Silas Marner - The Rural Life
Uploaded by breeze_whisper on May 08, 2001
The life that could be lived in a village at 1861, which was so near of the time of the Industrial Revolution, is a simple life. People at that time were simple minded, and care most about their work. They do not understand much of their religion, as it is exemplified in the novel. We could see that when Mrs. Winthrop talks about that she does not understand much of what she hears or read on Sunday services, still she believes since her heart in relief to what it said.
When Henry Austen analyses George Eliot description of the villagers he says:
But at the same time that she continues to mock the loose habits and trivial minds of the villagers, George Eliot also begins to show them in more flattering light. [229]
Based on Henry’s analyses, it is clear that Eliot view villagers as simple-minded people. They are as well superstitious thinking he’s some kind of a witch. That is why they do not accept Silas, when he first came. Add to it, he was different than them and acted strangely, and that he was an out sider to their rural community. His stolen money makes them sympathize with him, however. Then his foster to Eppie made them not be afraid of him and accept him as a member. Further inclinations to this aspect will be elaborated in the following:
The community remains essentially the same, but the author now provides it with an opportunity to demonstrate its humanity, good will, and potential for genuine sociability, which serve to soften, if not erase, our awareness of its crudeness. [Austen, Henry. 230]
Although this community is simple and full of superstitions, it is still warm hearted and full of love. It is shown of their reject first to Silas, and then their sympathy and acceptance to him. Not only that, but also to build a warm relationship with him as a neighbor, he is now “met with open smiling faces and cheerful questioning, as a person whose satisfactions and difficulties could be understood.”[Silas Marner. Ch.14]
Works Cited:
Austen, Henry. A Qualified Redemption of Ordinary and Fallible Humanity. 1970. 225,229,230.
Carroll, David. Reversing the Oracles of Religion. 1967. 197,198,199.
Dickens, Charles. Hard Times: An Authority Text, Background, Sources, And Contemporary Reactions Criticism. NewYork: W.W. Norton & Company. 2,1990. Ch.1: 1, ch.7: 203, ch.8: 210 & 211, ch.9: 218.
Eliot, George. Silas Marner. London: Penguin Books. 1996. Ch.8: 66, ch.14:...