Peyton Davis, 9th Grade: “Hoarding Motherhood” Criticism
A very common idea for many people is only women are
capable of motherhood. The author reveals that Elliot’s novel shows motherhood is
not dependent on mothers alone; it can also be performed by an aging man (“Hoarding
Motherhood”).
In the beginning, Silas Marner has purposely disconnected from all other human beings, but, in the process of his alienation from other life, he also is devoid from all his human emotions. He spends all day weaving alone in his house. Silas has no experience raising a child, for he was motherless from a young age. Also, Silas cannot hear or see well, and he even mistakes the unknown child’s blond hair as his gold returning to him. The effort Silas uses to actually raise Eppie is tremendous, and it takes a lot of passion and strength to carry on (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
Throughout the novel, you see many women staying inside their house, cleaning and cooking. Elliot shows a women’s domesticity, yet the women are very dominant over the rest of the family. A very obvious form of woman domesticity is Nancy. She is the heart and soul of the Red House, and she has complete control over everything that takes place inside her house. Without her, the Red House has no spirit. Nancy is the one to bring light into the house and fill it with life (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
In Eppie, you see a strong sense of dominance, too. Like Nancy, she essentially controls the whole house, and negotiates with Silas and Aaron throughout the story. In her childhood, Silas stops punishing her because she seems to not be effected by it. With Aaron, she resists his marriage proposal until he relents, and he agrees to move in with Silas and Eppie. The author assumes that she still retains complete control even after they are married (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
Elliot shows throughout the entire novel that mothering is not limited to women, and reveals this through Silas’s success as a mother. Silas knows nothing of being a mother, yet, with effort and passion, he raises Eppie to be his own daughter (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
I agree with this author. Although a woman is probably more eager and mental ready to raise children, men also are very capable to raise a child on their own. The author showed George Elliot’s views that were not apparent to me.
Works Cited
"Hoarding Motherhood." Student Resource Center. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2007. Discovering Collection. Gale. Etowah
High School. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.
In the beginning, Silas Marner has purposely disconnected from all other human beings, but, in the process of his alienation from other life, he also is devoid from all his human emotions. He spends all day weaving alone in his house. Silas has no experience raising a child, for he was motherless from a young age. Also, Silas cannot hear or see well, and he even mistakes the unknown child’s blond hair as his gold returning to him. The effort Silas uses to actually raise Eppie is tremendous, and it takes a lot of passion and strength to carry on (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
Throughout the novel, you see many women staying inside their house, cleaning and cooking. Elliot shows a women’s domesticity, yet the women are very dominant over the rest of the family. A very obvious form of woman domesticity is Nancy. She is the heart and soul of the Red House, and she has complete control over everything that takes place inside her house. Without her, the Red House has no spirit. Nancy is the one to bring light into the house and fill it with life (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
In Eppie, you see a strong sense of dominance, too. Like Nancy, she essentially controls the whole house, and negotiates with Silas and Aaron throughout the story. In her childhood, Silas stops punishing her because she seems to not be effected by it. With Aaron, she resists his marriage proposal until he relents, and he agrees to move in with Silas and Eppie. The author assumes that she still retains complete control even after they are married (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
Elliot shows throughout the entire novel that mothering is not limited to women, and reveals this through Silas’s success as a mother. Silas knows nothing of being a mother, yet, with effort and passion, he raises Eppie to be his own daughter (“Hoarding Motherhood”).
I agree with this author. Although a woman is probably more eager and mental ready to raise children, men also are very capable to raise a child on their own. The author showed George Elliot’s views that were not apparent to me.
Works Cited
"Hoarding Motherhood." Student Resource Center. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2007. Discovering Collection. Gale. Etowah
High School. Web. 4 Oct. 2013.