Examination of Outsiders in Elizabeth Gaskells Cranford and North and South - Essay Example

28 March 2007 An Examination of "Outsiders" in Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford and North and South Introduction ElizabethGaskell's Cranford and North and South are highly acclaimed novels in their own right. Cranford concerns itself with the lives of the genteel women folks, who are the inhabitants of a small country town. This is arguably the most celebrated work of Gaskell, and many consider it a classic. North and South is a passionate study of the far - ranging effects and consequences of the industrial revolution and its implications for the employer as well as the employee. In both novels it is possible to identify the "outsiders" and ascertain their importance to the plot. In Cranford, the outsiders and their relationship to the central characters are depicted with gentle satire and humor. Human foibles are examined with compassion and the tale holds out the promise of redemption. With typical narrative skill, Gaskell highlights the characteristics that mark both groups as unique in their own right and cleverly demonstrates the benefits to be enjoyed if their differences are ironed out. However she does not stress this point and brings out how it is also possible for the two to exist independent of the other, without too much hostility, overt or otherwise. In North and South, the role of outsiders is handled on a more solemn note, in keeping with the gravity of the subject matter. Gaskell reveals a thorough grasp of the situation as she depicts the painful antagonism that characterizes the mental framework of the outsiders and the inevitability of open conflict. Human existence itself becomes fragile under the oppressive, all - pervasive atmosphere of ill - concealed hatred, intolerance and mutual fear. She emphasizes the absolute need for reconciliation between the warring factions and the need for peaceful co - existence, improved communication channels, tolerance and better understanding. The novel reveals how such a ceasefire is not only possible but imperative in order to ensure better living conditions for all concerned. The difference in the depiction of outsiders in both the novels lies largely in the stronger stand she adopts in the latter. A thorough analysis of this subject helps one better understand the nature of the differences in the portrayal of outsiders and is likely to result in a better understanding of the content, themes and the narrative techniques employed, which in turn makes the reading experience far more rewarding and enriching. A Study of Outsiders in Cranford At the very onset of the text it is possible to identify the outsiders. Gaskell says, "Cranford is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses, above a certain rent, are women In short, whatever does become of the gentlemen, they are not at Cranford" (1). Thereafter, men who arrive on the scene are perceived as the outsiders on account of their gender. From this point Gaskell sketches the peculiarities and peccadilloes that are the defining characteristics of both sexes with particular attention to the female sex. The traits unique to both sexes are seldom disparaged but often celebrated. Like the mythological Amazons, the women of Cranford had for the most part excluded men from their lives and are remarkably self - sufficient. However unlike their mythical counterparts they refrain from killing men, but do not baulk at driving them away by the sheer strength of their disapproval and superior numbers. Therefore the women are the central characters in Cranford; however despite the fact that theirs is a secluded community, insulated from the rest of the world, they cannot keep out men from their lives. Therefore male characters make their appearance at regular intervals for better or for worse and are essential elements of the plot. The community at Cranford is a close - knit one, where the genteel ladies are well established in their ways and are accustomed to the monotony of their uneventful lives. The ladies are used to each other's eccentricities and they take individual foibles in their stride, provided the lady in question conforms to the approved and often rigid social norms, adherence to which marks her as one of their own. And thus the ladies find solace in the many benefits available to them in the little community with its celebration of the bonds of sisterhood and friendship. Therefore they are loathe to admit any outsiders into their ranks. And men who choose to make a life for themselves in Cranford are regarded as interlopers and viewed with intense suspicion bordering on hostility. This attitude may be attributed to the perceptible differences between the sexes, which make them alien and consequently rather threatening to each other which provokes the defensive reaction. This attitude is evident when Captain Brown moves in with his family to Cranford. The ladies look askance at his careless behavior and inadvertent manner that is totally at odds with their own reverence for and awareness of socially prescribed behavior. For instance the ladies would consider any discussion of finances as crass and completely lacking in good taste. Captain Brown had no qualms about discussing his limited