Character Sketch of William Dane in Silas Marner
Character Sketch of William Dane: William Dane seems to be a scheming person who can go to any lengths to get what he wants. William Dane is described as a “shining instance of youthful piety” but is “so dazzled by his own tight that he holds himself wiser than his teachers”. This stubbornness arises again when he dreams that, “he saw the words ‘calling’ and ‘election sure’ suggesting that he is one of the elect to pass directly to heaven.
Silas Marner has a cataleptic fit in a prayer meeting and the sly William Dane says it looks, “more like a visitation of Satan than a proof of divine favour”. This is when William s jealousy of Marner’s engagement to Sarah is seen to start. He deviously frames Marner for stealing money which he himself actually stole. He plots against Silas to disgrace him so that Sarah leaves Marner and marries William.
Silas considers him a good friend. They actually become friends because they share the same religious sect at Lantern Yard in a town in Northern England. While Silas is profoundly religious, William Dane’s religious feelings are not so deep. He seems to be with the brethren only so far as he is directly benefited. He wants to get rich quickly and ‘steal’ Silas’ fiance. With the deacon falling ill, he sees his opportunity and works out a plan to do both. He steals the money from the deacon, frames Silas for the robbery by leaving his knife at the crime scene and manages to marry Sarah, the girl Silas was engaged to.
William Dane is the friend Silas was closest to when he was in Lantern Yard. In spite of their friendship, William frames Silas in a theft to disgrace him and to marry his (Silas’s) fiancee. He reveals himself as a scheming person who can go to any lengths to get what he wants.