mtstellens 's review for:

Silas Marner by George Eliot

3.0

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Unlike the last horrible book about community I read, I think this one did a lot better. Marner removes himself and is removed from his local community, he is still untrusting of others because of his past and the others are weary of this person who they don't know and who holds himself apart. That of course changes when he is robbed, he begins to rely on the community for more help and of course when he ends up adopting an orphan girl that is found one night he is brought even closer to others that want to help him raise her. Marner never really does anything wrong, but had been shunned, a contract to the sons of the rich and well respected Squire Cass. One of the sons is the thief that stole Marner's savings, the other is the father of the mysterious child. Godfrey, the father, continues to deny parentage in order to marry his love only to be turned away by his daughter years later when she is an adult. It is interesting to read a book from this time period that discusses 'goodness' and class and also have a character turn down the life of a lady to continue to live what she deems to be a fuller life in a lower class. It can be difficult to get into and a bit tedious, but a classic story that is worth the read.