financial means to anyone who would listen. As Mary Smith, the narrator of this yarn puts it, "I never shall forget the dismay felt when a certain Captain Brown came to live at Cranford, and openly spoke about his being poor" (Gaskell 4). The ladies had still not forgiven him for claiming a piece of their territory and his blatant disregard for the rules designed to protect their delicate sensibilities was like adding insult to injury. The Captain in keeping with the blindness of his sex regarding feminine excesses was blissfully unaware of the many feathers he had ruffled. He went about his business with hearty goodwill and gradually he was able to find favor in the eyes of all the women at Cranford, though he was unaware of this change in general feeling towards him. The ladies soon found it was useful to have the Captain around and from being merely tolerant they actually began to enjoy his presence in their midst and gained a newfound respect for his dignity, virtue and courage, " his excellent masculine common sense, and his facility in devising expedients to overcome domestic dilemmas, had gained him an extraordinary place as authority among the Cranford ladies" (Gaskell 5). Thus Gaskell not only demonstrates her remarkable insight into human nature in depicting the attitude to outsiders but also illustrates the symbiotic relationship that can exist with an outsider if an open - minded approach is adopted. Captain Brown's umpteen services for the ladies are repaid many times over, when the ladies take his orphaned daughter under their wing until her future is secure. A similar pattern is witnessed as other male characters are introduced, the ladies are suspicious initially but soon it is replaced with warmth and goodwill, which proves beneficial for both the sexes. Gaskell has used the outsiders to accentuate some of the central themes in the novel. One such aspect of the text " is the middle - class family's capacity to hurt itself by adhering to inflexible social forms" (Mitchell xviii). This point is highlighted when Miss Jenkyns chooses to disregard the sage advice of Mary Smith's father and brings about the financial ruin of Miss Matty. Her disdain for the opposite sex stems from strict adherence to her belief, socially approved at the time that she should form no attachment to any male with the sole exception of her father. Her obstinacy in this regard casts a shadow over her sister's life in more ways than ones. Miss Matty's timid dreams of marriage to Mr. Holbrook and her hopes for the future are cruelly thwarted by her father and sister, as they feel he lacks respectability. Her supreme sacrifice and subsequent suffering provoke sympathy from the reader and prompt one to view the rigid inflexibility evinced by her father and sister with a degree of harshness and censure. The said father's severe treatment of Peter Jenkyns's playful transgression of societal rules also leads to tragic consequences and causes a lot of pain to the concerned individuals. Thus several qualities of the outsiders both good and bad are portrayed with a great deal of sympathy and are incorporated into the very heart of the novel. With regard to the differences between the sexes, Gaskell puts a positive slant on what remains a sensitive subject to this day. She points out the innate strengths and weaknesses of both men and women and adopts a light tone and gentle language coupled with a good deal of humor to ensure that the words do not sting or wound. Rather than condemn any sex she chooses to celebrate their differences and she endorses preference over antiquated principles pertaining to lifestyle choices. She points out that women can choose to lead independent lives and be self - sufficient or turn to men to help balance their shortcomings. Women like Miss Jenkyns and Miss Pole choose to be single, whereas Lady Glenmire casts her lot with the institution of marriage, others like Miss Matty have their choice made for them. And yet all of them are worthy of and deserve respect. This is a surprisingly contemporary thought process, when one considers the fact that this novel was written in the Victorian era. And of course a reconciliation of the differences between the sexes has its benefits but Gaskell does not emphasize this point. The men in the novel do their part to make life easier for the women, but the fact remains that they were doing well for themselves even without outside help and did not really miss the presence of men in their lives. For instance the ladies of Cranford rally to Miss Matty's side during her period of distress and prove more than equal to the task of helping her get back on her feet. Mary Smith's father and Peter Jenkyns also come to her aid and this is like icing on the cake and further alleviates her distress. Thus Gaskell contents herself with examining the possible relationships between the sexes and adopts a flexible approach to the treatment of outsiders. The Outsiders in North and South Unlike Cranford, North and South is a complicated and more serious piece of work that weaves several social threads into the fabric of the text. Industrial relations, religious concerns and conflicts, rebellion, class and gender issues are all subjected to intense scrutiny and studied in the course of the novel. Thus