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  • Essay / Theme of Love in Silas Marner

    Show how the theme of love is presented in the novel Silas Marner.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Most literary discourse on Silas Marner accepts love as one of his primary concerns. Any discussion of how love is “shown” in the novel requires an examination of the role and function of love as a thematic idea. Since the novel's plot resolution primarily concerns the achievement of a goal and moral reward, particularly by the protagonist, any discussion of love inevitably focuses on the means by which it enables an individual to to be “redeemed” or to achieve one’s goal. Accordingly, this essay will discuss how love manifests by examining three key ideas. It is about the fact that selfless love has the power to redeem an individual, that the lack of authentic love in religious and social structures poisons or reduces the power of these institutions, and finally that the refusal to act according to Beliefs of love ultimately lead to moral inadequacy. The central theme of the novel, love, is illustrated by the connection Eliot makes between selfless love and the prospect of achieving individual purpose and moral value. This is seen most clearly in Silas's "redemption", which progresses steadily as he shows his love and concern for Eppie. This transformation is directly shown by Eliot, who uses the metaphor of a "cold and narrow prison" to describe Silas Marner's life before Eppie's arrival. Here, the idea of ​​"cold" indicates a lack of human warmth, while the "tight prison" suggests a limit to Silas's ability to act, see the world, and connect with others, which suggests to his turn that the lack of human love in his life resulted in an inability to find his place and meaning in the world. His love for Eppie, however, transforms Silas. His care for Eppie is described as "the awakening of her senses", the personification of the "senses" which connect us to the world and thus enable the discovery of purpose, being used to show the rebirth or awakening of the human capacity for Marner to establish human relationships. It is important to note that it is selfless love that results in this transformation. Silas's love is of this kind, as we see from the mention of his determination to keep "the tramp's child." The third-person narrator shows us that he was a "tramp's child", using this colloquialism to suggest that the child was not well-liked by society and therefore Silas had no ulterior motive in choosing to raise Eppie. To reinforce this connection between Silas's love for Eppie and the realization of his goal, we are told that the "angels" led men "far from the city of destruction." This is an allusion to Sodom and Gomorrah in the "city of destruction", used to show the extent of the tragedy, or ultimate loss of purpose, which Silas avoids through his love for Eppie, the "little child ". Therefore, it is clear that a connection is made between Silas's transformation and his selfless love for Eppie. Since this transformation is the key event of the novel, love appears as a central element. Eliot's presentation of loveless human institutions and structures as destructive to the human soul supports the idea that love is a central element of the novel. This is suggested in the presentation of the religious community at Lantern Yard, where words such as "inquiry" and "cause of the summons" are used by Eliot to describe the Church's investigation intoSilas. These are reminiscent of the technical and legalistic terminology of “summons” and “investigations”, both used in formal justice systems. The use of such diction creates a sense of detachment and isolation from emotional concerns, which is evident in legal systems and therefore in Lantern Yard. Silas is also told “you will hear” when he asks him the cause of this summons. The brevity of this response and the future tense used create an ambiguity which creates a feeling of suspense in the reader. This helps the reader sympathize with the loveless preservation of superiority, and therefore the lack of love, inherent in a hierarch who does not want to reveal Silas's charge to him. We are also told that the trial proceeded as if the “eyes of God’s people were fixed on Silas.” The use of imagery here reminds the reader of the scrutiny placed on the accuser, which is also reminiscent of inquisitorial legal systems. This also supports the idea that Lantern Yard is devoid of love and compassion, and Lantern Yard's role in expelling Silas and causing him to lose direction in life is therefore linked to Lantern Yard's inability to detect the hypocrisy of William Dane because love is lacking. The lack of love in institutions is therefore harmful to the human person. This idea is further reinforced when Mr. Macey notices that a couple in Raveloe are still married despite the pastor reciting the wedding vows "unlike" because "the glue" that "sticks" them together is still "good." Here, the familiar image of “glue” represents the intangible aspect of marriage that is commitment and love, described as fundamental to marriage. Therefore, the idea that social institutions and structures are meaningless without human love is supported, bringing out the idea that love is of central importance for the improvement of present social institutions in the novel. Silas Marner also conveys the message that an unwillingness to act on the beliefs of love ultimately leads to moral inadequacy. This is clearly demonstrated in the character of Godfrey Cass, who refuses to admit that Eppie is his child because he fears punishment and thus endures Eppie's refusal to become his daughter when she grows up. In support of this, we are told that Godfrey initially views Silas's adoption of Eppie as events that turn out to be "much better" than the possible revelation that Eppie is Godfrey's illegitimate child, a use of the omniscient narrator to show Godfrey's relief. Godfrey further attempts to justify his departure from Eppie with Silas Marner by finding reasons that it might be good for Eppie because "he would make sure she was taken care of but" maybe she could to be just as happy in life without belonging to her father. Here, although the omniscient narrator reveals that Godfrey feels love for Eppie because of his desire to be cared for, the constant repetition of why Eppie could be "happy" without belonging to Godfrey reveals his need to rationalize your decision. and thus the fact that it is morally wrong because it goes against his love for Eppie. Furthermore, this decision turns out to be ultimately made for his own benefit, since the omniscient narrator tells us that "the father would be much happier without possessing the child", the narrator thus interrupting Godfrey's rationalization of his decision to reveal her child. underlying emotional reason for dropping Eppie as interested. Therefore, Godfrey does not have the moral courage to act on his love for Eppie by caring for her. This leads Godfrey to ultimately find himself dissatisfied with the.