Faith in Sials Marner

Faith in Sials Marner

Silas Marner describes nearly thirty years of Silas Marner’s life, in which he loses faith in God and human society, but slowly begins to regain faith when he adopts Eppie and forms a connection. Silas Marner’s faith in the beginning is identifiably different from the faith he regains in later. As a young man, Silas lives in Lantern Yard and his faith depends on the community and worship there. Silas believes in an unseen, benevolent God and follows only practices that reflect his faith in this God. Silas has learned some herbal remedies from his mother, but he refrains from using these, believing that prayer, without medicine, is a better remedy.
Silas loses his faith in a benevolent God when his friend William Dane falsely accuses him of stealing church funds. After being accused, he believes God will reveal his innocence, but when the church draws lots to make a decision, the lots declare him guilty. Silas then, lashes out at William Dane, accusing him of framing him, and accusing God of being a God of lies. Afterwards, he moves to the simple village of Raveloe where he withdraws from his neighbors, hoarding and coveting his money, discluded in all human relationships.
Silas’s loss in faith deepens when he returns home and finds that his gold is stolen. Silas is shocked because someone robbed him and runs to town to report the robbery,. Silas runs into the Rainbow and tells the townspeople there about the robbery. After Silas accuses Jem Rodney of stealing his gold, the villagers demand that Silas tell them how he figured out the gold missing. Because Silas is so serious, the villagers believe his story. The next day, Godfrey goes to the Stone-pits area, with other villagers, to discuss the robbery. Nearby Silas's cottage, they find a tinderbox, which makes a townsman recall that a peddler who'd come to town recently carried a tinderbox. The townspeople are divided on the opinion of Silas' stolen gold. However, Dunsey's name does not come up as a suspect...

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