Nancy Lammeter Character Analysis in Silas Marner

An elegant young woman who lives in Raveloe, Nancy inspires Godfrey’s love and affection despite his unfortunate secret marriage. Nancy is a strong-minded woman who is committed to her ideals. For example, she refuses to adopt a child, although she cannot have children, because she believes such an act willfully disregards the fate given by God. She is precise, tidy, and hardworking. Her elegant appearance does not extend to her hands, which show the marks of her labor. Once married to Godfrey, she becomes a good mistress of the Red House, although she reflects frequently on her and Godfrey’s lack of children and Godfrey’s unhappiness.

Nancy Lammeter Quotes in Silas Marner

The Silas Marner quotes below are all either spoken by Nancy Lammeter or refer to Nancy Lammeter. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“Everything comes to light, Nancy, sooner or later. When God Almighty wills it, our secrets are found out.”

Related Characters: Godfrey Cass (speaker), Nancy Lammeter

Page Number and Citation: 135

Explanation and Analysis:

“She thinks I did wrong by her mother as well as by her. She thinks me worse than I am. But she must think it: she can never know all. It's part of my punishment, Nancy, for my daughter to dislike me.”

Related Characters: Godfrey Cass (speaker), Molly Farren, Godfrey Cass, Eppie, Nancy Lammeter

Page Number and Citation: 146

Explanation and Analysis:

Nancy Lammeter Character Timeline in Silas Marner

The timeline below shows where the character Nancy Lammeter appears in Silas Marner. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...that such behavior on Godfrey’s part will cost him the heart of a young woman, Nancy Lammeter, who has looked favorably upon him for the past year. (full context)

...is supposed to attend Mrs. Osgood’s birthday dance the next day. Dunstan teases him about Nancy Lammeter who will be at the dance and who doesn’t know of Godfrey’s secret marriage.... (full context)

Godfrey’s naturally irresolute personality and his fear of losing Nancy Lammeter’s affections, should his secret become known, have stopped him from telling Squire Cass everything.... (full context)

...having gotten himself into this situation. For four years, he has wooed and dreamt of Nancy Lammeter. He longs for the comfort of a domestic life with her, having grown up... (full context)

...to find Dunstan has not returned. His thoughts are too occupied with having seen Miss Nancy Lammeter, and despair that he cannot free himself from his secret wife, in order to... (full context)

...discipline in his life. Squire Cass mentions that he’s never dissuaded his son from marrying Nancy Lammeter who he seemed interested in, whereas some fathers might forbid their sons from making... (full context)

...half anxious that Dunstan will return and reveal his secret and half eager to see Nancy Lammeter and to dance with her. (full context)

Miss Nancy Lammeter arrives at the Red House with her father on New Year’s Eve. She sees... (full context)

Mrs. Kimble, the Squire’s sister and the doctor’s wife, greets Nancy. In nearly every bedroom in the house, women are getting dressed and ready for the... (full context)

Nancy prepares for the evening. Everything she owns is neat and pure. When she is ready,... (full context)

Nancy’s older sister Priscilla arrives and comments on her and Nancy’s matching gowns. Nancy wants her... (full context)

Priscilla remarks that she’d rather see the men fawning over Nancy, and Nancy, blushing, says she won’t ever marry. To which Priscilla responds that one old... (full context)

Nancy blushes as she takes her seat and Mr. Crackenthorp teases her that he saw the... (full context)

The Limits of Human Knowledge Theme Icon

In the middle of the dance, Nancy’s skirt is caught under the Squire’s foot and stitches are torn out at the waist... (full context)

While Godfrey is caught up in spending his precious moment with Nancy, his wife, unknown to him, is making her way through the village to the Red... (full context)

...and villagers crowded to the doors of the white parlor to look on the dancing. Nancy is seated with her father, as Godfrey stands a little ways off, attempting to avoid... (full context)

...feels strongly the opportunity he has from this point onward to say tender things to Nancy and to make promises to her. He realizes that Dunstan may still return and betray... (full context)

...he has reformed and set his feet on a better course. He rides to visit Nancy nearly every day and feels the imminence of his own happiness with Nancy, and their... (full context)

...villagers of Raveloe are leaving their Sunday morning church service. Godfrey Cass and his wife Nancy depart first, as their humbler neighbors watch them pass. The pair turns to wait for... (full context)

At the Red House, Nancy tries to persuade her sister to stay for tea. The Red House has been changed... (full context)

...frustrated by men like Godfrey who, she believes, always want what they don’t have, but Nancy defends her husband. It’s natural and understandable that he wishes he had children because he... (full context)

Nancy is hurt by the knowledge that their lack of children has been an aspect of... (full context)

Nancy had resisted over the years Godfrey’s few attempts to suggest that they adopt a child.... (full context)

Nancy, during her Sunday afternoon reflection, reassures herself that she was right to discourage any consideration... (full context)

Godfrey’s conscience is never easy about Eppie and his lack of children with Nancy feels like an intentional punishment. The couple hasn’t spoken of the idea of adoption in... (full context)

Godfrey returns, but he is trembling and pale. He tells Nancy to sit down and that he’d had a great shock, but has come back to... (full context)

...reflects aloud that all secrets come to light sooner or later, when God wills it. Nancy’s feeling of dread returns. Godfrey says that when he married her he kept his past... (full context)

Godfrey reminds Nancy that if she had known the secret earlier she would never have married him. Nancy... (full context)

...loved her first, and she is certain that no one will ever come between them. Nancy reminds Eppie that what she says is a natural way to feel, but that she... (full context)

...been thwarted. He leaves abruptly, unable to say anything else to Marner and Eppie, and Nancy follows more gracefully. (full context)

Nancy and Godfrey walk home in silence and stand together in the parlor. They look at... (full context)

Nancy is relieved that Priscilla and her father won’t be troubled with the truth. Godfrey realizes... (full context)

...are married on a beautiful sunny day. Eppie wears a dress of white cotton, which Nancy begged that she be allowed to provide for the young bride. Eppie tells her father... (full context)

Nancy Lammeter Character Analysis

Nancy Lammeter Quotes in Silas Marner

Chapter 18 Quotes

Chapter 20 Quotes

Nancy Lammeter Character Timeline in Silas Marner