Silas Marner

Question 1

Character: Silas Marner

Answer 1

Thesis: Eliot portrays Marner as an old weaver who has
lost connection with society, but then finds it
due to a special arrival.

Quotes:
- “his heart had been as a locked casket with its
treasure inside; but now the casket was empty, and
the lock was broken”
- “Gold!—his own gold—brought back to him as
mysteriously as it had been taken away!”
- “the child was come instead of the gold—that the gold
had turned into the child.”
- “I can’t part with it, I can’t let it go…It’s come to me -
I’ve a right to keep it”

Question 2

Theme: Faith

Answer 2

Thesis: Eliot displays Faith as an ever changing state of

mind that can alter in a second.

Question 3

Character: Godfrey Cass

Answer 3

Thesis: Eliot presents Godfrey as the most noble and handsome man in the village however he hides his secrets in the shadows.

Quotes:
- “with a sense of relief and gladness”
- “she has thriven as well as a child can do with the
weaver”
- “When God Almighty wills it, all secrets come out”

Question 4

Theme: Morality

Answer 4

Thesis: Eliot presents a world in which a characters’

personality determines their fate.

Question 5

Character: Eppie

Answer 5

Thesis: Eliot displays Eppie as a beautiful young girl
who is a symbol of society for Marner.

Quotes:
- “I can’t think o’ no happiness without him”
- “she has thriven as well as a child can do with the
weaver”
- “The gold had turned into the child”

Question 6

Theme: Fear of the unknown

Answer 6

Thesis: Eliot presents fear as what characterises the
attitudes of people.
Represented by the stone pits near Marner’s house.

Question 7

Character: Nancy Lammeter

Answer 7

Thesis: Eliot presents Nancy as an elegant woman who
is committed to Godfrey; even his past
mistakes.

Quotes:
- “It wouldn’t be right to want to force her to come to us
against her will”
- “Everything comes to light, Nancy, sooner or later. When God Almighty wills it, our secrets are found out.”
- “It’s part of my punishment, Nancy, for my daughter to dislike me.”

Question 8

Theme: Limits of the human knowledge

Answer 8

Thesis: Eliot displays the limits of human knowledge as
inexplicable good or bad fortune that is not
affected by a persons choices or actions.

Question 9

Character: Dunstan Cass

Answer 9

Thesis: Eliot portrays Dunstan as a devious and
manipulative man who prioritises drinking and
gambling.

Quotes:
- “I might tell the Squire how his handsome son was
married to that nice young woman […] and I should
slip into your place as comfortable as could be”
- “Where is the money?”
- “might turn out to be a sowing of something worse
than wild oats”

Question 10

Theme: The individual and society

Answer 10

Thesis: Eliot presents society through the differences
between Lantern Yard and Raveloe as well as
Marner’s connection to the people in these
villages.

Question 11

Character: Dolly Winthrop

Answer 11

Thesis: Eliot depicts Dolly as a kind, open-heated and
wise woman and mother who is a persistent
friend to Marner every time.

Quotes:

• “it’s niver too late to turn over a new leaf”
• ””
• ””

Question 12

Character: Squire Cass

Answer 12

Thesis: Eliot portrays the Squire as the most prominent
man in the village who holds great authority
and is not one to disagree with.

Quotes:

• ””
• ””
• ””

Question 13

Character: Molly Farren

Answer 13

Thesis: Eliot presents Molly as a woman troubled by
the neglect of her husband and her use of
opium.

Quotes:
- "the demon Opium to whom she was enslaved, body 
    and soul,"
- ""
- ""

Question 14

Sarah

Answer 14

Thesis: Eliot displays Sarah as a loving fiancé to Marner
until he is framed for robbing the church.

Quotes:

• ””
• ””
• ””

Question 15

William Dane

Answer 15

Thesis: Eliot presents William as deceitful man and
friend to Marner by framing him in the interests
of marrying his fiancé.

Quotes:

• ””
• ””
• ””

Question 16

Theme: Greed

Answer 16

Eliot presents greed as an aspect of life fulfilled by community and not wealth.

Quotes:
- “God will clear me”
- “Where is the money?”
- “Gold!—his own gold—brought back to him as
mysteriously as it had been taken away!”
- “I can’t think o’ no happiness without him”

Where to start:

1. William Dane steals Marner’s money - This is a defining start because it sets Silas onto the path of greed due to another person’s greed.
2. Dunstan’s greed is fuelled by addiction and pleasure seeking beyond his means. Mention patrimony here.
3. Silas’ reaction to his money being stolen. Greed has replaced his faith. Money as friends.
4. Eppie’s refusal of status and money shows that family and community are stronger in delivering happiness than money.