Silas Marner

In a word, what is the most major theme of this novel? { Example, themes of To Kill a Mockingbird are: dignity of the human person, the effects of poverty—both financial and spiritual, justice, honor, coming of age, loss of innocence} Why did you choose that one for Silas Marner? How do you see that theme played out in the story? Which theme that we’ve mentioned here do you think is the most major or important? Why? Descriptive subtitle for the novel—Silas Marner, the story of. ..

JUSTICE is the theme that attracted my attention as I re-read the novel Who gets what they deserve? Why do they deserve that? Who, if anyone, doesn’t get what they deserve? Why is that?

Why do bad things happen to good people and vice versa? Eliot offers answers to these questions through different characters: Dunstan Godfrey Silas Beginning/Middle/End For each character: What is their greatest fault? What is their greatest virtue? How do these relate to what happens to them?

Silas Marner has many elements of a fairy tale—see the first lines. “In the days when. . .” One purpose of a fairy tale is instruction. According to George Eliot, as she presents the world in Silas Marner, what can/should we do in the face of bad luck and injustice? Dolly (p. 138) (p. 155 Nancy’s reproach) Is she correct? Do you agree? Why or why not? POINT THE AUTHOR IS MAKING You must choose to actively live your life in order to have happiness and hope.Godfrey and Silas are both essentially passive—leaves them caught in a “loop.” Only by taking action, and finally confronting their pasts is there hope and a clear future for either character.