A too Deferential Man
A too Deferential Man is a novel by George Eliot that explores the theme of self-deception and its consequences. The story follows the life of Silas Marner, a weaver who is wrongfully accused of stealing from his employer and exiled to a remote village. There he becomes obsessed with accumulating wealth until he discovers an abandoned child whom he adopts as his own. Through this experience, Silas learns the value of human connection and redemption.
By George Eliot · First published 1876 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Satire · 2,864 words
First lines
A little unpremeditated insincerity must be indulged under the stress of social intercourse. The talk even of an honest man must often represent merely his wish to be inoffensive or agreeable rather than his genuine opinion or feeling on the matter in hand. His thought, if uttered, might be wounding; or he has not the ability to utter it with exactness and snatches at a loose paraphrase; or he has really no genuine thought on the question and is driven to fill up the vacancy by borrowing the remarks in vogue. These are the winds and currents we have all to steer amongst, and they are often too strong for our truthfulness or our wit. Let us not bear too hardly on each other for this common incidental frailty, or think that we rise superior to it by dropping all considerateness and deference.
What this Textopian page supports
A too Deferential Man is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Eliot, dated 1876 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Eliot
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Satire, Psychological Fiction, Realism
- Length: 2,864 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A too Deferential Man?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, social interactions, and the subtleties of human behavior, which are hallmarks of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal norms and behaviors, particularly the insincerity and deference in social interactions.
- Satire — The exaggerated portrayal of Hinze's deference and the critique of social pretenses suggest a satirical approach.
- Psychological Fiction — The exploration of characters' internal motivations and the psychological underpinnings of their actions align with psychological fiction.
Tags
deference · society · individualism · gender roles · class struggle · moral dilemmas · relationships · self-identity · social expectations · conflict · personal growth · cultural critique