“”Silas MarnerThrough out this marvellously written novel, George Elliot use ofbeautiful language and imagery makes ‘Silas Marner’ one of the greatestever reads. After being was accused of stealing church money and declaredguilty even though he wasn’t, Silas Marner lost his relationships withfriends and loved ones. Unable to cope with the shame, which was cast uponhim, Marner moved away to a small town and secluded himself from any socialactivities or events, finding his security in his gold. Then one day, alittle girl walked into his home and into his life and he discovered thatthere are some things more precious than gold.
The book opens with an insight into Silas Marner’s life and buildscharacter personalities. With such detailed descriptions, the books seemsto begin a little slow but picks up a quicker pace as the reader begins tofurther themselves in the story.
Discovered quickly, is the realisation of how quickly somebody’sfortunes can change. This is demonstrated by the way in which Marner’s lucktakes an awful turn and his world, in which he was once well to do, isturned upside down. This occurs, not because of Marner’s own relapse, butdue to the actions of the people he trusted. It shows how quickly acommunities’ opinion can change after an accusation from an influentialindividual.
It is clearly stated that simply because one aspect of your life hasgone in a different direction to which you first anticipated, this is notthe end. Marner demonstrates this when he changes his fortune by re-inventing himself and creating a new life in which he shuts himself awayfrom the world and focuses on a new aim, collecting gold. This recluse isdue to the fact that Marner, after being hurt so badly by the people heonce loved, does not trust and believes he cannot love another like he oncedid.
When Marner is again hurt because of his trust in society, his worldcrumbles beneath him. He again experiences the hurt, which had destroyedhim before. Luck seems to be running out for him and his state of minddeteriorates with each passing day.
After all hope had failed him, Marner’s luck eventually changed. Hislife took a change and all because of one special girl, Eppie. This childsymbolised all the happiness and joy that could be brought into somebody’slife. Marner began to feel love again and came to think of Eppie as his owndaughter. She was his life.
Luck plays a huge part in the story of ‘Silas Marner’. It fillseveryday life with adventure and can change a person life immensely. It canmake a person or totally destroy their life. “What goes around comesaround”. A statement, which only begins to describe the truth behind aperson’s life and the luck, which determines how they will spend the restof their life. This is of course true to the story of an unbelievableperson, Silas Marner.
– Elise Rowe 9EN1
