Distribution of marks:
Content:
Expression:
grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling
coherence and relevance of ideas and style
-Godfrey,a contrast to his younger brother
- sober & respectable, successor to Squire Cass
- his father.
-an ideal groom for Nancy Lammeter
- coward- abandoned Molly his wife.
- indecisive- could not make up his mind.
- morally weak and lacked courage and suffered the consequences.
- Dunstan was directly opposite of Godfrey Cass.
- Dunstan was dishonest, idler, blackmailer, sly, cunning.
- Dunstan was reckless always looked for his personal gain, blackmailed brother, squandered money.
-projected as an undesirable character
-constantly lived in debts, stole Marner’s gold.
(any other relevant point)
(any 6 points)
Detailed Answer :
Godfrey was the eldest son of Squire Cass. When the novel opens, he is twenty-six years old, a fine, openfaced, good-natured young man. He actually appears in relatively a few chapters of the novel. He can be seen merely as one of the instruments in the action that involves Silas with the community of Raveloe.
Godfrey loved Nancy Lammeter of the Warrens, but she disapproved of his dissolute way of life and did not encourage his suit. In a reckless moment, he married a low woman, Molly Farren, who was addicted to opium and bore him a child. Though he provided for all their wants, he did not acknowledge them as his wife and his child.
He appears to us in a bad light. The basic flaw in Godfrey’s character is his “natural irresolution and moral cowardice”. He was a moral coward, who did not dare do his duty by his wedded wife and his legitimate child. He is a curious mixture of strength and weakness. It is difficult not to see Godfrey as a weak and unfortunate character who brought unhappiness upon himself.
On the other hand, Dunstan is completely evil. He is vain, arrogant, and selfish, as well as dishonest. Like Godfrey, he is primarily interested in what he wants, but he lacks any saving virtues. Dunstan suspects his own worthlessness: while he thinks what a fine person he is, he fears the opinions of others on that subject. This narcissism is put symbolically by having Dunstan take Godfrey’s whip, as it has a better appearance than his own.
Dunstan is just the sort of person needed to fulfil his role. He serves as a contrast to Godfrey, as a means of relieving Silas of his gold, and as a reminder to Godfrey that truth will eventually reveal itself. When not needed, he can be conveniently removed from the story without being missed. He is an example of static characterization — he shows no development during the story and comes on the scene full-blown. However, he has a certain complexity: his repressed knowledge of his faults gives him a psychological interest that Eppie lacks.
