CBSE Class 12 English Silas Marner Summary and Questions

Godfrey Cass was the elder son of Squire Cass. Being so, he was the heir to the Cass estate. Physically, he was a fine looking man. Although he was a good natured man, he was also weak-willed, self-centred and could not think beyond material comfort. He secretly married Molly Farren an opium addict, when he was young and fathered a daughter. However, he refused to accept the marriage and his daughter and behaved in a cowardly manner. This refusal to take the responsibility of Eppie and moral cowardice filled him with guilt. He found happiness with Nancy Lammeter, but feared losing her because of his past. This is why he gives into his brother’s demands when Dunstan Cass blackmails him and threatens to out the secret of his previous marriage. At last, when his life took a positive turn, he decided to accept Eppie as his daughter because it was his ‘right’. Once again the reader comes across Godfrey Cass’ selfish side.

Before coming to Raveloe Silas was an honest man and a faithful member of a religious sect in Lantern Yard. His initial cataleptic fits were seen as an indication of righteousness. He had a very close friend, William Dane. William was jealous of Marner because he loved Sarah, but she was engaged to Marner. However, the kind of life Silas lead changed drastically after a tragedy struck in Lantern Yard. A deacon fell ill and he was put in care of Silas. During his watch, Marner was struck by another cataleptic fit. While he was unconscious William killed the deacon, stole his gold and placed Silas’ pocket knife, which William borrowed from him previously, on the table. He wanted to frame Silas for the deacon’s murder and succeeded in doing so. The church found him guilty of the crime. Silas felt betrayed firstly, by his closest friend William and secondly, by the church for not believing him. He claimed that there is “no just God… but a God of lies.” Unable to prove himself innocent, Silas Marner removed himself from the society. Sometime later, Silas heard the news that Sarah had broken off the engagement and in a months time married William. Soon after, Silas Marner left Lantern Yard, a loner.

Before coming to Raveloe Silas was an honest man and a faithful member of a religious sect in Lantern Yard. His initial cataleptic fits were seen as an indication of righteousness. He had a very close friend, William Dane. William was jealous of Marner because he loved Sarah, but she was engaged to Marner. However, the kind of life Silas lead changed drastically after a tragedy struck in Lantern Yard. A deacon fell ill and he was put in care of Silas. During his watch, Marner was struck by another cataleptic fit. While he was unconscious William killed the deacon, stole his gold and placed Silas’ pocket knife, which William borrowed from him previously, on the table. He wanted to frame Silas for the deacon’s murder and succeeded in doing so. The church found him guilty of the crime. Silas felt betrayed firstly, by his closest friend William and secondly, by the church for not believing him. He claimed that there is “no just God… but a God of lies.” Unable to prove himself innocent, Silas Marner removed himself from the society. Sometime later, Silas heard the news that Sarah had broken off the engagement and in a months time married William. Soon after, Silas Marner left Lantern Yard, a loner.

Nancy Lammeter is one of the major characters of novel ‘Silas Marner’ by George Eliot. She is a pretty and caring young lady married to Godfrey. The heir to the Cass estate. Nancy also comes from a reasonably wealthy family as per the Raveloe standards. Her father, Mr. Lammeter, is a ‘handsome landed gentleman of Raveloe, he owns the Warrens’. It is from him that Nancy has inherited her remarkable strength of character, high principles and hard work. It is because of her strict values that she disapproves of what she sees as her husband’s weakness of character. On many instances it is evident that Nancy is a typical country girl and she is well aware of it. In fact, she is not ashamed of her wealthy yet not so sophisticated upbringing. She is not as refined as the city girls and her hands are coarse from butter making and cheese crushing. However, this does not bother her. She is a charming and graceful woman with striking features, an upright posture and lives as expected from a lady. She may not be the smartest woman in the world, but she lives by an inflexible code which influences her moralistic but just approach towards her life. Nancy refuses to adopt a child because her ‘principles’ do not allow her to do so. However, with age, she becomes mature and a sympathetic woman. Nancy deals with her husband’s revelation with dignity even though she has deep regret for his action. But, when she comes to know that Eppie is Godfrey’s daughter, Nancy welcomes her willingly into her house.

