Silas Marner's most important theme is that of community. The book opens with Marner in the small town of Raveloe, we learn early in the book the importance of the town in an individual's life. Your community was your way of life, if the local farmers didn't love you, they wouldn't provide you with sustenance. Marner plays a very special role in Raveloe; he only speaks to others when he needs to and has no friends. He stays alone and everyone considers him a strange man. Marner has a special skill that makes him very valuable to the community: he is a weaver. This skill makes Marner valuable to the community despite his awkward social tendencies. In the early chapters of the book, it is clear that Marner isolates himself from the Raveloe community. Evidence of such isolation is found in this conversation between Marner and Mr. Macy: During this discursive speech, Silas had remained motionless in his previous attitude, resting his elbows on his knees and pressing his hands to his head. Mr. Macey, not doubting that he had been listened to, p...