Moral Values of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass

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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...

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...dfrey has made throughout his life, he also realises the importance of a good family life. “I feel now it’s my duty to insist on taking care of my own daughter. I want to do my duty” (Chapter 19 page 171). Due to this reason, I believe that justice has been done as Silas has been rewarded after his betrayal in Lantern Yard and taking care of Eppie by himself. He has been rewarded by having a peaceful and happy life, and also by being surrounded by people who care for him. Godfrey’s past misdemeanors have gone on to punish him later on in life, as, although he got Nancy, he was left without an heir.

The moral of the story is that everyone is rewarded or punished for their action or conduct to others. I think that justice has been done with all of the main characters, but the minor characters such as Molly and William, for differing reasons, have not had justice.

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