고립에서 연결로: 『사일러스 마너』의 변화하는 망(web) 이미지와 공감적 성장

Abstract

This paper examines the web imagery in George Eliot’s Silas Marner, viewing it as a central metaphor for sympathy and the formation of an ethical community. The novel chronicles Marner’s evolution from a solitary, mechanical existence to a life of profound interconnectedness and moral vitality, reawakened through human connection. Initially, Marner is portrayed as a lonely weaver, consumed by repetitive labor, much like a spider weaving its web. He lives in a world severed from meaningful relationships and emotional growth. However, Eppie’s arrival marks a turning point, gradually drawing him back into a network of social, emotional, and ethical connections. The study argues that Eliot conceptualizes sympathy as a multidimensional process—not merely emotional resonance, but a dynamic interplay of cognitive understanding, ethical reflection, and mutual transformation. Through Marner’s evolving relationships with Eppie and the villagers, Eliot presents sympathy as a generative force that facilitates personal healing and mutual growth. The web, initially a symbol of isolation and constraint, progressively reorganizes into an interdependent tapestry woven through communication, genuine care, and ethical engagement. By emphasizing the reciprocal nature of sympathy, Silas Marner portrays reality as an ethical landscape in which sustainable community life depends on active participation, understanding, and sustained commitment to coexistence. Ultimately, this paper suggests that Eliot’s use of metaphor reveals the protagonist’s inner transformation and redefines community as a space realized through continuous, mutual, sympathetic effort.