Question

In Silas Marner What are your decisions on the following character? Is he a strong or weak character? What are his primary characteristics?
Godfrey

Answer 1

Godfrey Cass is the eldest son of Squire Cass and older brother of Dunstan. Despite being born and raised in a good family, he was depicted as a man who makes terrible choices. Throughout the novel, he is seen making wrong decisions for himself and for others. He married a lowly woman, had a child with her and kept both his wife and daughter a secret from his father and the whole town of Raveloe. He allowed himself to be manipulated and pushed around by character after character. Godfrey is not an evil man per se. In fact, he was described early on as a fine and good natured young man, but his lack of conviction made him a weak character in the novel. Later on, he did try to make amends for some of his mistakes but he did not come to the decision on his own. He has no ability to man up and take responsibility for his actions. He wants to make right but not bad enough to sacrifice his own happiness.