Theme of poverty in Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South

Introduction

In this essay, an attempt is made to analyse the theme of poverty found in Gaskell’s North and South.(Gaskell, 1970) While analyzing this work, one is required to know that in the era of industrial revolution, poverty, particularly in the urban workplace, was a notable phenomenon and this was represented in the work of Gaskell. The theme of poverty, the result of industrial development, and clash between the two classes is represented in this work. Gaskell was a Unitarian and the belief in this ideology is represented in her works. (Brown, 2000)

Analysis

  Very few have explicitly discussed regarding the theme of poverty as seen in the works of Gaskell. This work also represents the contrast between two different regions – rural south and industrial north. This work revolves around the story of the main character Margaret Hale. She moves from the rural southern home to industrial north and she enjoys all facilities in London. Later she again returns to the rural south and lives with her family. However, her father who was a Vicar suddenly declares break from the Church and Margaret Hale is again forced to migrate to the industrial town Milton where she obtains knowledge regarding the plight of industrial workers. She comes to know regarding the emergence of two classes of people in Milton.

These two classes of people are masters and workers; there is friction between the two classes, and this creates confusion in the mind of Margaret Hale. This is the central plot of this story. Before coming to Milton, both Margaret and her father had experience of poverty of the poor parish in the south. However, there is difference between the poverty of north and south. In the north poor people work in the factories and they depend on the wages that they obtain from the industrialists. However, in the south, the poor people although face economic problems, they are more satisfied than the people in the north. (Brenda, 2005)

The miserable condition of the poor people is brought out by the following statement of Margaret Hale: “I see men here going about in the streets who look ground down by some pinching sorrow or care – who are not only sufferers but haters. Now, in the South we have our poor, but there is not that terrible expression in their countenances of a sullen sense of injustice which I see here. ” (Gaskell, 1970,122-123).

This novel gives information regarding the various problems faced by the workers in the industrial society. The workers lived in miserable working and living conditions in these towns. She observed the poor condition of working class people in her surroundings. The theme of poverty is represented through few characters, events, and description of surroundings. Margaret Hale confronts new faces and new surroundings when she sees the factory smoke in Milton. The factory and the small houses of poor workers are compared to hen surrounded by chickens. The family of Gaskell experiences the boisterous and innocent poor people of the industrial town.

The people on the street are described as fearless, carefree, and innocent. Before reaching Milton, Hale was not particularly excited about the new place. After coming to Milton, Hale goes for a walk in the surroundings and she encounters poor people on the street. The poor people exhibit characteristics such as different dress and language and they pass on some comments on physical appearance of Hale. The novel depicts workers who are always seen on the street with their aggressive intentions. Initially, Margaret Hale was afraid of both men and women on the street. Both men and women on the street used to speak loudly.

However, later she became friendly with the women folk who showed interest in dress and mannerisms of Hale. The novel consists of several scenes of interaction between Margaret Hale and poor women who are interested to know regarding the relatively expensive dress worn by Margaret. She comes to know regarding the problems of poor people when she goes to visit the house of Bessy Higgins, who suffers from a disease. Hale happens to know regarding the conditions of neighbours of Higgins.

The house surroundings and furniture give the impression of poverty of people. Bessy gives information regarding the nature of their poverty and before her death, Bessy requests Hale to take Bessy’s sister Mary as her servant. Margaret Hale discusses the conditions of poor people with her parents and Mr. Thornton. Gaskell discussed regarding the role of the worker’s union, which emerged due to bad working conditions of the working class people. Margaret Hale also argues with Mr. Nicholas Higgins and Mr. Thornton regarding the need to help the working class people. (Gaskell, 1970) This novel considers that all workers are poor people.

When the workers went on strike they lost their jobs and homes and this led to poverty and starvation. Poverty led to disunity among workers as some workers thought that there is no need to go on strike, since when they went on strike, they could not obtain wages. In spite of these troubles, they were compelled to continue the strike as it was thought that it was the only weapon to fight against the exploitation of their masters. She has also presented the different viewpoints belonging to the workers and the masters. The hatred of poor people for industrialists is described through the character of Nicholas Higgins. (Brenda, 2005)

The characters represented by Gaskell provide insight regarding the problems that they faced in the industrial towns. For instance, one character, Bessy Higgins dies due to industrial disease. Her father Nicholas Higgins protested against the exploitation of the working class people by the capitalists. The sufferings of Bessy Higgins are properly represented in this novel. In this battle between the two classes, the author allows the characters belonging to working class and capitalists to defend their respective classes. The main character Margaret Hale is showed as believing in helping the poorer sections of the population in the industrial towns. She persuades the industrialists to introduce reforms in their factories..(Billington, 2001)

Conclusion

North and South of Gaskell represents the problems faced by the working class people in the industrial towns. It can be considered as belonging to the class of social protest literature. The working class movements and the poor conditions of the working class families particularly during the time of union strikes have been clearly represented in this work.

References

Billington, Josie.(2001). “North and South”, The Literary Encyclopedia, http://www.literarydictionary.com/php/sworksphp?rec=true&UID=3238  (Last accessed 13-04-2005)

Brandt, Brenda. (2005). “Elizabeth Gaskell: “Offering Readers Escape and a Public and Private View of Victorian Life”, http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/EG-Brandt.html  (Last accessed 13-04-2005)

Brown, Pearl. L.  (2000). “From Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton to her North and South: Progress or Decline for women?”, Victorian Literature and Culture, Cambridge University Press, 345-358.

Gaskell, Elizabeth. (1970). North and South, London: Penguin.