Literary Analysis: Mary Barton
Angel Garay Estefes
Professor Dayna Castle
2332
28 October 2015
Mary Barton: Literary Analysis
In the novel Mary Barton, written by Elizabeth Gaskell, Gaskell criticizes the social hierarchy between the rich and the poor. She does this by illustrating the ignorance of the rich as well as their selfishness, for they are inside with plenty of space and plenty of food to eat but yet they still complain about the misery that is inflicted upon them by something such as a minor headache, and have no regard for the real misery and pain that is just outside of their front door.
In the story, Gaskell uses Wilson, an ordinary citizen in the city of Manchester, as the point of view to show what he sees happening with the misery of the citizens, and to …show more content…
In the first paragraph Gaskell, in a way, shows how Mr. Carson has little regard towards their servants. “Meanwhile, the servants bustled to and fro; …” (Gaskell, line 26) , through this, Gaskell shows how Wilson notices that the servants are working hard in Mr. Carson’s house, while he is merrily letting his household be cleaned by other people. However, this quickly turns around as Wilson becomes increasingly hungry by the aroma that the food gave off in the kitchen and the servants are negligent in offering him anything to eat, “ … but they were like the rest of us, and not feeling hunger themselves, forgot it was possible another might.”(Gaskell, lines 35-37). In these lines, Gaskell kind of explains the reason for the negligence that the servants have, but in no way did she give them an excuse for it. This just goes to show that all those that benefit from riches become blind to the needs that others may …show more content…
She’s got a bad headache.”(Gaskell, lines 70-72). Then the servant goes on by saying that Mrs. Carson can go on and on about how much pain is inflicted upon her if she were talking to Miss Jenkins, another rich lady that also complains about the simple pains that she must endure. Gaskell makes the servant say this to emphasize how the rich will complain about any little pain that is inflicted upon them. This also emphasizes how the rich will complain about their lives and the pain that they suffer even though they see how much pain the poor must face every day, such as
Professor Dayna Castle
2332
28 October 2015
Mary Barton: Literary Analysis
In the novel Mary Barton, written by Elizabeth Gaskell, Gaskell criticizes the social hierarchy between the rich and the poor. She does this by illustrating the ignorance of the rich as well as their selfishness, for they are inside with plenty of space and plenty of food to eat but yet they still complain about the misery that is inflicted upon them by something such as a minor headache, and have no regard for the real misery and pain that is just outside of their front door.
In the story, Gaskell uses Wilson, an ordinary citizen in the city of Manchester, as the point of view to show what he sees happening with the misery of the citizens, and to …show more content…
In the first paragraph Gaskell, in a way, shows how Mr. Carson has little regard towards their servants. “Meanwhile, the servants bustled to and fro; …” (Gaskell, line 26) , through this, Gaskell shows how Wilson notices that the servants are working hard in Mr. Carson’s house, while he is merrily letting his household be cleaned by other people. However, this quickly turns around as Wilson becomes increasingly hungry by the aroma that the food gave off in the kitchen and the servants are negligent in offering him anything to eat, “ … but they were like the rest of us, and not feeling hunger themselves, forgot it was possible another might.”(Gaskell, lines 35-37). In these lines, Gaskell kind of explains the reason for the negligence that the servants have, but in no way did she give them an excuse for it. This just goes to show that all those that benefit from riches become blind to the needs that others may …show more content…
She’s got a bad headache.”(Gaskell, lines 70-72). Then the servant goes on by saying that Mrs. Carson can go on and on about how much pain is inflicted upon her if she were talking to Miss Jenkins, another rich lady that also complains about the simple pains that she must endure. Gaskell makes the servant say this to emphasize how the rich will complain about any little pain that is inflicted upon them. This also emphasizes how the rich will complain about their lives and the pain that they suffer even though they see how much pain the poor must face every day, such as