Silas Marner By George Eliot
George Eliot was born Mary Anne Evans in
Warwickshire on the 22nd of November, 1819. The daughter of a successful
artisan and land agent, Mary Anne grew up to become one of the most popular
novelists of the 19th century, adored by Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens and
Charles Darwin, amongst many others. ‘She really was one of the most sceptical,
unusual creatures I ever knew,' wrote one of her admirers.
George
Eliot’s novels, Silas Marner is set in the rural England of the
author’s childhood memories. Like her other novels, too, the work is
meticulously realistic in many aspects of its dialogue, description, and
characterization. Unlike most of her novels, however, Silas Marner is
very short, with an almost geometrically formal structure, and its plot relies
upon some rather improbable incidents. Such elements reflect the author’s
intent to deal with profound themes in the form of a fable.
In
Silas’ story, George Eliot obliquely approaches the realm of spiritual truth by
depicting the restoration of faith in the heart of a very simple man. The
old-fashioned rural setting is important as a frame; its cultural remoteness from
the world of the reader gives it the archaic simplicity and uncontested
credibility of a fable or fairy tale. Even so, George Eliot critics have never
been comfortable with the implication that somehow Eppie has been given to
Silas by a benevolent providence in return for his lost gold. The question of
the author’s stance is especially problematic in view of her own agnosticism.
Although George Eliot herself as a child was an ardent, evangelical Christian,
in maturity (like many Victorian intellectuals) she rejected traditional
beliefs for a humanist credo.
If
the metaphysical implications of Silas Marner go beyond the realm of
earthly reality, the primary moral intent of the author is firmly grounded in
human relationships. As is the case in her other novels, the bonds of love,
sympathy, and fellow feeling are the highest good that one can truly know. As
such, they are redemptive in themselves and are the basis of George Eliot’s
“religion of humanity.” Although she doubts the existence of God, she is assured
of the existence of a sublime, collective goodness. Thus, in both stories, the
power of human affection, especially as shown by the women of the novel, heals
psychic wounds, restores humanity, and, insofar as it can, atones for
wrongdoing. In Godfrey’s story, it is Nancy who serves in this role. She is a
“centered” personality who counterbalances Godfrey’s lack of inner strength;
her love for him unites her sensitive, affectionate nature with her deep moral
principles. In Silas’ story, Dolly Winthrop and, later, Eppie, perform
comparable functions. Dolly’s good sense and warm sympathy provide Silas with a
lifeline to a restored faith in humanity and God. Eppie’s decision at the end
to remain with Silas reflects the strength of their shared affection and
affirms the bonds of feeling as the surest basis of right choice.
No comments:
Post a Comment