Gender Roles in North and South

Tierney Deggelman Morrissey Engl 209 October 1, 2012 Gender Roles in North and South It is no admiration that the bracing North and South is one that frequently employs the literary elbow room of placing two entities in juxtaposition as the very title coincides with the theme of comparison. Similarly, the chapter headings often mirror this literary style Masters and Men, Likes and Dislikes, Roses and Thorns. The most solid of these comparisons is masculinity and femininity.Through the development of the novels female heroine Margaret Hale and through John Thorntons perspectives of her, Emily Gaskell is in essence taking a stand against gender stereotypes and play up the underestimated value of female empowerment in Victorian society. Throughout the novel Margaret Hale proves herself to be a good, outspoken, capable and irrepressible spirit. These descriptions of Margaret however were more(prenominal) likely to be attributed to men in this time, as they were viewed as the tra nscendent gender. Gaskell describes Margaret as full of a soft feminine defiance, always handsome strangers the impression of haughtiness (58).In attempts to draw attention to the fact that Margaret is out of the average with a personality unlike most women of her time, Gaskell incorporates Mr. Thorntons first impressions of her as well. He almost said to himself he did non like her, in confront their conversation ended he tried so to compensate himself for the abashed feeling, that while he looked upon her with an admiration he could not repress (59). This passing game is significant because it shows the discontent Thornton feels due to Margarets reluctance to conform to stereotypes of femininity.However, level with feelings of discontent, Thornton looks at her with admiration showing he cannot help but be captivated with her strong-minded manner. Perhaps this is Gaskells way of showing us that if breaking gender stereotypes can be admired by a high class powerful man such as Thornton, accordingly why cant it be admired by society as a whole? Another instance where Margaret demonstrates her unusual strength is in regards to her drives illness. When she finds out her mother is dying she decides to keep it from her amaze as she says, He will not bear it as I can (119).The instant she convinces the doctor to reveal the severity of her mothers illness attach the moment she takes on the role of arbitrary figure in her family. The seeditative position in a family would again usually belong to a man but Margaret claims her father could not handle it and that she will everywherehear to step forward. Margarets strength through her mothers illness, taking power over her father is yet another pillow slipistic of hers thats advocates female empowerment. This is reinstated in the actual event of her mothers death. Her eyes were continually blind by tears, but she had no time to give way to uniform crying. The father and brother depended upon her while th ey were giving way to grief, she must be working, planning, considering (230). This quote depicts Margaret acting as backbone for the family. She has allowed her family members to look to her for stability, which is extremely disused in a time where women were viewed as delicate. The most memorable introduction of Margarets character is in the event of the strike when she comes outside of the Thornton sept and steps in front of John Thornton.Margaret puts herself in a blank space of grave danger in between Mr. Thornton and the strikers who are described as beastly, animalistic creatures who have lost all traces of their previous humanity. The stepping in front of Mr. Thornton symbolizes the crossing of his masculinity. In essence she is stating herself more masculine than Thornton by doing so. The raillery of this situation is as she is preceding his masculinity, the very thing she banks on not getting hurt is gender. She thinks that as a woman she will not be subjected to any violence delivered by man.Margarets attitude toward her mothers death and her approach to confronting the strikers shows her strong and brave character. Such character that contradicts the social norms of gender roles is attributed to the female protagonist in attempts to convey the authors values of female empowerment. The fact that Mr. Thornton is not oppressive toward women kind of attracted to Margarets challenging nature marks Gaskells attempt at getting readers to believe that women can be just as strong as their male complements despite what society says.