No story could seem as mundane as that of a weaver in an English village.The ennui of this theme is buttressed by its occurrence in the Victorian era, where every movement, every conversation, every occasion, every instance of laughter and every emotion seems profusely genteel.
Silas Marner is the weaver of Raveloe, an agrarian community in the rural hinterlands of England. He lives in solitude, being self-exiled from his earlier dwelling after being falsely accused for murder. The belief in God and the hold in religion has been shaken for Silas, who has never entertained a malefic thought in his mind and who has professed his beliefs devoutly.
Sounding true to the premonition, when misfortune strikes, it strikes in a streak and Silas loses his hard earned money saved up for fifteen years in a heist. A life beset by events that question the benevolence and faith of Silas, is suddenly transformed by a new gift he finds without any effort.Nothing could have been more fortuitous for Silas, the gift happens to a baby girl called Eppie at his doorstep. Silas traces the baby to its dead mother outside his home and becomes a father for the girl who is orphan no more. Eppie and Silas fill each others life with ardour and the comfort of a family where a father finds meaning in his life and a daughter is blessed by a loving parent. Silas is enchanted by the new presence in his home. Eppie begins to ebb away the forlornness in his life and his monetary loss seems so trifling to his reward from God. Silas is no longer ignored by the people of Raveloe, he is part of the community and everyone knows him by Silas as opposed to the 'weaver'. The denouement of the story is reached when Eppie's real father seeks her custody and Silas is left to ponder at his merciless fate.
A brilliant work of fiction from George Eliot, this short novel of hers throws light on the complex relationship an individual and the society has with his religion. It cleverly exposes the vice and immorality that has firmly ensconced itself among the clergy and yet it does not seek to censure or shun religion or theologists.
Eliot seems to focus on painting situations that leave a deep impression on her readers to help them form their own opinion rather than evincing a view or moralising a story.An attentive reader would be able to discern how the author exposes the gullibility of the reader as she contradicts her own narratives and mocks at the docility of people,yet she does not belittle her readers, in turn, she helps her readers emerge mindful of the judgements they draw from the writing.
Summarily, Silas Marner is a novel that challenges our perceptions and perhaps even taunts us intellectually to question faith, society and life in a whole new way.
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