North and South is a fascinating study of myriad issues. It narrates the tale of Margaret Hale, a genteel woman from the south and the circumstances that lead to her association with the more industrious people of the north. The class demarcation is evident in the north and battle - lines are drawn as the employers and the employees are constantly at each other's throats with neither side willing to yield an inch. Thus both sides regard the other as the outsiders, owing to differing interests and view them with bias, anger and hatred. In this context outsiders are considered to be the enemies, as all the concerned parties subscribe to the belief that if individuals are not with them, they must be against them. Representatives from the warring factions are central characters in the novel - with Thornton representing the tradesmen and Higgins the working class. Therefore the outsiders are used to explore the theme of turbulent industrial relations and hostility that constitutes the novel. In Cranford and North and South the outsiders, are all integral to the development of plot and to the main themes outlined. However both differ in the treatment of outsiders. In the former they are used to study the vagaries of human nature and their masochistic tendency to allow petty issues prevent them from living their lives to the fullest. However, Gaskell reposes faith in the characters' ability to redeem themselves and the novel maintains a cheerful tone for the most part. In the latter, Gaskell uses the outsiders to sound out the depths of darkness and despair to which one can sink, when provoked beyond endurance and the dangerous consequences that may be triggered as a result. When people persist in believing the worst of those who are different from them and therefore become outsiders, the scene is set for tragedy and sorrow. North and South departs from its oppressive tone towards the climax and ends on a hopeful note, but not before describing what it means to be an outsider in a hostile world. The reader is jolted into realizing that sometimes there can be no redemption or release from misery and not all stories have happy endings. Several portions of the text give horrifying descriptions of the plight of unfortunate outsiders, and it is through the protagonist, Margaret's eyes that they may be viewed. Margaret's attitude towards the tradesmen at the onset of the novel is one of unmitigated contempt, she tells her mother, "I don't like shoppy people I like all people whose occupations have to do with land; I like soldiers and sailors, and the three learned professions, as they call them". (Gaskell 19). Naturally, she found her sympathies were with the workers, particularly Higgins with whom she forms an unlikely friendship and she is scathing in her condemnation of industrialists and their ilk, particularly Mr. Thornton. But gradually she finds herself more and more on the fence concerning the war raging around her. She is able to see the issue from different perspectives on account of her relationship with representatives from both sides and through her the reader also gets to see the complicated issue from all sides. And it is through her that a reconciliation of sorts is effected towards the end. The tradesmen and the workers are portrayed as individuals with their relative merits and weaknesses, but above all it is their overwhelming humanity that is brought to light. The workers see their employers as rank outsiders and tyrants who turn a blind eye to their misery and who trample on their rights at every turn in their gluttonous lust for profit. The employers of course have their fair share of trouble and anxiety, which prompt them to take decisions that are sure to infuriate the workers, who they see as ungrateful wretches that bite the hand that feeds them. Through her relationship with Higgins, Margaret sees firsthand some of the sufferings of the workers. Bessie, the daughter of Higgins suffers from consumption, brought on by the innocuous fluff in the cotton mill she had worked in, she tells Margaret, "They say it winds round the lungs, and tightens them up. Anyhow, there's many a one as works in a carding - room, that falls into a waste, coughing and spitting blood, because they're just poisoned by the fluff" (Gaskell 102). She is one of the tragic victims of commercial enterprise, her life sacrificed by the greed of her employer, who could have averted her fate by showing some concern and with a little expenditure could have ensured healthier working conditions. Boucher, Higgins's neighbor is another casualty of the unceasing war that only promises to get uglier. He is a simple worker with many mouths to feed and he starts to panic when he finds that neither the union nor the masters seem to be easing the suffering of his family. Like his fellow workers, he turns against his master, but soon he loses faith in the union as well. He tells Higgins, that sometimes he feels the union is the greater evil and "Yo' know it well, Nicholas, for a' yo're one on 'em. Yo' may be kind hearts, each separate; but once banded together, yo've no more pity for a man than a wild hunger - maddened wolf" (Gaskell 155). Consequently, he alienates himself from the union as well as the masters with his unstable behavior and finds he