Theme & Author's Purpose

I am on page 190 of Silas Marner by George Eliot-the purpose George Eliot had for writing this novel was never clearly stated but she did publish a multitude of her diaries and there were notes in them that indicated her rationale for writing the novel. The author herself grew up in the country and was forced to move to an urban setting to attend school and wrote many times in her diary about her longing for the countryside and its romantic and peaceful ways, therefore I think it is fair to assume that she missed home and writing this novel provided an outlet for that yearning and desire. Additionally, the author wrote of her love of exploring the "complexities of human relationships" which was evidently portrayed in the novel of Silas Marner and his difficulty integrating himself into society. Moreover, the main theme surrounding Silas Marner would have to be the vitality of faith and persistence of goals. Silas was so strong in his faith that he moved from his comfort zone and home to a new location to escape the controversy and scrutiny of the community but at the same time he wasn't bitter or angry about his situation but rather embraced the change and moved. He never lost his faith in God, even at his darkest times after his girlfriend left him for his enemy and that persistence of hope and his goals blessed him with an unforeseen change in his life that altered who he was. He was blessed with the opportunity of saving a little orphaned girl and raising her to be the pride of the community. She was the real reason Silas ever stepped out of his comfort zone and integrated himself into society. The author described this change in Silas by saying, "As the child’s mind was growing into knowledge, his mind was growing into memory: as her life unfolded, his soul, long stupefied in a cold narrow prison, was unfolding too, and trembling gradually into full consciousness." (183). The main theme of the novel was faith and hope and to never give up on either one of those things and those are the things that will bring you true happiness not an unhealthy obsession with money or a sheltered and reclusive lifestyle.