic fits (the villagers thinking his soul was possessed) and how this fea
r protected him from being persecuted because of his different way of life and appearance.
Other ch
aracters in the novels, which are also outsiders are characters, which do not fit into the regular p
atterns, and social structures the two communities follow and live in. In 'Silas Marner', another o
utsider witnessed in the novel is a gypsy Peddler who is the Rainbow (the pub) after the theft of Si
las Marner's money. They blame him because he looks different and is foreign to Raveloe, "...He [the
peddler] had a "look with his eye" which fell unpleasantly on Mr Snell's sensitive organs...". This
shows that anyone that they are ignorant about, suspicions are bred about them. The same follow wit
h characters in "To Kill A Mockingbird" where Mrs Dubose, Dolphus Raymond and the Ewells were all ou
tsiders. Also, black people in Maycomb were also seen as outsiders and were not accepted in the comm
unity. This gives us various reasons why people are not accepted and how prejudices affects this. Mr
s Dubose was an outside as she was a "...morphine addict.", but is accepted at the end when her side
of the story is heard, "...she was the bravest person I knew...she died beholden to nothing and nob
ody...". This quote shows how Mrs Dubose got over her morphine addiction bravely and died free. Anot
her outsider in the novel, Dolphus Raymond, follows the same pattern, thought to have a drink proble
m and socialise with black people, too much he is considered as an outsider. However, with Scout and
the rest of the children's innocence, it is shown how he is not in the wrong but how social prejudi
ces have forced him to pretend he is an outsider. After these revelations he is accepted by the chil
dren: "...some folks don't - like the way I live ... It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.
..folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whisky..." This quote shows how he pretends to
be an alcoholic to give the community a reason for his 'unacceptable' behaviour. The next quote show
s Dolphus being accepted by Dill and the other children: "...Glad to've metcha , Mr Raymond, and tha
nks for the drink, it was mighty settlin'...". The Ewells are also outsiders due to the way they liv
e and act. They are very lowly class people (white trash) and have no respect for others, "...people
like the Ewells lived...in the depths of depression...indigenous to filthy surroundings...". Howeve
r the Ewells are never accepted as they have no good qualities behind the way they live: "...there's
just some kind of men you have to shoot before you can say hidy to 'em. Even then, they ain't worth
the bullet it takes to shoot 'em. Ewell 'as one of 'em..." Boo Radley, the main outsider in the nov
el 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is also accepted by the end of the novel as he turns out to save Jem and
Scout's lives and has a connection with scout which shows he is actually a nice person: "...I took h
im [Boo Radley] by the hand...I tugged him a little, and he allowed me to lead him to Jem's bed..."
This quote shows Scout accepting Boo Radley after he saved her life and how she is not frightened an
ymore. This quote allows provides the imagery of the innocence of a child leading Boo Radley away.
The writers show the outsiders as scary to the rest of the community but really not so bad. This is
seen in 'Silas Marner' as we, as the reader, know the reasons for Silas Marner being distant and we
are able to see the ignorance of the other villagers. In 'To Kill A Mockingbird' we see the kindness
of Boo Radley through all the presents he gives to Scout and Jem.
I feel the writers have ulterior
motives behind the outsiders of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and 'Silas Marner'. Both novels provide exa
mples of how ignorance breeds suspicion. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' shows us how our prejudices can mak
e us be suspicious and do wrong, and force people who are actually god people to become outsiders. F
or example, we find out that the evil Boo Radley is not actually evil but kind and docile. Tom Robin
son, the black villager, is actually a good man (contrary to prejudices of the time) and is wrongly
convicted of a crime he did not commit. It also shows how the white people (the Ewells) are in the w
rong, and how they come out of the court case on top even though it was the Ewells that did wrong. F
rom this we see that prejudices against race is wrong. I feel that by describing this through Scout'
s innocence perspective the message is given in a clear and effective manner. In 'Silas Marner', how
ever, I believe the message is more centralised on 'the power of love' rather than prejudices. Howev
er, the novel does contain examples of ignorance breeding suspicion such as Silas Marner's catalepti
c fits, his knowledge of herbs, and the peddler, and how, because he is foreign, is accused of steal
ing Silas Marner's money. I feel the message of 'Silas Marner' is how life should be enjoyed rather
than spent thinking of the past or indulging in petty, material things such as money. I believe the
book also has sub messages about prejudices and stereotypes, and how those with money are not always
the happiest and those with none are unhappiest.
In conclusion, I feel the theme of outsider is ex
plored effectively in both novels but are explored differently. 'Silas Marner' explores the theme of
how someone can become an outsider due to their past and cut themselves off from the rest of the wo
rld because their faith has been shattered. I believe Silas Marner is the symbolism of how someone c
an never lose faith or love, just sometimes they need it reawakened by something pure and free of pr
ejudice like a child, such as Eppie. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' explores the theme of outsider due to r
acism and prejudice against colour and class, rumours and gossip such as racism against blacks and t
he rumours and gossip going around about Boo Radley being violent and evil. I believe the main theme
in 'To Kill A Mockingbird', fits with the context of the book. Racism was in full force in the 1930
s and the novel shows the reader of the time how stereotypes and prejudices about colour are wrong.
