Chance plays a significant role in Silas Marner. Crucially, it is chance that changes Silas's life. In order to determine who was guilty of stealing the bag of church money, the church's congregants draw lots. Silas, though circumstances make him appear guilty, is certain that drawing lots will show his innocence. He bows in prayer,

relying on his own innocence being certified by immediate divine interference, but feeling that there was sorrow and mourning behind for him even then—that his trust in man had been cruelly bruised. The lots declared that Silas Marner was guilty.

This occurrence drives Silas into bitterness and despair, and also into leaving Lantern Yard for Raveloe.

At Raveloe, chance again changes Silas's life, this time for the better. On New Year's Eve, Molly comes to Raveloe and by coincidence happens to die outside of Silas's cottage with little Eppie in her arms. By chance, the toddler looks up and wants to catch the light she sees shining and dancing out from Silas's open door. She heads for the door and enters, attracted by the warm fire on the hearth, which she falls asleep in front of.

Silas completely misses her entrance, but when he does see her, he thinks at first that this "heap of gold" is his "restored treasure." She is, in fact, a metaphoric treasure that will bring redemption and joy back into his life, but not in the way he thinks.

It is coincidence that causes Molly to die by Silas's cottage, bringing new life to him through her little daughter. This kind of coincidence, often framed as providential, is typical of the Victorian novel.

What role do chance and coincidence play in Silas Marner?

Coincidence, or chance, is a key driver of the plot in this novel. Some instances of chance are outlined below:

It is chance that sends the good-hearted Silas into exile from his religious community. Although he is a generous man who has done no wrong, he is accused by a false friend, William Dane, of a theft the friend committed. The community subjects Silas to chance through a superstitious ritual in which he has to draw lots. This shows him to be a thief when, in fact, he is not:

Silas knelt with his brethren, relying on his own innocence being certified by immediate divine interference, but feeling that there was sorrow and mourning behind for him even then—that his trust in man had been cruelly bruised. The lots declared that Silas Marner was guilty.

It is by chance that the embittered Silas ends up in Raveloe, a small, isolated village. It is by chance that Dunstan sees Silas's door open and manages to find and steal his hoard of gold⁠—Dunstan has no premeditated idea of robbing Silas but simply acts opportunistically.

It is by chance or coincidence that the destitute Molly dies just outside Silas's door in the lane in the snow, and also that his door happens to be open so that the tiny golden-haired Eppie wanders in, having a transformative effect on Silas's life and softening his hard heart.

It is by chance, too, that Dunstan's skeleton is found along with Silas's stolen gold.

All of these instance are improbable, but they illuminate the larger theme of poetic justice. All works out for the best for good characters like Silas, even when fate seems to be working against them, and all works out for ill for evil characters. The strange and perhaps startlingly coincidental way events work out is typical of a Victorian novel and suggests that there is a divine providence at work, pulling strings to reward those with pure and good hearts.