The title of the novel is Silas Marner and the author is Mrs. Mary Anne Evans, better known as her pen name, George Eliot. The character analyzed in this essay is Mr. Godfrey Cass. Firstly, it should be known Godfrey is the eldest son of the most powerful man in all of Raveloe, Squire Cass. He is usually a good-natured man, with a very likeable personality. As easy going as Godfrey is, he has made a few mistakes in his life which he is willing to come forward and admit later. If any three words could be used to describe Mr. Godfrey Cass, it would be honest, caring and in stark contrast to the two previous descriptions, Godfrey could even be described as strong-willed. Caring is an adjective describing someone who is kind or empathetic of others. Godfrey Cass showed great care when he provided for his daughter, Eppie, even though she did not want to live with him, and continued to live with Silas. He furnished her needs from when she was a small child until her latter teenage years. “The oaken table and three-cornered oaken chair were hardly what was likely to be seen in so poor a cottage: they had come, with the beds and other things, from the Red House; for Mr. Godfrey Cass, as everyone said in the village, did very kindly by the weaver; and it was nothing but right a man should be looked on and helped by those who could afford it, when he had brought up an orphan child, and been father and mother to her—and had lost his money too, so as he had nothing but what he worked for week by week, and when the weaving was going down too—for there was less and less flax spun—and Master Marner was none so young.” (Eliot, 2134-2142)
Honesty is a term describing those who show true integrity, or moral values, such as truthfulness and veracity. Honesty was shown by Godfrey Cass when he decided to confess to his wife Nancy, he had been previously married, and Eppie was his child. "Nancy," said Godfrey, slowly, "when I married you, I hid something from you—something I ought to have told you. That woman Marner found dead in the snow—Eppie's mother—that wretched woman—was my wife: Eppie is my child." (Eliot, 2472-2481)
Godfrey Cass is very strong-willed, or stubborn early on in the story, about trying to persuade Mrs. Nancy Lammeter to marry him. Though Godfrey and Nancy eventually married, it took a great deal of effort and persuasion. “As for Godfrey, he was feeling so happy and oblivious under the long charm of the country-dance with Nancy, that he got rather bold on the strength of her confusion, and was capable of leading her straight away, without leave asked, into the adjoining small parlour, where the card-tables were set. "Oh no, thank you," said Nancy, coldly, as soon as she perceived where he was going, "not in there. I'll wait here till Priscilla's ready to come to me. I'm sorry to bring you out of the dance and make myself troublesome." (Eliot, 1612-1620) Here is another quote that could be used to describe Godfrey’s stubbornness. "Do you want me to go?" said Godfrey, looking at Nancy, who was now standing up by Priscilla's order. "As you like," said Nancy, trying to recover all her former coldness, and looking down carefully at the hem of her gown. "Then I like to stay," said Godfrey, with a reckless determination to get as much of this joy as he could to-night, and think nothing of the morrow.” (Eliot, 1644)
Silas Marner is a novel written by Mary Anne Evans, better known as George Eliot. Mr. Godfrey Cass, son of Squire Cass, and brother of Dunsey Cass is a very humble, caring and strong-willed man. Godfrey showed great care to his daughter, Eppie, providing for her needs, even though she rejected him. Great honesty was shown by Godfrey when he decided to confess to his wife, he had had a previous relationship and Eppie was his daughter. Despite being so honest and caring, Godfrey is also strong-willed. He shows this by never giving up on Nancy Lammeter, even if she, at first, continued to reject his love.