The Effect Of Choice By Silas Marner

The Effect Of Choice When dominoes are placed in a line, standing on end, and one is pushed over, a chain reaction begins and the dominoes fall as each is pushed over by its neighbor. Similarly, actions people take in life influence others and the domino effect continues. Silas Marner shows that each person’s choices affect themselves and others in the story. First, Godfrey Cass makes terrible decisions and causes problems for other people. Initially, Godfrey secretly marries Molly. He would have been better off if he had married her in the open or had not married her at all. Dunsey uses Godfrey’s marriage as blackmail and says, “I might tell the Squire how his handsome son is married to a nice young woman, Molly Farren and is very unhappy because he can't live with his drunken wife”(page 24). Godfrey’s disgraceful marriage was a bad choice. Later in the book, Molly is unhappy about their marriage because Godfrey remained in his nice house while she dwells in a dingy, small room. Molly hated that “her husband would be smiling and smiled upon, hiding her existence in the darkest corner of his heart” (page 108). Then, many years after Molly ceases her drug addiction, Godfrey unwisely decides to try and adopt his daughter Eppie who grew up living with Silas. When Godfrey breaks the news to Eppie that he is her father, she “turns quite pale” (page 171) and replies, “But I can’t leave my father” (page 170). She is so shocked that Godfrey had neglected her all of her life. It would have been more sensible for Godfrey to claim Eppie as his own and reveal his marriage. But, he was too afraid of losing his precious reputation. Godfrey’s decision to marry Molly and not to claim Eppie creates turmoil in Raveloe. Additionally, Molly’s choices eventually bring Eppie to Silas, and Eppie makes decisions that make her happy. Molly sets off on her way to the Red House. Molly is unhappy because of her opium addiction and her marriage. When Molly collapses from the drugs, “The little one, rising on its legs, toddles through the snow…toddles on to the open door of Silas Marner’s cottage and right up to the warm hearth” (page 110). Because Molly yields to her addiction, Eppie is placed in the hands of Silas who raises Eppie happily. After Eppie is grown up, she chooses to remain with Silas instead of living the “fancy life” with the Cass family when they offer. Eppie states, “‘I couldn’t give up the folks I’ve been used to’” (page 170). Then Eppie has a pleasant ending: “Happily the sunshine falls more warmly than usual on the lilac tufts the morning that Eppie is married” (page 181). Since Molly’s decisions lead Eppie to Silas, Eppie chooses to stay, happily, with him. Next, Dunsey Cass's decisions also negatively affect many people. He is the son of a Squire, but he lives the life of a drunk. His flawed actions do not help anyone. First, he carelessly decides to race the horse he borrows from his brother. When he jumps a fence in the race, the horse, Wildfire, is injured and so “It was all over for Wildfire” (page 33). After he gets the horse killed, Dunsey simply abandons it and walks home. Then once Dunsey wickedly chooses to take Silas’s money, Silas is

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