Margaret Hale is an independent and outspoken woman, especially when compared to what people would have found "normal" in Victorian England. In fact, when North and South first came out, a lot of critics criticized Elizabeth Gaskell for writing about political issues like labor relations when only men were supposed to write about that manly stuff.
In any case, it's a good thing Gaskell created a character as strong and independent as Margaret, because it allowed her to push the boundaries of what was considered a woman's proper role in English society.
Questions About Gender
- In your opinion, how much does Margaret challenge traditional concepts of gender? How much does she reinforce them? Please usespecific evidence from the text to support your answer.
- How does the book portray male versus female pride? How are they different? How are they the same?
- Why isn't Margaret supposed to go to her mother's funeral? Is this fair in your mind?
- Do any characters ever try to tell Margaret to "know her place" as a woman? Who, and why?
Chew on This
In North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell shows us that the relationships between bosses and workers get a lot better once women are allowed to express their opinion on the issue of labor relations.
In North and South, we learn that a strong female character can still be (and should be) flawed like anyone else.