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How is Silas regarded by the people of Raveloe in Silas Marner by George Eliot? What prompted this reaction?

Silas is looked upon by the people of Raveloe as quite a strange character. Most of this general opinion is caused by Silas himself, however, as he had interesting and salient traits, both physical and behavioral.


In Chapter 1, we learn that Silas was just a "pallid young man" that, to the regular eye, would not have caused any curiosity. However, to the particular people of Raveloe, he looked "mysterious," which led them to consider him a "North'ard," or someone from some unknown place of origin.


In addition to this, Silas was very introverted and never spent time with people or went to the public house like everyone else did. This deepened the enigma surrounding his persona, and made people ask more questions about him.


Another issue with Silas was his curious tendency to freeze, as if in suspended animation. This ability, which some saw as a gift from heaven, made him quite popular in his former town. Here, however, it added on to the weirdness of it all.



Jem Rodney [...] saw Silas Marner leaning against a stile with a heavy bag on his back [...] Marner's eyes were set like a dead man's, and he spoke to him, and shook him, and his limbs were stiff, and his hands clutched the bag as if they'd been made of iron; but [...] he [...] said "Good-night," and walked off.



Moreover, Marner had a knowledge for herbs which he used to cure Sally Oates, a woman who was ill for months. Regardless, Silas had secured business from clients in Raveloe, as well as from neighboring towns, from people with a lot of money. His standing in the community as someone who is potentially rich safeguarded him from some of the repulsion prejudiced people often create against those that they do not know, and fear.

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