George Eliot's novel Silas Marner conveys the power of the Victorian-era Church of England over the lives of its parishioners. Silas, in the opening pages, is an innocent, albeit naive, God-fearing Christian. When the church at Lantern Yard finds him guilty of theft, a crime for which he was framed by his best friend, he is led to believe that God has abandoned him and he can no longer trust the church . He then retreats to the fictional village of Raveloe, becoming a recluse and the object of much of the town's superstitions. Although he is considered a devil worshiper by some townspeople, he prefers Raveloe because he is more laid back and less ardent in religion. As England becomes more and more industrial, communities like Raveloe become hard to find, making it the ideal, isolated place where Silas could start fresh. This new town, while lacking the kind of religious fervor of Lantern Yard, became the place where Silas finally began to rediscover himself and recommit himself to God. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'? Get the original essay The details with which Eliot writes about the community depict a sense of nostalgia for 'old England', which was quickly beginning to fade away. fade. Describing Raveloe as “cosy” and “nestled,” Eliot gives the town a sense of comfort, making it feel like a place of refuge. Viewed in this light, it becomes clear why the spiritually and emotionally damaged Silas sought to live here, rather than in an urban center like London. Eliot's main character Silas Marner undergoes dramatic, but passive, changes throughout the plot. Silas renounced his Christian faith after the Lantern Yard incident, forcing himself to live a secluded life in the village of Raveloe. However, the devotion he felt towards God was not eradicated, but replaced by a devotion towards money. Although miserly, Silas remains a kind and honest person. After learning of the theft of his treasure and suspecting a neighbor, Jem Rodney, Silas does not threaten legal action against him, but simply demands the safe return of his money. “If it was you who stole my money,” said Silas, clasping his hands imploringly and raising his voice in a cry, “give it back to me and I will not meddle with you.” I won't send you the gendarme. » (Ch.7, p. 57) Silas's love for money is instantly shattered when his treasure disappears. For a while he is depressed and without a purpose in life. Like all humanity, Silas needed a purpose in life, something he could work towards and that would give him happiness in life. For much of his life, until the Lantern Yard incident, Silas fulfills this desire with his love for God. After the loss of his money, his life becomes dedicated to the one he initially perceives as the physical manifestation of his gold, Eppie. Although he knows nothing about raising children, Silas is determined to keep her, believing that she was given to him to fill the void in his life. "'No-no, I can't part with it, I can't let it go,' Silas said sharply. “It came to me, I have the right to keep it.” (Ch. 13, p. 121) His neighbors, and indeed Silas himself, are surprised by his conviction to keep the child whom he had only met by chance. . Nonetheless, Eppie has a profound impact on his life and begins the process of restoring Silas' broken soul. Silas's most notable characteristic, however, is his change in attitude towards the community of Raveloe. Although at first he wanted nothing to do with..