AN OUTLINE STORY OF SILAS MARNER

 

 

AN OUTLINE STORY OF SILAS MARNER       

 

            Silas Marner lives a solitary life in Lantern Yard. He is a weaver. During ‘fits’ he is not aware of the happenings around him. Silas loves a servant-woman by name Sarah. His friend name is William Dane. William says that Silas comes under the influence of Satan when he falls into fits. An old deacon dies when Silas is fast asleep by his bed. Silas is unjustly accused of theft by his own friend, so he leaves Lanten Yard and settles in Ravelo. In Ravelo, he takes pleasure in earning through weaving and counting the shining coins that he has kept hidden in the floor of his cottage.

            The most important family in Ravelo is the family of Squire Cass. His eldest son Godfrey has secretly married a disreputable opium addict by name Molley Farren. It is said that Godfrey would marry Nancy Lammeter. Dunstan blackmails Godfrey with threat to reveal the marriage to their father. Godfrey gives 100 pounds to Dunstan. The money given by Godfrey is the rent money paid one of their father’s tenants. Since neither brothers are not able to raise the money. They decide to sell Godfrey’s horse, Wildfire to repay the loan. Dunstan rides Wildfire over a fence. The horse falls and dies. Knowing the rumors of Silas’s hoard, Dunstan makes plans to intimidate the weaver into lending him money. His walk home takes him by Silas’s cottage, and, finding the cottage empty,

Dunstan decides to steal Silas Marner’s hidden gold. He takes the gold and goes out stumbling through the night. He falls into an abandoned quarry pit and is killed. Nobody knows what has happened to Dunstan. Godfrey tells his father about the rent money he has given Dunstan and about the loss of the valuable horse Wildfire, which has been found dead.

            Silas is utterly disconsolate at the loss of his gold and numbly continues his weaving. Some of the town people offer their condolences and advice to Silas. Among them Dolly Winthrop encourages Silas to go to church.

            On New Year’s Eve, Molley, Godfrey’s secret wife is making her way to the Cass’ house to reveal the secret marriage. She has their two-year old daughter in her arms. Tiring after her long walk, Molley takes opium and dies in the snow. Seeing Sila’s Cottage and drawn by the light of the fire, Molley’s little girl wanders through the open door and falls asleep at Silas hearth. Because of fits, Silas doesn’t notice the child enter his cottage. Returning from an errand, Silas sees a golden gleam in front of his hearth which he mistakes for his lost gold. On closer examination, he discovers a sleeping baby. Following the child’s tracks through the snow, he comes upon the body of the dead woman.

When Silas goes to the Squire’s house with the baby to find the doctor, Godfrey recognizing his daughter and has no courage to claim the baby for his own. Silas adopts the child. He grows increasingly attached to the child and names her Eppie, after his mother and sister. With Dolly Winthrop’s help, Silas raises the child lovingly. Eppie begins to serve as a bridge between Silas and the rest of the villagers, who offer him help and advice and have come to think of him as an exemplary person because of what he has done. Eppie also brings Silas out of the benumbed state he fell into after the loss of his gold. In his newfound happiness, Silas begins to explore the memories of his past that he has long repressed.

Years pass now Silas cottage takes on a new appearance. Dolly brings her son Aaron to play with Eppie. Godfrey marries Nancy, but it is a childless union. For sixteen years Godfrey secretly carries with him the thought of his child growing up under the care of Silas. An old stone quarry which is drained now is brought by Godfrey. The work men find a skeleton identified by Dunstan watch. Beside the skeleton is Silas’s bag of gold which is stolen on the night of Dunstan’s disappearance. At the same Godfrey confesses the story of Eppie’s birth, Nancy agrees with him that they should go to Silas and Eppie with their tale. Hearing this strange story of Eppie’s parentage. Silas opens the way for Eppie to take her wealthy heritage. But Eppie refuses the offer and informs Mr and Mrs Godfrey of her decision to marry the working man Aaron who has promised to retain Silas. After the marriage, Silas cottage is enlarged at the expense of the landlord Godfrey Cass.