A thesis submetted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree "Licence en Langue et Littérature Anglaises"

Résumé,

This work set out to examine the conflict between the individual and his society during the mineteenth century England as seen in George Eliot's Silas Marner. In this light, our study explored the solitary life of Silas Marner exile as a leanen wiver and the adoption of a child as a means of reconnecting with the community.
It showed how Silas Marner's love towards the child leads to the progression in life from the individual life to the centre. This study anchored on the premise that, despite the social injustice and hatred upon an individual, the interst for people brings about comfort and honouras seen in George Eliot's Silas Marner. The protagonist's isolation in exile leads to a good position in the society thanks to the love towards a miserable child.

Written against the background of the New Historicism thory, this work highlighted the evils of some members of the Victorian society in England as captured in the novel under study. It showed at the end that one's miserable condition does not mean the end in life, that at any moment there is a tendency to move from a peripheral situation in life to the centre of activities. We recommend to our readers to fight for their rights and avoid any sorts of unfair judgement upon an individual.