# Dunstan Cass — Silas Marner character guide

> Dunstan Cass in Silas Marner by George Eliot.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dunstan, IV Dunstan Cass, Dunstan Cass, Dunsey Cass, Dunsey, Master Dunsey, No Dunsey

**First appearance:** 0003-part-i-ii

## Snapshot

Godfrey's reckless younger brother, a gambler and blackmailer who rides his brother's horse toward the stone-pit with theft on his mind.

## Who they are

Dunsey lives by his wits and his brother's secrets, enjoying the self-important swagger of a man who believes himself lucky. He holds Godfrey's hidden marriage over him like a lever, and his casual cruelty—toward the horse, the weaver, anyone weaker—marks him as the novel's most active agent of harm. His path past Silas's cottage sets the plot's central loss in motion.

## Relationships

### [Godfrey Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/godfrey_cass)

_rivalry_

Dunstan is Godfrey's manipulative and cruel brother who blackmails him and causes his downfall.

### [Squire Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/squire_cass)

_family_

Dunstan is the Squire's younger son, who is irresponsible and feared by his father for his wild behavior.

### [Godfrey Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/godfrey_cass)

_rivalry_

Dunstan is Godfrey's manipulative and cruel brother who blackmails him and causes his downfall.

### [Godfrey Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/godfrey_cass)

_rivalry_

Dunstan is Godfrey's manipulative and cruel brother who blackmails him and causes his downfall.

### [Squire Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/squire_cass)

_family_

Dunstan is the Squire's younger son, who is irresponsible and feared by his father for his wild behavior.

### [Squire Cass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/squire_cass)

_family_

Dunstan is the Squire's younger son, who is irresponsible and feared by his father for his wild behavior.

## In the story

### [Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/silas-marner)

Godfrey's manipulative younger brother who blackmails Godfrey over his secret marriage and later steals Silas's gold.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-iii)

Dunstan is the spiteful, manipulative younger brother who has taken Godfrey's rent money and uses it to control him.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Dunstan rides Wildfire, sells it to Bryce, and later steals Silas Marner's gold.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-v)

Has just stolen Silas's gold and left the cottage before Silas returns.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-viii)

Dunsey is absent after selling Wildfire; Godfrey fears he has gambled away the money or caused the horse's death.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

Mentioned indirectly as the cause of Godfrey's troubles; the Squire orders Godfrey to sell Dunstan's hack and tells him not to return home.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-x)

Dunstan is absent from the Christmas party, and his return is a source of anxiety for Godfrey.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-i-xv)

His absence is noted; people assume he has gone for a soldier or left the country.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii)

Dunstan's skeleton is discovered in the Stone-pit, revealing him as the thief of Silas's gold.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters/dunstan_cass
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/silas_marner_se/characters