Moral Values of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass
by Barry Wright
Essay: Moral Values of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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“Justice is the quality of being just as well as complying with the principle of righteousness and also performing
one’s moral obligations” (Oxford Dictionary). Moral values are important in Silas Marner throughout the novel as
those people who do good deeds are rewarded while those who fail in their moral duties to others are punished.
As George Eliot was a religious person, she believed in fate and providence as there was a higher being rewarding
and punishing our conduct. This theme is portrayed throughout the book and seen most prominently in the
characters of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass.
Silas starts the story as a popular man from Lantern Yard as he is a regular attendee to church and is well
respected. He is referred to as ‘Master Marner’. His best friend is William Dane. William frames Silas for a crime he
did not commit. People in the village start to accuse Silas of the theft of the dead Deacon’s money. The way this
church were organised in those days meant that it was down to pure luck to decide whether Silas was guilty or
not. This was the main reason why lots were picked to decide Silas’ fate. He was a firm believer in God and was
adamant that he would be cleared. “I can say nothing. God will clear me” (Chapter 1 page 12). Despite his solid
belief, Silas was falsely found guilty and he had to leave his place of birth. The author, due to her different beliefs,
portrayed this as if to say that it wasn’t up to God to decide your fate, but up to you to decide your own fate.
However, contrary to this, his prayers did come true later on in his life, but in the form of a baby.
William Dane and Dunstan Cass are the two antagonists in the novel. In chapter 1, as mentioned before, William
sets Silas up and betrays him...