Although Silas Marner has a seemingly endless love for gold, nevertheless he untimely realizes that love of others is more fulfilling than love for money, because as beautiful and fulfilling as gold can seem it cannot replace a true friend. Silas Marner realizes this harsh fact almost too late in the novel, but at last realizes that money only temporarily fills the gap in his sole which should be filled with social interaction.
In the early years of Silas" life he lived in a quiet little town by the name of Lantern yard. Silas was a church going man with many friends, a well paying job, and more happiness than one could ask for. Silas felt invincible, that no harm could ever befall him until one morning the utopian lifestyle Slias had been living came crashing down on him. The event that caused this total destruction of life as he knew it was when Silas was framed by his best friend, William Dane, for stealing money from a dying deacon. This accusation threw Silas into a pit of despair which he did not emerge from until many years later. During these dark times Silas lost all faith in God and any faith he had in human nature. To try to escape this terrible happening Silas moves away to a small town named Raveloe where he alienates himself from those around him.
The betrayal of his friend and his subsequent withdrawal from society changed Silas. ".the past becomes dreamy because its symbols have all vanished, and the present too is dreamy because it is linked with no memories" (9). Alone he now sits in his house day and night spinning on his loom to try and make money, which is now his only companion. .
Silas makes no attempt to try to make any friends in Raveloe, and the townspeople return the favor. Silas Marner is content to sit in his shack to make more of the false friend he calls gold. This routine is upheld for many years while Silas wastes away not knowing that he is letting his greatest support slip through his fingers which is the social interaction that all humans crave.