Initially, Silas was an honest and God fearing man, who was a member of small congregation in Lantern Yard. He was respected and honoured by the community people. However, everything changed after William Dane, his best friend, framed him for the sick deacon’s murder, whom Marner and Dane were supposed to look after together. Dane’s severe allegations and the brethren not believing him made Silas disillusioned; he uttered with great sorrow that, “there is no just God that governs the earth righteously but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent”. Soon after, Sarah, his fiancee, broke off the engagement and a months later, married William Dane instead. This made Silas to isolate himself completely and eventually leave Lantern Yard. He moved to Raveloe and there too Marner did not socialise with people around him and lived in seclusion. In return, the town’s people feared him and regarded him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Eppie is Silas Marner’s adopted daughter, who enters his life when she follows a bright light to the door of his cottage and straight in front of the fire place, after her biological mother dies. Eppie is one with a pure heart and sweet nature and her presence in Silas’ life, fills the void left in his heart after the betrayal of William, Sarah and later, the theft of his gold. She is the biological daughter of Godfrey Cass, who refuses to accept Eppie as his own. She is, lively, beautiful and loves Silas more than anything in this world and accepts Marner as a parent without questioning. She is not, in any way, conscious of Marner’s aloofness or his bent looks. Eppie is an outdoor person and likes to be close to nature. No wonder, she persuades Silas to help her grow a garden in the space around the cottage. She is also resourceful and accepts the help of their neighbour’s son Aaron, to assist them. Eventually, when Silas tells Eppie about her past and that he is not her real father, she does not yearn for her real father. Her sense of gratitude and responsibility to her father remains constant. She is not carried away by class or position and thus, over-rules Godfrey’s attempt to adopt her with the lure of a more comfortable life in the Red House. She chooses to live with Silas and marry Aaron Winthrop, a kind hearted working man, whom she loves and who loves her too. It is because of Eppie Silas changes from a recluse to a loving person.

An unfortunate turn of events had brought Silas Marner of Lantern Yard to Raveloe. He had been falsely accused of murder and theft because his best friend William Dane had set him up. After Silas settled in Raveloe, he spent most of his time inside his cottage, weaving. It kept his mind occupied to revent him from brooding over William’s betrayal. In his solitary moments, the lonely Silas came to love the glitter of gold coins he earned as a linen weaver. Every night, after work, Silas would sit down to enjoy the companionship of his gold.
When his gold was stolen Silas became panicstricken and horrid. He had completely lost his spirit and hope after that until one day a little toddler with golden hair crawled into his life. Attracted by the golden locks of the little child Silas Marner believed his gold had been returned to him.

The irony of the situation in which Silas Marner had to leave Lantern Yard was not single fold. Marner was an honest man and a devout Christian who was held in high regard by everybody in Lantern Yard. He was betrothed to Sarah and shared great camaraderie with William Dane, a fellow brethren in the same religious sect. However, with the deacon falling ill, William Dane took advantage of the situation and succeeded in framing Silas for the deacon’s murder. William placed the evidence – Silas’ pocket knife and the empty pouch supposedly carrying the deacon’s gold coins – at the crime scene and Marner’s room respectively. When the congregation found the evidence they instantly believed Silas to be the perpetrator. Again, it was ironic that the religion and the religious community he had so much faith in, refused to believe him. The members of the congregation drew lots to be certain of Silas guilt and inevitably declared Silas guilty of the crime without much investigation. They suspended him from Churchmembership. Such an act of treachery broke Silas completely. It destroyed his faith and wounded his spirit. However, that was not the end of despair. Sarah broke her engagement with him and in a month’s time married William Dane. It was then that Silas left Lantern Yard.

Dolly Winthrop is the most lovable character in George Eliot’s ‘Silas Marner’. She may not be extremely academic, but she is a simple and content woman, who is always happy to provide comfort and advice as and when required. Dolly herself is devoutly religious. She decides to help Silas as much as possible. She persuades him to always have faith in God and that he should start going to church again for his own good. Dolly Winthrop is kind and patient and at the same time, open and friendly. She quickly befriends Silas and helps him raise Eppie as his own daughter. She guides Silas as to how to take care of Eppie, bathe her, clothe her, feed her, etc. It is she who convinces Silas to have Eppie christened and also advises to punish her when it’s necessary. A friend and guide to Silas Marner, Dolly becomes Eppie’s godmother and later her mother-in-law. Simply put, Dolly Winthrop is a woman of scrupulous conscience.

