Silas Marner and Two Short Stories (Barnes & Noble
Classics Series)
by George Eliot
I had to write a paper about this for my lit class, so it is my review.
(view spoiler)[George Eliot: The Style of Brilliance
How could a story about the life of a miserable weaver ever become popular? Although
the odds of such a story containing any intrigue seemed no better than one-hundred to one, the
masterful author Mary Anne Evans did that exact thing. Setting her story in the early industrial
era, Miss Evans, known as George Eliot to her readers, created a fable-like tale about a
hoodwinked weaver named Silas whose life was transformed forever when disingenuous
Godfrey Cass refused to live up to his responsibilities. She labeled it Silas Marner. According
to George Levine, “ Silas Marner (1861) is…perhaps the most accessible to modern readers” of
all of Eliot’s writings (xiii). Although the actual plot of Silas Marner is rather simple, Eliot
provides “accessible” and enjoyable literature to her readers through her rich writing style, which
displays itself through interludes, symbolism, and character dialects.
To begin, Eliot utilized interludes to add depth, insight, and a colorful background to
Silas Marner. Eliot created two interludes to educate her readers about the society of Raveloe,
and to add depth to the characters of the book. Each supplemented the book with information
about the people surrounding Silas and Godfrey. The first interlude began directly after Silas
discovered that his precious gold had been stolen (Eliot, 39). Switching from Silas’s dilemma,
the scene shifted to the town’s tavern. From this chapter it became clear that the poorer folk of
Raveloe, though are poorly educated, were a close-knit group, each man proud of his position in
the community, however small it is. (Eliot, 42-51). The second interlude acted similarly to the
the community, however small it is. (Eliot, 42-51). The second interlude acted similarly to the
first. Set after the anxious Christmas celebrations of Godfrey, this chapter revealed the lives of
the wealthy personages of Raveloe, especially Nancy Lammeter (Eliot, 83-90). Although not as
closely connected to one another as their poorer neighbors, the wealthy men and women enjoyed
one another’s company, but seemed to argue less than the working class (84-101). By inserting
interludes into her tale, Eliot added depth and insight to Silas Marner.
Secondly, Eliot steeped Silas Marner in symbolism. Eliot contributed many symbols to
her book including the hearth, the loom, and Silas’s door, but one symbol in particular stood out
amongst the rest: gold. At first, money was a non-issue with Silas, but after being betrayed by
his nearest friends, he turned to money as a means of escape from the lonely monotony of his life
(Eliot, 17-18). As he hoarded more and more gold, Silas became wound around himself- his
gold acted as a symbol of his inner focus and hopelessness. Eliot wrote, “His life had reduced
itself to the functions of weaving and hoarding, without any contemplation of an end toward
which the functions tended” (18). When Eppie replaced Silas’s gold, she became his new most
prized possession (Eliot, 109). Instead of wrapping him around himself, however, she
“unwound” Silas from his selfishness, “link[ing] him once more with the whole world” (Eliot,
125). Eppie acted as a symbol of Silas’s “new gold,” pulling him away from his selfishness and
back into the world. Saturated in symbolism, Silas Marner displayed Eliot’s rich writing style.
Finally, Eliot’s richly unique writing style shone as she created an identifiable speaking
style for each of the prominent characters in Silas Marner. Each of Eliot’s characters spoke
English, but she gave each a dialect to match his position and personality. Narrated with
precision and eloquence, Eliot’s educated writing style contrasted strongly with the voices of her
characters, but none the less, she succeeded in making them “colorful in their ignorance and
sympathetic in their narrowness” (Levine, xxvii). For example, Silas conversed like a miser,
claiming Eppie as his possession: “It’s come to me—I’ve a right to keep it” (Levine, xxx- Eliot,
109). Similarly, Dolly Whinthrop murmured kindly, but ignorantly, according to her character:
“If there’s any good to be got we’ve need of it I’ this world—that we have- and I hope [the cakes
will] bring good to you” (Eliot, 77). Eppie, influenced by both Silas and Mrs. Winthrop,
delivered a joyful combination of their two dialects: “there’s lots o’ loose stones about, some of
‘em not big” (Eliot, 140). By laying the foundation of an identifiable speaking style for each of
her characters, Eliot illustrated her beautiful writing style.
Despite its simple premise, Eliot’s “accessible” book has delighted and enlightened many
readers. One of the reasons her tale is so loved is because of the deep and thought-provoking
writing style of the author. With interludes to elucidate her readers about the background of
Raveloe, Eliot gathered attention. Bloating Silas Marner with symbolism, Eliot filled the book
with hidden depth and meaning. Carefully creating individual character dialects, Eliot enabled
Silas Marner to be interesting to read and believable. With insightful interludes, stacks of
symbolism and colorful character dialects, Eliot infused her brilliant writing style into her book.
No wonder Silas Marner is so enjoyed! (hide spoiler)]
||So, this is the book I decided to read for AP Lit. And I liked it. For a school book, I really liked it. Especially after
Eppie showed up. The ending was really good, and the plot was interesting. I liked Silas and Eppie, althought there
were some characters I really didn't like. The biggest problem was all the fluff. Some parts just took FOREVER to
read because of all the fluff or just being slow. Overall, I like the book a lot, but I probably wouldn't read it again.|I
am glad to say I have read a novel by George Eliot. I have tried unsuccessfully to read Middlemarch many times,
so I am glad I was able to read Silas Marner. But she just gives me way too many details about village life that I
just cant get into and too much information about characters who are not involve dint he story at all. George Eliot
is my favorite professor's favorite author, but I just cant get into her!|What I learned from this book is how tender
and sweet love can change a person, and bring hope and purpose into a life that has long ago been dimmed by
misfortune and isolation. It took me a few pages to get into the language and rhythm of Eliot's short story. It
reminds me of Thomas Hardy or Charles Dickens, and just takes reading a few pages before I can hear the words
correctly in my head. The story takes place in the late 1700's, in Raveloe,a small English village where Silas has
come to settle and work as a weaver after some unfortunate dishonest acts by his friend. From the beginning to
reminds me of Thomas Hardy or Charles Dickens, and just takes reading a few pages before I can hear the words
correctly in my head. The story takes place in the late 1700's, in Raveloe,a small English village where Silas has
come to settle and work as a weaver after some unfortunate dishonest acts by his friend. From the beginning to
almost the end of the book Silas leads a lonely, hard and isolated life. With no one to love him, he in turn loves no
one. But as events unfold and Eppie comes into his life, it is wonderful to feel the warmth emanating from the
hearth in their humble cottage. I lived in fear that the ending might leave him broken hearted, but joyfully there is
a sweet and peaceful conclusion.