Margaret Hale: Compassion in North and South

A long time ago we talked about Molly Gibson, the heroine of Wives and Daughters, one of my favorite books.  It’s high time we visit that other literary masterpiece by Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell—North and South. If you are unfamiliar with this novel, I highly recommend it. (YouTube has multiple LibriVox recordings of the book as well as the amazing BBC adaptation with Richard Armitage, which I can't recommend highly enough!) North and South is the story of Margaret Hale, a young woman whose clergyman father uproots the family from their idyllic country home in southern England and takes them north to Milton, a smoky, dirty, bustling manufacturing town. One of the first people she meets there is Mr. Thornton, a factory owner whose manners are much rougher than what Margaret has been accustomed to while living in London. In Milton, Margaret’s pride is transformed into humility as she faces many trials and becomes well-acquainted with loss. But in this post we’re going to focus on Margaret’s compassion which inspires her to help and protect those she loves, and which inspires Mr. Thornton to find his own humanity.

N.B. I realize that this work may not be familiar to you all, so in an effort not to spoil any of the story, some of the details will be purposefully vague.

Margaret’s love of her fellow man is not something theoretical. It is constantly realized in the acts of kindness which she does for others. At the very beginning of the novel we see Margaret cheerfully helping prepare for her cousin’s wedding. Later, after the family has moved to Milton and cannot find a second servant to hire, Margaret rolls up her sleeves, puts on an apron, and does what she can to help her parents be comfortable in their new home. Her mother laments that it has come to this, her own daughter forced to do the work of a servant, but Margaret replies, “I don’t mind ironing, or any kind of work for you and papa. I am myself a born and bred lady through it all, even though it comes to scouring a floor, or washing dishes.” Margaret’s desire to help others inspires deeds both great and small, from taking baskets of provisions to poor families to consulting with lawyers in order to clear her brother’s name of a crime he didn’t commit.

 But physical help is the not only way in which Margaret demonstrates compassion. She offers emotional support and comfort to those who are suffering. When Mrs. Hale learns that they are to leave their home for Milton, she is greatly distressed, and Margaret devotes all of her time to her mother, “bending her whole soul to sympathize in all the various turns her feelings took.” Later, throughout Mrs. Hale’s illness, Margaret’s strength supports Mr. Hale, who sees his decision to relocate his family as the cause of his beloved wife’s suffering. Margaret draws this emotional strength from her strong faith, and she is able to bring others comfort through the same means. Margaret’s only real friend in Milton is a factory worker, Bessy, who is slowly dying from lung trouble, and out of a desire to help her friend find consolation in her suffering, Margaret comes and reads to Bessy from the Bible.

In addition to fulfilling the role of supporter and comforter, Margaret also provides protection for her family, and others as well. Margaret’s parents are the first in her affections, and as such, they are the ones whose feelings she is most sensitive to. Thus she always tries to save them from unnecessary distress. When the Hale’s son Frederick visits the family in Milton, he speaks with Margaret about their relocation, calling it a “blunder.” Margaret urges him not to let their father hear any such comments, as Mr. Hale already blames himself for everything which his family has suffered in consequence of his decision. Later when Frederick is in danger of being unjustly arrested, Margaret sacrifices her good name in order to protect him.

One of the conflicts running throughout the novel is the struggle between the masters and the men, (the terms used for the mill owners and their employees). Mr. Thornton is portrayed at the beginning of the novel as a typical master. His first concern is the overall success of his business. If he does anything to benefit his workers, it is only because it benefits his bottom line as well. Margaret is shocked by this attitude, because when she looks at his workers, she sees people, not numbers. After the factory owners of Milton refuse to increase wages, all of the mill workers go on strike, which culminates when an angry mob storms Mr. Thornton’s home. Mr. Thornton sees these men as “wild beasts,” but Margaret, who happens to be there at the time, sees them as individuals who are hungry and pushed to extremes by their condition. She urges Mr. Thornton to “go down and face them like a man… Speak to your workmen as if they were human beings. Speak to them kindly. Don’t let the soldiers come in and cut down poor creatures who are driven mad… if you have any courage or noble quality in you, go out and speak to them, man to man.” Mr. Thornton is struck by her compassion for these men, and he goes out to speak to them. It is not an instant transformation, and the day ends in violence and bloodshed, but it is the beginning of Mr. Thornton finding his humanity. 
 

Mr. Thornton continues to observe Margaret’s kindness toward these people whom he considers to be below his notice, and more and more he begins to show kindness in his own way. Slowly Mr. Thornton’s attitude changes and he starts taking an active interest in the welfare of his employees. Toward the end of the novel, at a dinner party, he discusses the relations between masters and men with the other guests, and expresses a desire that everyone would strive for a better understanding in order to prevent strikes from being such ugly and violent occurrences. Margaret is at the same dinner party, and after Mr. Thornton finishes this discussion, he goes to her to tell her about some kind thing which his workers had done for him. He asks, “That was good [of them], wasn’t it?” She replies that it was, and that she was glad to hear it, and he replies, “I knew you would like it.” This moment is so sweet because it is the closest Mr. Thornton get to acknowledging to Margaret that she has been the inspiration for this change. By this point he knows her character, and he wants to show her that he has changed so much as to be on such good terms with his employees.

 

There’s so much more I could talk about in Margaret’s character—her journey to overcome her pride, her courage, her readiness to forgive and ask forgiveness. But while these are important, Margaret’s compassion for others is the driving force for all her decisions, and for the novel as a whole. The lesson we can take away from her story is the same as from the parable of the unjust steward: “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater” (Lk 16:10). From the very beginning we see Margaret performing small acts of kindness and service for those she loves, and these little habits enable her to perform great acts of self-sacrifice and generosity later. These actions create a ripple effect for good as her example awakens Mr. Thornton’s compassion. By the end of the novel, both Margaret and Mr. Thornton start to see things in a different light, and they see each other differently as well. But I’ve said too much already. I invite you to find out the ending for yourself. ☺