Eliot’s uses of flashbacks allow the plot to progress and provide a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives especially to understand Marner and his actions. For example, in Part One, the author flashed back a full fifteen years to provide us with Silas’ time in Lantern Yard. Through this flashback, we come to understand Mamer’s current emotional state while he is living in Raveloe, and the fact that his views have been colored by betrayal. The reader comes to know about Silas’ time in Raveloe, where he had respect, much money and society. His fortune changed with his betrayal by William Dane who proved instrumental in changing Silas’ fortunes. Thus Silas lost his friend, his love and his place in society. Traumatized he even left the town and came to live like a recluse in Lantern Yard.
