I think the entire underlying story is symbolic. The story introduces Silas Marner as a quiet weaver who has lived a hard life and wants nothing more but to be left alone in his tiny dwelling. Silas does not appear to have many joys in his life, except his gold. Each night he would take out his gold and count it, relish in the thought of owning something of such great value.
On a miserable evening, Silas ventured out into town. Neglecting to look the door as no apparent reason is brought forth; a robber sneaks in and steals his precious treasure. Upon his return, he sits down to count his treasure. But finds nothing in its hiding place. “The sight of the empty hole made his heart leap violently, but the belief that his gold was gone could not come at once- only terror, and the eager effort to put an end to the terror (page 63).”
In desperate measures, he ventures into town once again, he seeks the help of the village people. Time passes and nothing is found until one evening Silas discovers something much better than his stolen gold. “Gold- his own gold- brought back to him as mysteriously as it had taken away (page 157)!” this is when he finds the little girl, Eppie, curled up on his floor. He is mystified and finds himself blessed with the reincarnation of his gold in the little girl.
I believe that Eppie symbolizes the gold, because she brings joy into the old man’s life, just as the gold had. He grows to love her and cherish her, more than he did the gold.
I think the entire underlying story is symbolic. The story introduces Silas Marner as a quiet weaver who has lived a hard life and wants nothing more but to be left alone in his tiny dwelling. Silas does not appear to have many joys in his life, except his gold. Each night he would take out his gold and count it, relish in the thought of owning something of such great value.
ReplyDeleteOn a miserable evening, Silas ventured out into town. Neglecting to look the door as no apparent reason is brought forth; a robber sneaks in and steals his precious treasure. Upon his return, he sits down to count his treasure. But finds nothing in its hiding place. “The sight of the empty hole made his heart leap violently, but the belief that his gold was gone could not come at once- only terror, and the eager effort to put an end to the terror (page 63).”
In desperate measures, he ventures into town once again, he seeks the help of the village people. Time passes and nothing is found until one evening Silas discovers something much better than his stolen gold. “Gold- his own gold- brought back to him as mysteriously as it had taken away (page 157)!” this is when he finds the little girl, Eppie, curled up on his floor. He is mystified and finds himself blessed with the reincarnation of his gold in the little girl.
I believe that Eppie symbolizes the gold, because she brings joy into the old man’s life, just as the gold had. He grows to love her and cherish her, more than he did the gold.