At first I want to describe this as a redemptive story, but that doesn’t seem right. Silas Marner isn’t ever a villain, he’s just presented that way again and again by people who try to take advantage of him or misunderstand him. His miserly reclusive life is just his only way of protecting himself from what seems like a world that is out to get him.

Silas’ redemption isn’t changing from evil to good, but opening up enough to a community to find friends and a family.