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by George Eliot
Fifteen years before the story begins, Silas Marner had been falsely accused of stealing a bag of money from a dying man. He lost faith in his religion and left the city for a solitary life as a weaver in the village of Raveloe. He began to accumulate gold and this became his obsession. Disaster strikes one day when Silas leaves his door open and a passer by enters and steals his hoard. The thief is Dunstan Cass, son of the village squire, who subsequently disappears.
His brother Godfrey has a dark secret and is anxious that this is not revealed. Matters come to a head on the night of the annual New Year's Eve party held by the squire. Molly Farren is walking through the snow with her child to confront Godfrey at the party, but never makes it. Overcome by opium and the cold she dies close by Silas Marner's cottage. The child wanders off towards the light from the open door. Silas awakes and thinks her golden hair is his money returned to him.
Silas is allowed to keep his newly found treasure and names her Eppie, after his sister. His personality changes through the new found love and he begins to have a renewed faith in life. Godfrey's secret is safe and he has been free to marry Nancy Lammeter, which pleases everyone.
Sixteen years later a stone-pit near to the cottage is drained and at the bottom is the body of Dunstan, still clutching the bag of gold. Although pleased to be re-united with his money, Silas is in danger of losing something even more valuable, his adopted daughter Eppie.
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Page created 25 August 2003 and last updated
25 August 2003
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