Analysis of 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell: Engl2665 Essay

This essay delves into Elizabeth Gaskell's 'North and South,' examining the stark contrasts between the industrial North and the pastoral South, and the resulting class consciousness. The essay focuses on the protagonist, Margaret Hale, and her evolving perceptions of these two worlds. It explores the differing lifestyles, prejudices, and cultures, as reflected in the interactions between farm workers and mill workers. The analysis highlights key themes such as the impact of industrialization, the portrayal of working-class life, and the role of characters like Mr. Thornton. The essay also considers the novel's depiction of societal values, including the role of religion and the individual versus the crowd. Through close reading of the text, the essay illuminates Gaskell's critique of political economy and the enduring relevance of 'North and South'.

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'North and South'
'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell was published in 1854 (Gutenberg), and it was her
second industrial novel after Mary Barton. The plot of the novel is set in a textile town and sheds
light on the political economy and problems between masters and men (Li and Kellogg 93). Even
decades later "North and South" endures because of the contrast between North and South and
class-consciousness. The title of the novel North and South is self-explanatory and reflects the
differences between the pastoral and idyllic South and the economically prosperous North. Those
differences lifestyles, prejudices and cultures mark the disparity and attitudes towards the farm
workers and mill workers.
Margaret Hale is the novel’s protagonist who is shown to be intelligent and assertive. Her
novel reflects the stark difference between the Industrial North and Rural south. The Hales hover
somewhere around middle class, that lies between new industrial wealth of North and rural
South.
Farm Workers and Mill Workers
Mr. Hale’s conversation with his wife Margaret reflects the differences he finds in the
living style of the southern farm workers and north mill workers. Mr Hale talks about the fact
that she sees furniture that the labourers have not thought of buying and the food that is
commonly thought of to be luxuries. These families have no resource now on account of the fcat

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that their wages have been stopped. One should learn a different language along with the
measure by that of a different standard“(Chapter 20, North and South).
Mr. Thornton in a conversation with Margaret tells her that the south country people are
frightened by the Darkshire men and the women only believe in living and the struggling.”
(Chapter 15, North and South). Those lines show how the mill workers look at the rural south.
Margaret has always held South high as a rural ideal. In comparison, she demonstrates deep
prejudice against those who are tied to the industry. As she says to mother whether there were
Gormans who were making the fortunes in the trade within Southampton. She says that she is
glad that she does not visit those people. She says that she is glad regarding the fact that she does
not like the people who are pretentious but the simple people like the cottagers along with the
labourers (Chapter 2, North and South). However, later in the novel, she dissuades Higgins
from working in the south by saying that she would not be able to bear the dullness of life as it
would eat an individual up like the rust. There are people who have lived her across the life and
it seems like soaking in stagnant waters (Chapter 37, North and South).
Margaret finds good along with the bad in everything in this world and says that sorrows
exist everywhere, and even Southern life had its flaws. Those words show the contrast between
that of industrial north along with the rural south reflected within novel. While the industrial
north is seen to be progressive, the rural south is seen in ignorance and grinding poverty.

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Works Cited
Gutenberg. “North And South.” gutenberg, 2014,
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4276/4276-h/4276-h.htmAccessed 28 Feb. 2019
Li , Fang and Kellogg, David. " A science for verbal art: Elizabeth Gaskell’s contribution to a
critique of political economy." Language Sciences, vol. 70, Nov. 2018, pp. 92–102.

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Reeder, Jessie1. “Broken Bodies, Permeable Subjects: Rethinking Victorian Women’s ‘Agency’
in Gaskell’s North and South.” Nineteenth Century Gender Studies, vol. 9, no. 3, Winter
2013, pp. 1–15.