This paper will look at the gentleman ideal from two perspectives: the ‘old’ ideal before the Victorian Age and the Victorian ideal of a gentleman. The following chapter will provide these ideals by reconstructing them with the help of texts that look at them from a retrospect and also, in case of the Victorian gentleman ideal, by looking at a frequently quoted contemporary work: Samuel Smiles’ "Self Help". Afterwards the findings will be used to analyse the gentleman ideal that is represented by three different male characters of Gaskell’s novel: the London lawyer Henry Lennox, the Milton factory owner John Thornton and the Milton factory worker Nicholas Higgins, in order to find out which ideal these three male characters display. So that at the end it becomes clear which ideal is represented in "North and South".
In Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel "North and South" the author presents the reader with the world of Victorian England during the industrialisation, a time at which change was a daily occurrence. With the rise of the middle-class society changed and therefore it is not surprising that even a well established social factor as the gentleman ideal changed during that period of time.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Gentleman Ideal
2.1. The Traditional Ideal before the 19th Century
2.2. The Changed Ideal of the 19th Century
3. Representation of the Gentleman Ideal in Gaskell’s North and South
3.1. The Ideal represented by Henry Lennox
3.2. The Ideal represented by John Thornton
3.3. The Ideal represented by Nicholas Higgins
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the evolution of the "gentleman" ideal during the Victorian era by analyzing three male characters in Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South, specifically investigating how traditional aristocratic ideals transitioned toward character-based, democratic Victorian ideals.
- The historical shift from birth-based status to character-based merit.
- Comparative analysis of the "old" versus the "new" Victorian gentleman ideal.
- The role of industrialization in redefining social expectations and masculine identity.
- The impact of socioeconomic status on the gentlemanly code of conduct.
- The emergence of equality and intellectual partnership in romantic and business relations.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. The Ideal represented by John Thornton
After Margaret’s first encounter with the Milton manufacturer John Thornton she tells her parents that he is “not quite a gentleman” (Gaskell 60) which means that he does not meet her “somewhat out-dated ideal of a gentleman” (Wootton 26). The traditional gentleman ideal cannot be applied to Thornton due to the fact that he does not fulfil the requirements of that ideal. He was born into a humble family and had to take over the responsibilities of the provider after his father died (cf. Gaskell 78) and because of that possesses no aristocratic rank. He is not educated in the fields that are necessary for a gentleman. He had to leave school in order to work (cf. Gaskell 78) and so could not get a proper education that would qualify him for another work than manufacturing (cf. Gaskell 70). On these grounds it comes as no surprise that he is as well not educated in “the classics, or literature, or the accomplishments of a gentleman” (Gaskell 36), which are necessary for the traditional gentleman ideal.
Despite the fact that he could never meet the expectations of the traditional gentleman ideal John Thornton in the beginning tries to follow at least the aristocratic manners. For instance he does not want to offend Mr. Hale by being unpunctual (cf. Gaskell 73), although it could be suggested that in the middle-class punctuality might not have been of such a high value as work could always be somewhat unpredictable. He also involves his mother by persuading her to call on the Hale’s and trying to befriend them because they have no friends in Milton (cf. Gaskell 86). As he is not described interacting with any other “friends” in the whole novel, it can be questioned whether this request to his mother comes from any other impulse than wanting to adapt to the Hale’s that are more used to the southern way of living. He succeeds in that way but what makes Margaret rethink her picture of him according to his gentlemanliness is his character.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the research scope, focusing on the transformation of the gentleman ideal from the pre-Victorian aristocratic model to the character-based Victorian standard using Gaskell's characters.
2. The Gentleman Ideal: This section reconstructs the historical progression of the gentlemanly code, comparing traditional aristocratic birth-based status with the emerging Victorian focus on moral integrity and character.
3. Representation of the Gentleman Ideal in Gaskell’s North and South: This central analytical chapter examines how three distinct characters—Henry Lennox, John Thornton, and Nicholas Higgins—personify different facets of the evolving gentleman ideal.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, concluding that the novel presents the Victorian gentleman ideal as a more desirable and egalitarian development compared to the outdated aristocratic model.
Keywords
Victorian England, Gentleman Ideal, Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South, Industrialisation, Character-based, Aristocracy, Middle-class, Social status, Masculinity, Equality, Moral integrity, Henry Lennox, John Thornton, Nicholas Higgins
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper explores the changing definition of a "gentleman" in 19th-century Britain through the lens of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South.
Which theoretical frameworks are used to define the "gentleman"?
The author uses historical definitions of the traditional aristocratic gentleman alongside the Victorian character-based ideal, famously described in Samuel Smiles' Self-Help.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how the three male leads in the novel—Lennox, Thornton, and Higgins—represent the transition from birth-based status to character-based morality.
What methodology is applied in this research?
The study utilizes a qualitative literary analysis, comparing characters against established historical and contemporary literature regarding Victorian gentlemanliness.
What are the key thematic areas?
The work covers industrialization, the shift in social class structures, the importance of moral conduct, and the evolution of gender relations towards equality.
Which specific characters are analyzed?
The paper analyzes the lawyer Henry Lennox, the manufacturer John Thornton, and the factory worker Nicholas Higgins.
Why is Henry Lennox considered an example of the traditional ideal?
Lennox possesses the aristocratic rank, social connections, and upbringing that defined the pre-Victorian gentleman, despite his morally dubious personality traits.
In what way does John Thornton exemplify the "modern" Victorian gentleman?
Thornton earns his status through hard work, moral integrity, and an increasing commitment to equality and mutual respect in his relationships with his workers and Margaret.
How does Nicholas Higgins compare to John Thornton?
Higgins shares the essential Victorian traits of truthfulness, self-respect, and integrity with Thornton, proving that the gentleman ideal transcends wealth and class boundaries.
Does the paper conclude that one ideal is superior?
The author suggests that the Victorian character-based ideal is presented as more socially desirable and relevant than the exclusionary, birth-based traditional ideal.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2017, Reconstructing the Gentleman Ideal in Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/920315
