Silas Marner
by George Eliot
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At a glance:
- Author: George Eliot
- First Published: 1861
- Type of Work: Victorian Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Fable, Domestic realism
- Subjects: Values, Child rearing or parenting, Children, Family or family life, Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Marriage, Mistaken or secret identity, Betrayal, Rural or country life, Alienation, England or English people, Adultery, Adoption or adopted children, Greed, Faith, Small-town life, Money, Theft, Loneliness, Gossip, Gold, Precious metals or stones, Weaving or weavers
- Locales: England
In an incident briefly recounted at the beginning of the novel, Silas Marner is cruelly betrayed by his best friend, who steals some money and contrives evidence suggesting that Silas is guilty. When a trial by lots conducted by Silas’ narrow Protestant sect confirms his guilt, Silas is bitterly disillusioned with divine, as well as human, justice. Moving to a rural village in central England, he isolates himself from all contact with the community and, by his assiduous weaving, accumulates a substantial sum in gold coins.
Silas’ lonely and miserly life is disrupted when his...
(The entire page is 729 words.)
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Popular Questions
See all »- In Silas Marner, what is Eliot's method of description of how Silas finds the child's mother in the snow?
- In Silas Marner, why might it be relevant that Silas's first thought is that the child he finds is his little sister?
- Contrast Silas' life in Lantern Yard with that in Raveloe in Silas Marner.
- Why does George Eliot use irony in Silas Marner? What is her reason for using irony?
- In Silas Marner, how does Dunstan justify to himself stealing Silas' gold?
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