In order to highlight the underestimated value of women in Victorian society, Elizabeth Gaskell develops the character of Margaret: a powerful and independent woman who does not allow herself to adhere to the Victorian patriarchal system. conventions. Through Margaret's confident attitude, Gaskell proves that women can be successful and independent. However, the disabled and unhappy character of Bessy Higgins, who is the text's representative worker of the Victorian period, contradicts this message. Throughout the novel, Bessy shows admiration and resentment towards Margaret, as her driven and confident attitude seems to be exactly what Bessy lacks. However, Bessy's bad mood and death prove her weakness and lack of perseverance. This further means that although Gaskell seems to promote and enforce women's independence and self-sufficiency through the character of Margaret, she seems to believe that women like Bessy with inadequate financial circumstances have little or no hope. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay From the beginning of the novel, Margaret plays an authoritative role in her family, probably in order to prevent her parents from suffering from the difficulties of life. . As the only child of her parents living at home, Margaret takes care of most of the practical aspects of her family and becomes the backbone of her parents, as she strives to keep them content. She demonstrates these qualities on several occasions, notably when her father decides to leave the Church. In fear of her mother's reaction and in anticipation of the grief she will likely feel, Margaret responds with "a bright, strong look on her face" (39). Here she tries to hide her grief and show firmness in order to help her father. Agreeing to speak to her mother highlights her ability to take responsibility for such harsh actions - a trait rarely found in women of the Victorian era. Although "Margaret did not like it [and] shrank from it more than anything she had ever had to do in her life before" (39), she responds nobly to her father, expressing that "it was a painful thing, but it must be done. , and [she] will do it as best she can” (39). This once again proves his devotion to his parents and his desire to maintain the stability of his family. According to Victorian conventions, the responsibility for ensuring happiness and stability fell to the man, while "women's career was marriage and the home was a place of solace for her husband and family from the stresses of life." Industrial Britain” (Thomas). . However, Margaret does not succumb to the expectations of patriarchal society and does not allow herself to be weakened or passive in the face of her dominant male counterparts. She also does not concern herself with marriage matters, focusing more on her parents' well-being and her interests in industrialization. Equally powerful and indicative of Margaret's devotion to her parents are her efforts to try to protect her mother's illness from her father. Margaret takes over Dixon's position as Mrs. Hale's primary caregiver in order to manage her mother's illness. Proving that men do not always possess more emotional and physical strength than women, Mr. Hale is unable to take an active role in helping his wife, just as he was unable to talk to her about his loss of faith in life. 'Church. However, instead of succumbing to helplessness, Margaret fulfills her duty as a caregiver and does her best to recreate the happiness that left her home at that painful time in their lives. Throughout the novel, Margaret reveals herselfcontinually be a strong, capable, and resilient young woman, and I believe Gaskell incorporates this particular character into her novel in order to highlight the value of a woman. She is able to develop this message very well through Margaret, who tackles the Victorian female stereotype characterized by passivity and submission and, ironically enough, valiantly looks out for the well-being of those around her. Margaret is very different from the average Victorian woman in that she asserts her opinions and is shown to be very courageous throughout the novel. Gaskell describes Margaret as "full of gentle feminine defiance, always giving strangers an impression of haughtiness" (34). To emphasize how Margaret's personality is very different from that of other women of the time, Gaskell includes Mr. Thorton's impression of Margaret: "that as he looked at her [he felt] an admiration that he could not repress. " In that particular era, it was rare for a man to admire a woman in this way, particularly because "the qualities a young Victorian woman needed were to be innocent, virtuous, obedient, respectful, and ignorant of intellectual opinions » (Thomas). . However, Margaret is strong in her personal opinions and so different from the other women in this novel that Mr. Thorton, himself a strong and successful man, cannot help but be enamored of her strong-willed attitude. In addition to her headstrong personality, Margaret demonstrates many acts of bravery, even though "Victorian women were supposed to be weak and helpless" (Thomas). Most notable is when she puts herself in danger in order to protect Mr. Thorton during the strike. This is particularly shocking in a society where men are expected to protect and care for women, who are considered weak, fragile and sensitive. However, instead of being afraid, like Fanny and Mrs. Thorton, Margaret chooses to heroically defend Mr. Thorton while attempting to resolve the strike herself. It is clear in this situation that neither Fanny nor Mrs. Thorton would ever put themselves in danger; however, Margaret, even though she is an outsider to the family, has a desire to protect and help. She does not see herself as submissive or subservient to men and therefore feels it is her duty as a powerful young woman to attempt to solve the problems that arise in her society. Her response to her mother's death is equally powerful in proving Margaret's boldness. . Margaret believes that she “didn’t have time to cry regularly. [Her] father and brother depended on her; while they gave way to grief, she had to work, plan, think” (275). Margaret seems less distraught over the loss of her mother than the men in the family, but that is only because she does not allow tragedy to prevent her from maintaining family stability. She allowed other family members to rely on her to keep everything intact. This is rare in a society where women are considered “a fragile and delicate flower, incapable of making decisions” (Thomas). I believe that through these acts of bravery, Gaskell proves that although Victorian society viewed women as fragile compared to men, women can be just as strong, or even stronger, than their male counterparts. The other women in this novel do not show the courage that Margaret displays. For example, Edith, Margaret's cousin, is a perfect contrast to Margaret's strength. She warns Margaret not to be strong-minded, to which Margaret responds, “Don't be afraid, Edith. I will faint from your hands at the servant's dinner time, at the very first opportunity; and then, with Sholto playing with fire and the baby crying, you will begin towish for a strong-minded woman, equal to any emergency" (509). Here, Gaskell highlights the uselessness of a helpless woman while emphasizing the extremely distinct distinction between the two women. Mr. Thorton also notes the differences between his sister Fanny and Margaret when he says: "I see a great difference between Miss Hale and Fanny. I imagine that one of them may have serious reasons, which can and must make her neglect everything. apparent impropriety in her conduct. I never believed that Fanny had serious reasons for anything. Other people must keep her, I believe,' (305). as an accomplished young woman, unconcerned with the stereotypical image of a weak and helpless woman, Bessy Higgins, a completely weak character, seems to admire Margaret, but is also envious of Margaret's independence and resilience. and Bessy's unpredictable nature is rooted in her dissatisfaction with her personal socio-economic reality, a victim of unhealthy working conditions in the factory. However, Bessy's condition was not uncommon at a time when "children were expected to contribute to the family budget [and] often worked long hours in dangerous jobs and in difficult situations for very little pay" (Daniels ). Because Bessy is the only representative of the working women, readers are left with the impression that all working women are as unhealthy and unwell as she is. Furthermore, although Bessy seems to like Margaret very much and enjoys her visits, it is clear from Gaskell's writings that Bessy is incapable of becoming the capable woman that Margaret is - probably because she is of a lower class, considering that class status is the priority. only major difference between the two women. Notably, “the economic differences between rich and poor became very visible [in the Victorian era]. The rich could afford elegant, well-built villas, while the poor had to tolerate the squalor of cramped, back-to-back housing surrounded by noise and dirt” (WWMM). However, Margaret and Bessy share many things in common, aside from their obvious differences in wealth. For example, Bessy shows how curious she is about the world, just like Margaret, when she says, "I want to know so many things and I am so agitated by my questions" (133). Like Margaret, she longs for broader views: “I have always wanted to climb high and see far away, and breathe deeply the fullness of that air” (144). Additionally, Bessy, having worked dutifully to provide for her family, is similar to Margaret in that she has made it her duty in life to serve and protect her parents. Both women have been forced into hardship, but I believe Bessy realizes that her lack of wealth may be the only thing stopping her from living the life she aspires to (or a life more similar to that by Margaret). Her family clearly needs money, and Bessy is forced to work in the cotton factories, which seriously harms her health. This realization causes Bessy to feel resentful towards Margaret, as she feels that Margaret has "never known need, nor worry, nor malice either, for that matter." Her jealousy of Margaret is evident when she lashes out at Margaret and says, "I could go crazy and kill you, I could" (145). Although Bessy cares for Margaret and perceives her as a dear friend, she cannot accept the fact that she is forced to live in poverty while Margaret does not care about matters of wealth Nicholas Higgins presents his financial situation to Margaret when he..