Yesterday morning my 10-year-old son crawled out of bed and joined me on the sofa. I had woken early and was quietly enjoying Silas Marner with my morning coffee. An avid reader himself, he asked me what the book was about and my answer was this.
"There was a young man who was involved with his community. He went to church and had many friends. One day, his best friend killed a minister and stole his money. Then put the empty money bag in Silas' dresser. Betrayed by his friend and the community, Silas went to a new town where nobody knew him. Because he was a newcomer, he was shunned as strange by the community, and because he had been betrayed by the last community, Silas did not reach out to his new neighbors, but lived alone and kept to himself."
My son thought for a moment and then responded, "Kind of like a Goth?"
Was this a funny comment (as is common with children) or truly insightful? Did my son already recognize those that stood out as strange -- and stood alone from society? Will he take it to the next level of understanding that sometimes people are ostracized not for what they do, but for what they don't do? Because of group think that labels them as odd for not conforming to the norms?
The difference is sometimes hard to see. Silas was cast out and carried his personal betrayal into a new environment. He neither helped, nor hurt his society. But was ostracized all the same. Some of these "goths" choose to dress in a way that immediately marks them as outsiders. A personal choice based on what? The easier life that comes with no social responsibilities? Did these kids decide that they too had been betrayed by society and that they would live on the fringe in order to meet their basic needs, they would not participate fully in community?
I told my son that I had only just started the book, and that I knew something good was going to happen to Silas. To bring him back into the love and support a community provides. I just need to talk to him when I reach the end.