The irony of the situation in which Silas Marner had to leave Lantern Yard was not single fold. Marner was an honest man and a devout Christian who was held in high regard by everybody in Lantern Yard. He was betrothed to Sarah and shared great camaraderie with William Dane, a fellow brethren in the same religious sect. However, with the deacon falling ill, William Dane took advantage of the situation and succeeded in framing Silas for the deacon’s murder. William placed the evidence – Silas’ pocket knife and the empty pouch supposedly carrying the deacon’s gold coins – at the crime scene and Marner’s room respectively. When the congregation found the evidence they instantly believed Silas to be the perpetrator. Again, it was ironic that the religion and the religious community he had so much faith in, refused to believe him. The members of the congregation drew lots to be certain of Silas guilt and inevitably declared Silas guilty of the crime without much investigation. They suspended him from Churchmembership. Such an act of treachery broke Silas completely. It destroyed his faith and wounded his spirit. However, that was not the end of despair. Sarah broke her engagement with him and in a month’s time married William Dane. It was then that Silas left Lantern Yard.

Dunstan Cass is the younger son of Squire Cass. Throughout the novel, he comes off as a man of no virtue. He has a knack for drinking and gambling. He is a man of evil mind, who is always out to harm others. Dunstan Cass is selfish, greedy and a manipulative man, a stark contrast to Godfrey. Dunstan blackmails his own brother, Godfrey into paying his debt. He threatens to tell everybody that Godfrey is married to opium addict Molly Farren. Dunstan is a man with no conscience. He offers to sell Wildfire, Godfrey’s prized horse. But greed gets the horse killed. He is a criminal to the core and a thief. He steals Silas’ money and absconds with it. It is much later that Dunstan’s skeleton is found in the stone pits along with Silas’ money. Apparently, he had fallen into a quarry full of water and drowned. In conclusion, one can say that his tragic end is justified.

 Eppie was the biological daughter of Godfrey Cass and Molly Farren, whom he has secretly married. Molly was an opium addict. Hence, Godfrey, who was the heir to the Cass estate, refused to acknowledge her as his wife in public. Molly decided to take revenge and set out to Squire Cass house with her daughter. However, midway, she fell to the ground due to sheer exhaustion and cold and died. Daughter Eppie crawled out of her mother’s arms and started moving towards the bright light coming from Silas’ house. Eppie toddles in through the open door; Silas found her sleeping in front of the fire place.

Godfrey Cass was the elder son of Squire Cass. Being so, he was the heir to the Cass estate. Physically, he was a fine looking man. Although he was a good natured man, he was also weak-willed, self-centred and could not think beyond material comfort. He secretly married Molly Farren an opium addict, when he was young and fathered a daughter. However, he refused to accept the marriage and his daughter and behaved in a cowardly manner. This refusal to take the responsibility of Eppie and moral cowardice filled him with guilt. He found happiness with Nancy Lammeter, but feared losing her because of his past. This is why he gives into his brother’s demands when Dunstan Cass blackmails him and threatens to out the secret of his previous marriage. At last, when his life took a positive turn, 308 CBSE Champion English Core he decided to accept Eppie as his daughter because it was his ‘right’. Once again the reader comes across Godfrey Cass’ selfish side.

Dunstan came to know that his brother, Godfrey was secretly married to Molly Farren, an opium addict. He threatened to reveal this truth to their father and blackmailed Godfrey into doing favours for him. Godfrey could not let his secret come out because firstly, he feared that his father might refuse to give him the inheritance. Secondly, this news could ruin his relationship with Nancy Lammeter, whom he was all set to marry. Godfrey borrowed money to help Dunstan. However, Dunstan refused to pay the debt money and told his brother to arrange the money for himself. He even forced Godfrey to sell his prized horse, Wildfire.

