The significance of the rural landscape in Silas Marner Essay Example

as protection for the Raveloe community as it is shielded from the deadening effects of the Industrial Revolution. The Raveloe community are suspicious about outsiders. This is evident through the 'Shepherd's dogs' that 'barked fiercely when one of these alien-looking men appeared on the upland, dark against the early winter sunset'. This suspiciousness and insularity is due to the fact that Raveloe is protected off even closed in by the rural landscape which causes unfamiliarity with different people. The contrast between Silas' urban home in Lantern Yard, pushed aside by the Industrial Revolution, and the bustling village of Raveloe, representing an unchanging, personable and rural society, shows Eliot's obvious preference.

In contrast, Lantern Yard is affected by the industrial revolution and we see this when Silas Marner returns to Lantern Yard with Eppie, a child that walked into Silas Marner's life and symbolically brings him out of his cottage. However, this is only evident at the end, as in the beginning, Lantern Yard is a picturesque and puritanical area where the centre point of the village is the church. However, when Silas Marner returns with Eppie, he finds Lantern Yard with 'large factories' due to the effects of the industrial revolution. A town which was once a pastoral and picturesque town has now transformed into a 'great manufacturing town' which now does not see the people it use to and the 'gloomy' doorways and 'begrimed' faces mirrored Silas's feelings. The community of Lantern Yard left isolated and trapped could not resist the revolution that could not lay a finger on Raveloe. Here we see the transformation of Lantern Yard and the sameness of Raveloe due to

its natural seclusion which has also alienated the Raveloe population from outsiders.

This lack of socialization and enclosure is shown in Dolly Winthrop who is uneducated however, she is very religious which differs to the other characters in Raveloe who are not that religious. Their lack of adherence to religious principals derives from their seclusion by the rural landscape, as England was being swept by puritanical beliefs at this time. Yet Raveloe is saved from such extremities.

Dolly Winthrop is a prime example of a Raveloe citizen. She is a product of simple environment, untouched by learning and culture. She, and the rest of the community are not affected by the industrial revolution; Dolly like Silas Marner is also closed off by the landscape. This seclusion of the Raveloe community leads to them being uneducated. Due to this enclosure, neither Dolly nor the Raveloe population are tainted by the industrial revolution, Dolly preserves her character throughout the story. She is juxtaposed against others to accentuate her goodness and to highlight the faults of others. She is seen as an overprotected mother which in contrast to the squire Cass who lives in the village, is affected by the Industrial Revolution.

Due to the rural seclusion many aspects of Raveloe have stayed the same where as in Lantern Yard they have changed. This means that the traditions of Raveloe are unchanged too. Mr Kimble another ideal example of a Raveloe citizen is the town doctor, not by virtue but hereditary right. He is merely following a pattern that has been the same from generation to generation. This shows how Mr Kimble and the rest of the Raveloe community preserve the

tradition of hereditary right rather than evolving, like the rest of the country.

The different moods of Silas Marner are reflected through his environment depicted by George Eliot. Silas Marner is an isolated character who lives on his own. This isolation can be seen through the 'hedgerows' that surrounded Silas' cottage and also the sorrow of Silas Marner can be seen through 'stone walls' and 'stone pits'. However, this all changes on the arrival of Eppie. Eppie forces Silas Marner to come out of his sorrow state and step outside his cottage. Eppie acts as medicine for Silas Marner. The arrival of her diverts Silas' attention away from his loom to her. When Eppie crawls into Silas' cottage, she is foreshadowing the return of Silas's gold which was stolen by Dunstan Cass. The shimmering gold hair of Eppie could be seen through Silas' blurry vision. As we see later, Silas Marner's gold does come back to him from Godfrey Cass who is the real father of Eppie. The development of the garden and flowers symbolise Silas' growth and his change in mood, as the 'flowers shone with answering gladness'

The realism in George Eliot's scenery is quiet formidable. This is important because George Eliot shapes her characters' feelings and moods using the rural scenery. It is done exquisitely in Silas Marner in different when George Eliot portrays Silas Marner in different ways as-well-as letting the reader know about his feelings and emotions. This is done through the aid of the rural landscape which is described by George Eliot so well the reader can picture everything vividly in their minds which helps understand the novel. Eppie's garden is

a prime example 'with stones on two sides, but in front there was an open fence, through which the flowers shone'.