In Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, North and South, she uses her characters, description, and plot to portray the stark difference between the North and South of England. Gaskell writes to display the difference in character and values of Northern and Southern England. North and South happens during the industrial revolution, so Gaskell is able to show what the world looked like with and without the new industry. The two main characters of North and South were used to contrast the two halves of England. Margaret Hale was used to represent the South and Mr. John Thornton represented the North. Gaskell is able to show the opposing life-styles through what each character values and how they interact with one another. Margaret values education, quietness, …show more content…
The main conflict that readers are able to easily see is between Margaret and Mr. Thornton. They both hold different values, so different issues create a clash between the two characters. The idea of hiring people for labor creates a bigger clash between Margaret and Mr. Thornton. Margaret identifies with the workers, so she does not believe what Mr. Thornton does is just. This shows how the southerners typically valued education and Margaret fought for the workers to be treated equally. Mr. Thornton, however, just wanted people to work for him, so he had a very different point of view on the issue. Mr. Thornton valued the hard work of his people and his main focus was on what he was able to produce. The initial clash between the two characters show how the south and north are very different from each other. However, as Margaret and Mr. Thornton get to know each other they grow to have feelings for one another. Gaskell wrote the story to end in reconciliation between the characters to show that the North and South can be unified despite their differences. Gaskell used Margaret and Mr. Thornton to embody the southern and northern parts in England to get her message of possible unification across to other British