Godfrey Cass was the elder son of Squire Cass. Being so, he was the heir to the Cass estate. Physically, he was a fine looking man. Although he was a good natured man, he was also weak-willed, self-centred and could not think beyond material comfort. He secretly married Molly Farren an opium addict, when he was young and fathered a daughter. However, he refused to accept the marriage and his daughter and behaved in a cowardly manner. This refusal to take the responsibility of Eppie and moral cowardice filled him with guilt. He found happiness with Nancy Lammeter, but feared losing her because of his past. This is why he gives into his brother’s demands when Dunstan Cass blackmails him and threatens to out the secret of his previous marriage. At last, when his life took a positive turn, 308 CBSE Champion English Core he decided to accept Eppie as his daughter because it was his ‘right’. Once again the reader comes across Godfrey Cass’ selfish side.

William Dane was a close friend of Silas Marner and a member of the same church congregation in Lantern yard. He was a treacherous friend, who also lusted after Marner’s fiancee Sarah. In order to acquire Sarah, William Dane betrayed Silas’ trust by spreading rumours that the latter’s cataleptic fit was due to invocation of the devil rather than God. Dane manipulated the matters by creating a crime scene, which suggested that Silas was the culprit. Dane planted Silas’ knife in the house of the Deacon where the money had been kept. The empty money bag was found in Silas’ house. Dane falsely accused Marner of murdering the old Deacon and stealing his gold. Silas was found guilty of the crimes. This disgrace ruined Marner’s reputation. Sarah broke off their engagement and months later, married William Dane. At this point, Silas left Lantern Yard.

Silas decided to go to Lantern Yard after all these years to meet the minister and seek answers to the lingering questions regarding the robbery, the drawing of the lots that took place years ago. However, when Eppie and he arrived at Lantern Yard, Silas was surprised to see that his old town had changed completely. It had become an industrial town and all of those whom he knew when he lived there, they too were nowhere to be seen. Most importantly, the chapel no longer stood where it used to, in fact, it was gone. With high buildings and narrow dirty lanes replacing the old establishments, there was nothing left of the old Lantern Yard. Unable to find any information regarding the evident transformation of his old hometown, Silas come back to Raveloe. He realised that his questions will never be answered. Now, with Eppie in his life, it was of no use to live in the past. Therefore, Silas decided to look forward to the future. His visit to Lantern Yard filled him with a sense of peace and rekindled his faith.

Eppie was the biological daughter of Godfrey Cass and Molly Farren, whom he has secretly married. Molly was an opium addict. Hence, Godfrey, who was the heir to the Cass estate, refused to acknowledge her as his wife in public. Molly decided to take revenge and set out to Squire Cass house with her daughter. However, midway, she fell to the ground due to sheer exhaustion and cold and died. Daughter Eppie crawled out of her mother’s arms and started moving towards the bright light coming from Silas’ house. Eppie toddles in through the open door; Silas found her sleeping in front of the fire place.

Finding Eppie sleeping in front of his fireplace, changes Silas life completely and for good. Tragedy had already struck Silas twiceonce when he was accused of murder and robbery in Lantern Yard and second when his own gold was stolen. It is after Silas Marner had lost everything that he gets Eppie. She, with her nature, mischievousness and unconditional love for Silas drives away the melancholy and loneliness prevailing in his life. Suddenly, Eppie becomes the purpose of his life and he becomes possessive about her. Silas organises his life according to her demands and necessities. Gradually, it is not just Eppie whom we see grow, but Silas’ growth as well, with her. She refuses to leave him and go with Godfrey even after knowing that he was her biological father. Therefore, it is relevant to say that Eppie proved to be an even better treasure than gold.

Dunstan Cass is the younger son of Squire Cass. Throughout the novel, he comes off as a man of no virtue. He has a knack for drinking and gambling. He is a man of evil mind, who is always out to harm others. Dunstan Cass is selfish, greedy and a manipulative man, a stark contrast to Godfrey. Dunstan blackmails his own brother, Godfrey into paying his debt. He threatens to tell everybody that Godfrey is married to opium addict Molly Farren. Dunstan is a man with no conscience. He offers to sell Wildfire, Godfrey’s prized horse. But greed gets the horse killed. He is a criminal to the core and a thief. He steals Silas’ money and absconds with it. It is much later that Dunstan’s skeleton is found in the stone pits along with Silas’ money. Apparently, he had fallen into a quarry full of water and drowned. In conclusion, one can say that his tragic end is justified.