ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Dunstan Cass is a cruel, lazy, manipulative and greedy person, ready to do or say anything to get what he wants. He blackmails his brother, Godfrey, by threatening to spill the beans about the latter’s secret marriage. He convinces his brother to sell off his favourite horse, Wildfire.

Detailed explanation-2: -He is vain, arrogant, and selfish, as well as dishonest. Like Godfrey, he is primarily interested in what he himself wants, but he lacks any saving virtues. Dunstan suspects his own worthlessness: while he thinks what a fine person he is, he fears the opinions of others on that subject.

Detailed explanation-3: -Despite only appearing in the first third of the literary classic Silas Marner, the character Dunstan Cass fully represents the basic idea of reaping what you sow by being forced to take drastic measures as a result of his actions.

Detailed explanation-4: -Years later, Dunstan’s body, along with the stolen gold, is found at the bottom of the stone pit by Silas Marner’s cottage.

Detailed explanation-5: -After killing Godfrey’s horse, whose sale was supposed to make back the rent money, he steals Silas’s money. Right after stealing the money (we learn later), Dunstan falls into the nearby quarry and drowns.