Mentor Yourself: Book Review – Silas Marner By George Eliot

Book Review – Silas Marner By George Eliot

Bad things happen to all of us, although it may appear that some people have more valleys in their lives than others. When bad things consistently happen, are we being prepared for something great? I cannot answer that question, but it’s one that is worth thinking about.

I’m slowly easing into reading the classics, and it’s a change of pace for me, but I have started to enjoy them. I get very emotionally involved when I read books and I do not know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. The more I read the classics, the more I get to know myself.

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To get the most from this SummaReview, after you have read it, answer the following questions:

1. Is this a book you’d like to read for myself? Why? Why not?
2. What are your impressions of Silas Marner?
3. What has made an impression on me in this reading?
4. Were there any kernels of wisdom in this reading?
5. Is there a framework that you can use in your life and work?
6. What are five takeaways from the SummaReview?
7. What is one action that you can take as a result of reading this SummaReview?

Silas Marner by George Eliot has a very ominous start, and you find yourself asking many questions like what do they mean by disinherited race, the Evil One and the living dead? Sounds like a ghost story doesn’t it? The story is about an outsider, and how he becomes an insider. Most socialized people do not like the feeling of being outside looking in, but Silas Marner feels comfortable doing just that, why?

Silas Marner is a linen weaver, and a fairly happy person. He has a best friend, William Dane and a fiancée, Sarah, a young servant woman. Marner is also a part of Lantern Yard, a church community and is very actively involved.

One day Silas Marner is summoned to Lantern Yard and is accused of stealing money from the church. Marner had always been an honest person all his life, yet when he tells them that he didn’t steal the money, no one believes him. Though he is a simple person, he figures out that the culprit is no other than his best friend William Dane. Marner has no hard proof and he is found guilty by the “drawing of lots” and is banished from his faith community. About a month later his fiancée and best friend get married.

That’s too much for Marner so he leaves and settles in the village of Raveloe far away. Marner makes no effort to get to know the residents, and when people don’t know you they make up tales to satisfy their curiosity. They have to deal with him though because he is an excellent linen weaver. Marner is paid much better for his services than he was accustomed to, and is able to save most of the money.

Marner loses his way because he has no purpose in life. He lives a miserly life hoarding the money, and he starts to metaphorically worship the money. Each evening after eating supper, he takes out his money from the hiding place and counts it – he appears to get a high from that ritual. One evening after going out for a short period of time, he didn’t close his door because he thinks it’s very safe. When he returns, he has an urge to count his money before eating, but lo and behold the money is missing. He searchers everywhere thinking that perhaps he had put it in some other spot. Not only did Marner hoard his money, but he equated it to companionship.

Also in the story, you are learning about Squire Cass and his lazy sons, and you are now wondering what does this have to do with Silas Marner. But the reader figures out what’s going on a very long time before the characters do. Silas Marner by George Eliot focuses on two of the Squire’s sons, Godfrey and Dunstan Cass. Dunstan pressures Godfrey to do things like giving him money that’s been collected for their father. Godfrey is weak and has a secret that he doesn’t want others to know about. He is in love with Nancy and people wonder why he doesn’t propose, but he can’t because he is already married to someone who is addicted to opium. Dunstan knows his brother’s secret and holds it over his head.

It’s worthy to note that the same time Silas Marner’s money is stolen, Dunstan Cass disappears, but no one makes the connection. Is it because he is from a wealthy family and is believed to be above reproach? When Marner tells the story about the money he does so in a clear and simple manner, and you have no choice but to believe him. His life ceases to have meaning when his money is stolen, but it also sets him free.

One New Year’s Eve, a two year old toddler wanders into Marner’s home and falls asleep on the hearth. When he discovers her, he wonders where she came from. Following her tiny footsteps, he finds a dead woman. Hugging the child he reports what has happened, and the “authorities” go to take a look. Godfrey insists on going to take a look, why? Because he thinks it is his wife, and it is, but he doesn’t say anything, and doesn’t claim his daughter. Instead, he marries Nancy.

Marner refuses to give up the girl who he has named Eppie because he believes she was sent to him, and with the help of the town he manages. Godfrey helps out but never discloses why, and over the years, he tries to get Nancy to adopt Eppie but she refuses. They had one child together which died. Having to take care of Eppie brings meaning to Marner’s life, and he once again becomes a likeable person – he also sees the goodness in others.

At some point, years later, Godfrey realizes that it was his brother who stole Marner’s money. Dunstan never returns to Raveloe, however, Godfrey does the right thing by returning the money to Marner. When Eppie turns 18 years, Godfrey suffers from a crisis of conscience. He finally confesses to Nancy and they decide to adopt Eppie. However, Marner is the only father Eppie has known and he always took care of her and showered her with love all through years.

Eppie turns down Godfrey’s offer because she has no need for his riches.

Marner asks Eppie to journey with him to the place he came from because he has some unfinished business. When they get there, Lantern Yard no longer exists, could that have been the disinherited race? Marner cannot find anyone he knew decades ago.

We like to have puzzles solved, and things to be nice and tidy, but that’s not life and sometimes we simply have to make peace. Silas Marner by George Eliot demonstrates the importance of having a purpose in our lives. Money is meant to do good not to hoarded and worshipped. Sometimes we have to lose things in order to find more important things. I recommend Silas Marner by George Eliot.

SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 1

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 2

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 3

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 4

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 5

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 6

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 7

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 8

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 9

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SILAS MARNER – THE WEAVER OF RAVELOE PART 10

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