Silas Marner
Silas Marner
The Weaver of Raveloe
by: George Elliot
My sister gave me this book for Christmas, and I had seen 2 TV versions before I read this. Wishbone, which was very good (I always love Wishbone), the more modern-ish Steve Martin one. It is so nice to finally read the book and learn all of the details left out on film. For example the story of the Cass brothers and their money schemes, plus Godfrey's situation with Nancy Lammeter. But even more nice to know is Silas' background, the story of his epileptic fits and his horrible friend who kicks him out to steal his fiancée. Not as nice to know is how very sad his condition has become, and how much the villagers fear/dispise him.
by: George Elliot
My sister gave me this book for Christmas, and I had seen 2 TV versions before I read this. Wishbone, which was very good (I always love Wishbone), the more modern-ish Steve Martin one. It is so nice to finally read the book and learn all of the details left out on film. For example the story of the Cass brothers and their money schemes, plus Godfrey's situation with Nancy Lammeter. But even more nice to know is Silas' background, the story of his epileptic fits and his horrible friend who kicks him out to steal his fiancée. Not as nice to know is how very sad his condition has become, and how much the villagers fear/dispise him.
There isn't much for descriptions of English scenery in this novel, surprising to me.
Sometimes I wish George Eliot (a woman btw, Mary Ann Evans) would get to the point sooner, I just know what will happen but it takes forever to get there!
According to Wikipedia, "Ultimately, Silas Marner is a tale of familial love and loyalty, reward and punishment, humble friendships."
*New layout btw. I like this one, it is more airy and spread-out. Reminds me of imagining and reading books.
*New layout btw. I like this one, it is more airy and spread-out. Reminds me of imagining and reading books.
1 comment:
Courtesy of Wikipedia.com
The novel is set in the earlier years of the 19th century. Silas Marner is a weaver in a small religious community, Lantern Yard. He is also a highly thought of member of a dissenting chapel. Silas is engaged to a female member of the church and thinks that his future happiness is assured. However, due to the betrayal of a fellow parishioner, who blames him for a theft that he did not commit, Silas is expelled from the congregation. He finds out later that his former fiancee married the man who had betrayed him.
Later on, he goes to settle near the village of Raveloe, where he lives as a recluse who exists only for work and his precious hoard of money until that money is stolen by Dunstan Cass, a dissolute son of Squire Cass, the town's leading landowner. The loss of his gold drives Silas into a deep gloom, although a number of the villagers endeavour to help him.
Soon, however, an orphaned child comes to Raveloe. She was not known by the people there, but she is really the child of Godfrey Cass, the eldest son of the local squire. Her mother, Molly, is secretly married to Godfrey, but is also of low birth and addicted to opium and alcohol. Molly attempts to make her way into town with the child to prove that she is Godfrey's wife and ruin him. However, on the way she overdoses on opium and freezes to death in the snow. The small child wanders from her mother's still body into Silas' house. Silas names the child Eppie (after his deceased sister Hephzibah) and her presence changes his life completely. Symbolically, Silas loses his material gold to theft only to have it replaced by the golden-haired Eppie. Later in the book, the gold is found and restored. Eppie grows up to be the pride of the town and to have a very strong bond with Silas, who through her has found inclusion in the town. Later, the childless Godfrey and Nancy Lammeter arrive at Silas' door, revealing the truth about Eppie's family and asking that Silas give Eppie up to their care. However, the decision falls to Eppie, who has no desire to be raised as a gentlemen's daughter if it means forsaking Silas. At the end, Eppie marries a local boy, Aaron, son of Dolly Winthrop, and both of them move into Silas' newly enlarged house, courtesy of Godfrey.
Ultimately, Silas Marner is a tale of familial love and loyalty, reward and punishment, and humble friendships.
Post a Comment