Shows how the theme of love is represented in the novel Silas Marner. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Most literary discourse on Silas Marner accepts love as one of his primary concerns. Any discussion of how love is "shown" in the novel requires an examination of the role and function of love as a thematic idea. Since the resolution of the novel's plot is primarily concerned with the attainment of purpose and moral reward, especially on the part of the protagonist, any discussion of love inevitably focuses on the means by which it allows an individual to be "redeemed" or to achieve a scope. Accordingly, this essay will discuss how love manifests itself by examining three key ideas. These are that selfless love has the power to redeem an individual, that the lack of genuine love in religious and social structures poisons or reduces the power of these institutions, and finally that the reluctance to act on love's beliefs leads to an end to moral insufficiency. The central focus of the novel, love, is shown by the link Eliot draws between selfless love and the prospect of achieving individual purpose and moral worth. This is seen most clearly in Silas's "redemption", which steadily progresses as he shows love and concern for Eppie. This transformation is shown directly by Eliot, who uses the metaphor of a "cold, narrow prison" to describe Silas Marner's life before Eppie's arrival. Here, the idea of ​​"cold" indicates a lack of human warmth, while "tight prison" suggests a limit to Silas's ability to act, see the world, and connect with others, which in turn suggests that the lack of human love in his life resulted in the inability to find his place and meaning in the rest of the world. His love for Eppie, however, transforms Silas. His care for Eppie is described as the "awakening of her senses", the personification of the "senses" which connect one with the world and thus enable the discovery of purpose, being used to show the awakening or awakening of ability Marner's human connection. It is important to note that it is selfless love that results in this transformation. Silas's love is of this kind, as we are shown when he mentions his determination to keep the "tramp's son." The third-person narrator shows us that it was a "tramp's son", using this colloquialism to suggest that the little girl was not highly regarded by society and therefore Silas had no ulterior motive in choosing to raise Eppie. To further this connection between Silas' love for Eppie and the achievement of his purpose, we are told that the "angels" guided the men "away from the city of destruction." This is an allusion to Sodom and Gomorrah in the "city of destruction", which is used to show the extent of the tragedy, or the ultimate loss of purpose, which Silas avoids with his love for Eppie, the "little girl". Therefore, it is clear that a connection is drawn between Silas's transformation and his selfless love for Eppie. Since this transformation is the key event of the novel, love is shown as a central point. Eliot's presentation of loveless institutions and human structures as destructive to the human soul supports the idea that love is a central point of the novel. This is suggested in the presentation of the religious community of Lantern Yard, where words such as "inquiry" and "summoning cause" are used by Eliot when describing the Church's investigation of Silas. These recall the technical diction andlegalistic in “summons” and “investigation,” both used in formal justice systems. The use of such diction creates a sense of detachment and isolation from emotional concern, which is evident in legal systems and therefore in Lantern Yard. Silas is also told "you will listen" when he asks the cause of this summons. The abruptness of this response and the future tense used creates ambiguity that generates a sense of suspense in the reader. This helps the reader empathize with the unloving preservation of superiority, and therefore lack of love, inherent in a hierarch who is unwilling to reveal Silas's assignment to him. We are also told that the trial unfolded as if 'the eyes of God's people were fixed on 'Silas.' The use of imagery here reminds the reader of the scrutiny placed on the accusation, it is also reminiscent of the systems of inquisitorial courts. This also supports the idea that Lantern Yard is devoid of love and compassion, and the role that Lantern Yard plays in expelling Silas and causing him to lose direction in life is therefore tied to Lantern Yard's inability to detect the hypocrisy of William Dane why love is lacking. Therefore, the lack of love in institutions hurts the human person. This idea is further supported when Macey notes that a couple in Raveloe are still married despite the vicar reciting marriage vows “against” because “the glue” that “sticks” them together is still “right.” Here, the colloquial image of "glue" represents the intangible aspect of marriage i.e. commitment and love, which is described as fundamental to marriage. It therefore supports the idea that social institutions and structures are meaningless without human love, bringing out the idea that love is of central importance for the improvement of the social institutions present in the novel. Silas Marner also conveys the message that an unwillingness to act on love's beliefs ultimately leads to moral insufficiency. This is clearly demonstrated in the character of Godfrey Cass, who refuses to admit that Eppie is his daughter because he fears retribution and therefore suffers Eppie's refusal to become his daughter when she grows up. In support of this, we are told that Godfrey initially regards Silas's adoption of Eppie as events that turned out "much better" than the possibility of revealing that Eppie is Godfrey's illegitimate daughter, a use of the omniscient narrator to show Godfrey's relief. Godfrey also attempts to justify leaving Eppie with Silas Marner by finding reasons why it might be good for Eppie because "he would see that he was taken care of but" perhaps he could be just as happy in life without being possessed by his father. Here, although the omniscient narrator reveals that Godfrey feels love for Eppie because of his desire to see her cared for, the constant repetition of reasons why Eppie could be "happy" without being possessed by Godfrey reveals her need to rationalize her decision to himself. and therefore the fact that it is morally wrong because it goes against his love for Eppie. Furthermore, this decision is ultimately made in self-interest, as the omniscient narrator tells us that "the father would be much happier without owning the child," whereby the narrator eliminates Godfrey's rationalization of his decision to reveal his underlying emotional reason for abandoning Eppie as selfish. Therefore, Godfrey does not have the moral courage to act on his love for Eppie by caring for her. This leads Godfrey to end up remaining dissatisfied with the novel's resolution, as shown by how he feels the "frustration" of an "exalted purpose" to "compensate in some degree" for abandoning Eppie, when Eppie chooses to stay with Silas Marner. . The omniscient narrator.