The second robbery sets in place of the just God a vision of a "cruel power." Yet because he does believe in a power, Silas is able to believe that Eppie is sent for his salvation, and through Eppie's influence he finds new faith in the goodness of other men. The betrayal by William Dane costs Silas his faith in men, and the betrayal of the drawing of the lots takes his faith in a just God. They have roots they develop naturally from his past. The changes in Silas' character are never arbitrary. Silas changes greatly during the course of the book, yet part of him always remains "the same Silas Marner who had once loved his fellow with tender love and trusted in an unseen goodness." That original love and trust seemed crushed by the evils which befall him, but they return with even greater strength, and it seems natural that they should do so. He is a product of Eliot's desire to arouse sympathy for ordinary imperfect humanity going about its day-to-day business. He is not notably intelligent or courageous or unselfish.
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