Essay on Eliots Presentation of Parenthood in Silas Marner

Eliots Presentation of Parenthood in Silas Marner A child more than all other gifts ---------------------------------- That earth can offer to declining man Brings hope with it and forward looking thoughts. (Title page) One the title page of the first edition of Silas Marner, George Eliot quotes from Wordsworths poem Michael. She immediately introduces the significance of parenthood and the powerful emotional effect a child can have on a parent. I feel Eliot uses the parents in Silas Marner to demonstrate the personal rewards that are gained from the efforts of good parenting, and the weak family ties created by indifferent, ineffective parenting. She questions what makes a†¦show more content†¦Eliot implies that Godfrey has grown up weak willed and cowardly because of the nature of his father and shows that Godfrey doubts his fathers love for him. He had always had a sense that his fathers indulgence had not been kindness, and had had a vague longing for some discipline that would have checked his own errant weakness, and helped his better will (P88). I think Eliot is demonstrating that the deficiencies of the Squires children are due to the inadequacies of his parenting. His son Dunsta n is very dislikeable. He drinks and gambles, the villagers consider him to be a spiteful jeering fellow (P33) and people shook their heads at [Dunstans] courses(P32). Ironically Squire Cass considers himself to have been too good a father (P88). Elliot uses personification to describe the Cass household; it is a home where the hearth had no smiles (P41). My interpretation of this imagery is of a house void of any warm comforting heart. Elliot uses imagery connected to nature throughout Silas Marner when relating to the development of people and relationships. She writes the sweet flower of courtesy is not a growth of such homes as the Red House (P84). This metaphor means to me, that the house would be a much more pleasant place if consideration was encouraged to develop and her use of nature in imagery gives an atmosphere of gentle