You can never fully understand some until you speak to them or witness/experience their actions, suc
h as symbolised by Mr Ewell and Mayella Ewell, who, as they are white, their story is believed in co
urt while an innocent black man goes to prison and dies. In my opinion, both novels express the them
e of outsider in accordance with their social and historical context, which makes both books similar
yet unique in their own right while being equally as entertaining and insightful.
discuss theme ou
tsider silas marner kill mockingbird theme outsider runs throughout both silas marner written harper
kill mockingbird written george eliot many other similarities exist between novels well both novels
written women time were oppression segregation prejudice were around some force both novels involve
character that outsider towards becomes accepted into remote community they found themselves outsid
ers also male also years prior writing giving author hindsight retrospective however differences als
o exist between silas marner england during years just before during industrial revolution whereas k
ill mockingbird south during other differences involve focus does centrally theme radley life radley
more racism prejudice uses radley example product things maycomb alabama however does centrally bec
ame coped became excepted these differences similarities that help portray novel context what makes
interesting while still being unique alabama fictional county named maycomb this historically places
novel midst social prejudice against blacks they accepted communities late through early central en
gland fictional town called lantern yard remote raveloe this time industrial revolution takes place
racism however full force this time foreigners have opportunity immigrate england communities especi
ally remote communities always wary newcomers people look different dress different basis raveloe th
ese items give historical social context which issues deal with perspective with they effects that r
uns through social historical contexts each novel different past certain acts committed which left l
ocked inside house over extensive period making socially impaired became rumours gossip which escala
tes grows such small community causing effect town being scared wary example rumour about about scis
sors incident passed drove scissors into parent such rumour like told children makes them scared giv
es descriptions such malevolent phantom somewhat same types rumours around reasons character becomin
g relevant specific historical context differing appearance differing habits differing lifestyle res
t raveloe rumours develop around witchcraft when helps another villager miraculously other villagers
choice hand misbehaving child looked house choice ideals discipline right wrong actions resulted se
vere punishment against parents forcing into insular nature these adds ways small rumour gossip deve
lops escalates with escape closeness people small inward community hard accepted second smallness in
wardness people speak dress behave same manner fashion without much variance person arrives type per
son lives their heightened fact alike religion plays significant part devotion faith results being l
antern yard faith religion crushed lantern yard naivety cannot accept religion does understand relig
ions only heard baptism grown women what mean christened said last timidly naivety make others later
stages then understand seen quote distance make feel unease quote shows asking about christening ti
midly taking pluck courage class structures appearing similar except jobs example rich poor bottom w
orking class weaver some skill much like child grown working class section because parents close bot
tom structure slightly more skilled than peasants working adds group closer middle structure bottom
like ewells case heightens sense worki rest middle structure similar contain parts frequently flash
back past parts relevant depict life first part shows transition from finally part opening when star
ted raising eppie shows flash backs show reasons what forced leave life living gives emphasise least
sympathise character feel sorry reveals bits parts creates little episodes when runs house touches
presents tree build suspense intrigue reveals speculation happened truth never revealed creating kin
d aura making mysterious between there difference years there leap from acceptance developed reader
actually ordinary person same occurs plot without jump just unfortunate past scout narrator adds inn
ocent perspective from view events allows ignorance naivety older characters gossip effect prejudice
s children allows wrong quite silly omniscient narrator gives perspective reader view events unbiase
d view events outlook story reader judge situation relation rest village without biased perspectives
villages himself potrayed lives civilisation friends never comes never seen anyone speculation rega
rding current position involves misbehaving child punished portrayed ghost phantom malevont phantom
portrayed scary violent interact scout watching them distance placing presents tree them more inabil
ity communicate properly lack skills moved wrongly convicted stealing money drawing lots left bitter
faith shattered trust cruelly bruised moved where weaver interested only money gold guineas purpose
language loneliness hated thought there northing called love fellowship towards strangers come amon
gst future dark unseen love cared quote trust even been diminished only thing felt peaceful money to
ok refuge work scared partly vague fear indebted protecting persecution singularities might have dra
wn upon fear developed because cataleptic fits villagers thinking soul possessed fear protected pers
ecuted because appearance characters outsiders characters regular patterns structures follow live an
other witnessed gypsy peddler rainbow after theft blame looks foreign peddler look fell unpleasantly
snell sensitive organs anyone ignorant suspicions bred follow where dubose dolphus raymond ewells w
ere outsiders black maycomb seen various reasons prejudices affects dubose outside morphine addict s
ide story heard bravest knew died beholden nothing nobody dubose over morphine addiction bravely die
d free another dolphus raymond follows pattern thought have drink problem socialise black much consi
dered scout children innocence shown wrong prejudices forced pretend after revelations some folks li
ve helps folks latch onto reason folks dolphus raymond clutches whisky pretends alcoholic give reaso
n unacceptable behaviour next dill glad metcha thanks drink mighty settlin ewells live very lowly wh
ite trash respect others lived depths depression indigenous filthy surroundings good qualities behin
d just kind shoot before hidy even then worth bullet takes shoot ewell main turns save lives connect
ion actually nice took hand tugged little allowed lead accepting after saved frightened anymore allo
ws provides imagery innocence leading away writers show scary really know distant able ignorance vil
lagers kindness through presents feel writers ulterior motives behind provide examples ignorance bre
eds suspicion make suspicious force actually become find evil evil kind docile robinson black villag
er good contrary wrongly convicted crime commit white come court case even though against race descr
ibing innocence message given clear effective manner believe message centralised power love rather t
han contain examples breeding suspicion cataleptic fits knowledge herbs peddler foreign accused stea
ling message should enjoyed rather than spent thinking indulging petty material things believe book
messages stereotypes those always happiest those none unhappiest conclusion explored effectively exp
lored differently explores someone become their themselves world their been shattered believe symbol
ism someone lose sometimes need reawakened something pure free eppie explores racism colour blacks g
oing violent evil main fits book full stereotypes colour fully understand until speak witness experi
ence actions symbolised ewell mayella ewell white story believed court while innocent goes prison di
es opinion express accordance makes books similar unique right while equally entertaining insightful
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