North and South - Analysis
North and South:
This is a very big novel. When compared with the satire of society that Jane Austen offers, Gaskell offers so much more in exploring the big issues: societal structure, economy, religion, and a woman’s place in society. There is even political dissidence in the form of Frederick! And of course, the moral is in the ending – Margaret marries Thornton, whom she once considered beneath her in class. And she exclaims “I am not worthy.” when they finally speak of their love. Compare this to the rigid ideas offered by Emma about marrying outside of class.
Social Structure:
Social structure is questioned at every turn. Edith and her family are all basically nice enough, but they are more or less a useless waste of space. So the natural authority of the gentry is questioned. Elevated status associated with the clergy is questioned (Gaskell was in a safe place to do this, as she was a clergyman’s wife.) as Mr Hale falls from grace, so is Margaret’s self importance and pride in her father’s role in the community. Likewise, elevated status based on education is questioned, Hale says of the manufacturers: “some of them do really seem to be fine fellows, conscious of their own deficiencies, which is more than many a man at Oxford is.”
The emerging manufacturer’s class is shown to have both slimy mercurial people and honourable people (e.g. Thornton and his mother) but even the slimy people are at least useful – they are able to discuss politics and economy around the dinner table at Thornton’s party.
Finally, Higgins and Boucher round off the panoramic view of society, showing the stupid, ignorant, but utterly pitiable Boucher of the lower classes, contrasted with Higgins, who is a clever man, a philosopher, a Unionist, an atheist, and as honourable and good a man as Thornton is. Higgins might just be Gaskell’s favourite character.
The overall tone of the novel is that social structure is artificial, there being good and worthy people on
This is a very big novel. When compared with the satire of society that Jane Austen offers, Gaskell offers so much more in exploring the big issues: societal structure, economy, religion, and a woman’s place in society. There is even political dissidence in the form of Frederick! And of course, the moral is in the ending – Margaret marries Thornton, whom she once considered beneath her in class. And she exclaims “I am not worthy.” when they finally speak of their love. Compare this to the rigid ideas offered by Emma about marrying outside of class.
Social Structure:
Social structure is questioned at every turn. Edith and her family are all basically nice enough, but they are more or less a useless waste of space. So the natural authority of the gentry is questioned. Elevated status associated with the clergy is questioned (Gaskell was in a safe place to do this, as she was a clergyman’s wife.) as Mr Hale falls from grace, so is Margaret’s self importance and pride in her father’s role in the community. Likewise, elevated status based on education is questioned, Hale says of the manufacturers: “some of them do really seem to be fine fellows, conscious of their own deficiencies, which is more than many a man at Oxford is.”
The emerging manufacturer’s class is shown to have both slimy mercurial people and honourable people (e.g. Thornton and his mother) but even the slimy people are at least useful – they are able to discuss politics and economy around the dinner table at Thornton’s party.
Finally, Higgins and Boucher round off the panoramic view of society, showing the stupid, ignorant, but utterly pitiable Boucher of the lower classes, contrasted with Higgins, who is a clever man, a philosopher, a Unionist, an atheist, and as honourable and good a man as Thornton is. Higgins might just be Gaskell’s favourite character.
The overall tone of the novel is that social structure is artificial, there being good and worthy people on
Bibliography: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell