Themes in Silas MarnerSilas Marner, written by George Eliot in 1861, attempts to demonstrate that the love of others is ultimately more fulfilling than the love of money. This theme is present throughout the book, although the way it is revealed leaves something to be desired. Silas Marner is often criticized for being such a simple and unrealistic story. It seems strange that after fifteen years of confinement in near isolation, Silas could exchange his love for gold for the love of a daughter any day now. Despite Eliot's attempt to portray Silas's awakening into society as a slow transition, the reader interprets his change of heart as a direct and immediate result of Eppie's arrival. Despite these flaws in the story, the overall theme that man cannot live in a vacuum is portrayed very well by Eliot. Although Silas finds some satisfaction in his tenacious weaving and accumulation of gold, he discovers true happiness only after dedicating himself to interpersonal relationships. Although his exile from Lantern Yard proves devastating to his self-esteem and trust in others and God, fifteen years later Silas fully recovers, adopting Eppie to replace his love of money with the love of a daughter. The fact that Lantern Yard has disappeared years later, when Silas and Eppie go to visit it, suggests that this city is no longer dear to Silas. Indeed, the removal of the city serves as a metaphor for Silas's ability to find happiness outside of his past. Also, towards the conclusion of the story, Silas' "attacks" seem to have calmed down. This makes sense because ever since the bachelor weaver recovered and Eppie reopened her eyes to the reality of the world, her soul is no longer separated from her body. While before, his soul was exiled and kept in a sort of purgatory before he found Eppie, now his spirit is alive and well, living in the present. Yet he still relapses, suggesting that fifteen years of self-torture have left permanent scars on his tormented soul. A minor theme of the book concerns the Cass family. Eliot, through his portrayal of Godfrey and Dunstan as wealthy, selfish scoundrels who seek to use each other and others for their own personal benefit, asserts that the upper class has harmed society. While the Cass family, thinking that their wealth gives them undue privilege and property rights (Godfrey's attempt to seize Eppie from Silas), seems incredibly self-centered, Silas, representing the lower class, is seen as a lowly victim of class prejudices..