This paper will focus on the character development of the workers in Elizabeth Gaskells novel "North and South" to determine which consequences the social struggle has on them and to what extent this social struggle represents the lower working class during the industrial revolution in the first half of the 19th century. The main focus on the socio-historical framework will be on the working and living conditions of the workers in during the era of 1800 to 1850. This paper will also explore how realistic the description of the living and working conditions of the working class are.
The novel "North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell strives, much like the other novels that belong to the emerging subgenre of social novels; to explore the conflict between capital and labour in English manufacturing towns. The conflict between the factory owners and their workers within the North and South is rooted in low wages and provokes a strike that is managed by a trade union. The strike is unsuccessful, leads to a riot and results in an improvement in negotiations between employees and employers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The living and working conditions as a framework
1.1 The living and working conditions of the English workers
1.2 The living and working conditions in North and South
2. The social struggle defined
3. Characterisations
3.1 Nicholas Higgins
3.2 John Boucher
4. Comparison
5. Conclusion
6. Works Cited:
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the character development of working-class figures within Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South" to determine how the industrial social struggle of the 19th century influences their lives and individual transformations. By contrasting the motivations and fates of Nicholas Higgins and John Boucher, the study evaluates the realism of the novel's socio-historical framework.
- The industrial revolution's impact on living and working conditions in 19th-century England.
- The definition and socio-economic origins of social struggle and trade unionism.
- Comparative analysis of character development: The idealistic versus the naturalistic mindset.
- The role of the novel as both a social critique and a Bildungsroman.
- Realism in the depiction of poverty, industrial health hazards, and labor strikes.
Excerpts from the Book
3.1 Nicholas Higgins
Nicholas Higgins is a worker at the mill in Milton, and has two teenage daughters, who he cares for very dearly. The reader is firstly introduced to Higgins when Margaret meets him on the street, stating that he looks “careworn” and unhealthy (cf. Gaskell. 2012.: 83). His caring for Bessy, his sick daughter who is presented from his first introduction with him regulating his steps for her to keep up with him (cf. p.84); carrying her upstairs as she suffers from a breakdown (cf. ibid. 108), promising to not smoke again in her presence to not further indulge her sickness (cf. ibid. 161). He is working hard and eager to provide his younger daughter with money for education (cf. ibid. 121). This leads to him being a self-sacrificing person, especially regarding his family.
His care, however is not limited to his direct family. Higgins, a member and committee-man of the trade union; he highlights the importance of the latter as being “the only thing to do the workmen any good” (ibid. p. 352). The union “keeps the turn-out from starving” (ibid. p. 353), a goal that Higgins himself seems to follow as well. Even though Higgins himself does not earn much (and nothing at all during the strike), he offers to buy bread and milk for the starving family of John Boucher (cf. ibid.: pp. 185-186). He deems the needs of others higher than his own. This caring side of his personality influences his motivations for the strike as he does not only strive for a higher wage on his own behalf but also thinks about Boucher as well: “I take up John Boucher’s cause, […], wi’ a sickly wife, and eight children, […] I don’t take up his cause only […] but I take up th’ cause of justice.” (ibid.: p. 161).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the socio-historical context of Gaskell's work and establishes the research focus on character development within the industrial landscape.
1. The living and working conditions as a framework: Analyzes the harsh realities of 19th-century industrial life and compares the general situation of English workers with the specific setting of Milton in the novel.
2. The social struggle defined: Explores the economic origins of class conflict and the formation of trade unions as a response to exploitation.
3. Characterisations: Examines the psychological and social development of Nicholas Higgins and John Boucher through their interactions with the union and the strike.
4. Comparison: Contrasts Higgins’s idealistic, union-centered approach with Boucher’s naturalistic, family-centered desperation.
5. Conclusion: Evaluates the novel's overall realism and confirms that the character developments are reasonable reflections of the historical working-class struggle.
6. Works Cited:: Lists the primary and secondary literature consulted for this research.
Key Terms
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell, industrial revolution, working class, trade unions, Nicholas Higgins, John Boucher, social struggle, character development, Milton, labor strike, cotton industry, Bildungsroman, poverty, socio-historical realism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper explores how the social struggles of the industrial revolution, as portrayed in Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South," impact the character development of members of the working class.
What are the primary thematic areas?
The central themes include the living and working conditions of 19th-century factory workers, the role of trade unions, and the contrast between idealistic and naturalistic responses to poverty.
What is the main objective of the study?
The goal is to determine the extent to which the social struggle depicted in the novel reflects the reality of the lower working class in England during the first half of the 19th century.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative literary analysis approach, contextualizing the novel's events through historical sources regarding industrial conditions, strikes, and demographic changes.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers historical living standards, the definition of class struggle, in-depth character portraits of Higgins and Boucher, and a comparative analysis of their differing ideologies.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include "North and South," "industrial revolution," "trade unions," "working class," "character development," and "social struggle."
How does Nicholas Higgins transform during the novel?
Higgins evolves from a rigid, idealistic "soldier" of the union to a pragmatic negotiator who learns to balance his firm principles with empathy and reconciliation after facing personal tragedies.
Why does John Boucher’s story end in tragedy?
Boucher’s death is portrayed as the result of extreme despair driven by his inability to support his starving family, coupled with a lack of belief in the "higher cause" of the union.
What distinction does the author make between Higgins and Boucher?
Higgins is characterized by his idealistic commitment to the collective good and social justice, whereas Boucher is described as having a naturalistic, materialistic focus centered solely on his family's immediate survival.
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- Luisa van Gansewinkel (Autor:in), 2018, The Novel as a Mirror for Social Struggle, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/931520
