Compare and contrast the careers of Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass.

Answer: Silas Marner and Godfrey Cass are the two protagonists of the novel, Silas Marner. They belong to the different strata of the society Silas belongs to the working class and Godfrey to the higher class. But certain tings are common to both of them - they are unable to face the reality of a mysterious universe and there is absence of love in them for the fellow human beings . At the beginning of the novel when we meet Godfrey for the
first time we find potential evil in him. His character deteriorates for lack of parental care and attention. He courts Nancy Lammeter and wants to mary her, But he secretly marries Molly who is a drug- addict. Molly gives birth to a child. Godfrey tells her in a fit of passion
that he would Godfrey by appearing al the Red House and revealing to Squire Cass
that she is the wife of his oldest son. She cannot reach the Red House because she dies in the snow. He commits ancther sin by not acknowledging his child when Marner appears before him with the
child in his arms. He does not claim the child because he wants to remain childless in order to marry Nancy.
Similarly, Silas commits a sin at the beginning of the novel. When he lives in Lantern Yard, he is involved with a Dissenting church. He leads a pious life possessing an ardent religious faith. But
his friend, William Dane, plots against him and he is charged with theft. His guilt is confirmed by the drawing of lois. At this, Silas's faith in God and man is shaken and he declares that these is no just God and departs from Lantern Yard in despair for good.
We find regencration in both Silas Marner and Godfrey.
Being falsely accused of theft, Silas's faith in God was shattered. His money was lost. Whien Eppic with golden hair enters his cottage, he illusively takes her hair as being lost gold coins brought back to him as mysteriously as it had been taken away. As Eppie grows up, Silas'S life improves dramatically. There is love between Silas and Eppie and this love is mingled with people's love for the child. She represents the beginning of human contacts for Silas. At the end of
the novel, his lost faith in God is also restored.

Godfrey Cass is also regenerated. He tries to make up his past misdeeds by bringing Eppie into own house. When Eppie declines the offer, he arranges her marriage feast at the Rainbow and installs a large garden for her at his own expense. Thus it is the feceling of love
that brings about the regeneration in both Godfrey and Silas. In both cases Eppie becomes the object of love. It is Eppie who is the instrument of moral reform in both these men.