Silas Marner (Magill Book Reviews)
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 long]
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