CONDITION OF ENGLAND

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CONDITION OF ENGLAND

 Factories

 16 hour shifts

 Low wages

 Dangerous working conditions

 Massive poverty

 Human waste & misery

 Strikes

 Lockouts

 Unions

 Riots

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NORTH & SOUTH

The clash between capital & labour

The differences between

the north & the south

employers & employees

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MARGARET HALE

 A mediator between classes

 A means of the reconciliation between the working class & the capitalist manufacturers

Why her?

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THE BATTLE

 John Thornton: the capitalist (rich manufacturer)

 Nicholas Higgins: the poor, suffering labourer

 Boucher: representative of a different kind of worker

 Bessy Higgins: symbol of the victims of industrialisation

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 Chapters 1-6: Life in the country

 The Hale family moves from Helstone to Milton

 Chapter 7: First impressions of the north

 Change of roles

 Chapter 8: Education in the north

 Margaret’s role

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Chapter 10 Margaret begins to educate Mr Thornton.

Her observations: a comparison of the south and the north

Thornton explains the history of “the battle”.

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Chapter 13 Bessy Higgins: a victim of industrialisation

Chapter 14 Frederick’s story: Who is he & how is his story related

to the main story?

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How does Mrs Thornton interpret the problem?

How is her point of view different from her son’s?

What is Mr Thornton’s main mistake?

What is the main reason of the battle?

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LACK OF COMMUNICATION

 Alienation

 Indifference

 Ignorance

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THE STRIKE

How does Higgins explain their reasons for going on a strike?

What other viewpoints does Gaskell

present?

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DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS

Boucher Bessy

Mr Thornton Mrs Thornton Mr Hale

Margaret

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CHAPTER 22

How does Margaret mediate between the angry mob and Mr Thornton?

Does she succeed? Why/Why not?

What are the consequences of the workers’ action in

this scene?

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T H E R E L AT I O N S H I P B E T W E E N H I G G I N S

& T H E H A L E S

 Actual communication between Mr Hale and Higgins.

 The symbolic significance of the prayer scene in the Hale house.

 Margaret’s persuasion of Higgins.

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Why does Mr Thornton decide to hire Higgins? What has changed?

How does their relationship transform after that?

What other steps does Mr Thornton take?

What message does Gaskell give through the relationship between Mr Thornton and

Higgins?