has nowhere to go and no one to turn to for succor; therefore he becomes the outsider that nobody chooses to accommodate. Finally he is driven by sheer desperation to take his life. Bessie Higgins and Boucher win the sympathy of the reader. But if the troubles of the workers are heartrending, Mr. Thornton's integrity and moral fiber under duress are also worthy of admiration. His character is used to provide an insight into the humane side of the employers, who are otherwise perceived as haughty and uncaring. He has a conscience and his lot in life is not an easy one. The successes, Mr. Thornton has enjoyed are the result of his hard work and sacrifice as he worked his way up. His disappointment in love and later in business and his dauntless courage endears him to the reader. Margaret, despite viewing Mr. Thornton as an antagonist, finds herself risking her life to save him from a mob, baying for his blood. This is the turning point in the novel as this symbolizes the fact that she is the bridge that brings the estranged groups together. At the end of the strike, both parties are able to finally see clearly through the mists of hatred that had obscured their vision and recognize the importance of upholding common decency, even in the midst of their opposing viewpoints. Margaret gently pushes Higgins to confront Mr. Thornton and appeal to his sense of justice. After a couple of initial skirmishes both men declare an uneasy truce and forge a bond of mutual respect. Towards the end, Mr. Thornton attempts to make reforms that are favorable to the workers and in return he gains their undying loyalty and gratitude. Gaskell attempts to show that the situation is not as hopeless as it had seemed. She tries to demonstrate that it would be possible for people to set aside their differences and live peaceably. This concept of learning to accept and tolerate differences in order to lead better lives is one Gaskell has explored in Cranford. But there she adopts a light tone in dealing with the innate silliness that characterizes human nature that prompts them to put up walls that hinder friendly relations and the joy that can come only from sharing and having an open heart. In North and South the tone is serious and language is used to create an atmosphere that mirrors the darkness which envelops the main characters as they bravely face the hardships that are thrown their way. For Margaret, life becomes a never - ending saga of difficulties as she loses everything she holds dear in quick succession. No character is spared suffering and as the death toll increases, the reader also wilts under the sorrow of the characters. In Cranford, the outsiders are like a refreshing breath of fresh air, when they make their appearance on the scene. But in North and South, their appearance foreshadows gloom and often, death. Romantic love is a theme that is explored in both novels. In North and South Margaret's relationship with Mr. Thornton takes on intense proportions. The course of their love is rocky and tempestuous, much like the relationship between the employers and the employees. Gradually, Margaret recognizes the passion that underlies her dislike of Mr. Thornton and in the end, both set aside their ego and come together in love. Thus the novel ends on a positive note with the union of Margaret and Mr. Thornton. The rift between the workers and the masters has also been repaired to an extent, with the implementation of Mr. Thornton's reforms, with the help of Higgins. Of course, there is a long way to go, in terms of establishing satisfactory working conditions for all concerned, but a promising beginning has been made and moreover as Thornton says, the strikes may not end but they will not be as acerbic and fuelled by hatred. This satisfactory resolution may be linked to Margaret's life as well. According to Shuttleworth, "The union of Thornton and Margaret at the end of the novel stands in metonymically for the union of the classes they have come to represent: class issues have been displaced into those of gender, to be resolved by the most symbolic of all unions, marriage" (xii). Conclusion Cranford and North and South portray outsiders most effectively. In the former the interaction between the ladies and perceived outsiders makes for amusing and sometimes moving reading, in the latter the outsiders are used to more poignant effect and rouse the reader to tears. In both cases there is a lot to be learned from Gaskell's depiction of outsiders. Works Cited Gaskell, Elizabeth. "Cranford." Watson 1 - 160. Mitchell, Charlotte. "Introduction." Watson vii - xxv. Watson, Elizabeth, ed. Cranford. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Gaskell, Elizabeth. "North and South." Easson 5 - 436. Shuttleworth, Sally. "Introduction." Easson ix - xxxiv. Easson, Angus, ed. North and South. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. First Draft Introduction Short narrative on Cranford and North and South. The treatment of outsiders in both novels and the manner in which they differ. The former uses light treatment and points out the benefits in ironing out differences, but does not stress the point. The latter uses the outsiders to highlight serious issues and stresses the need for a reconciliation between warring factions. Body Outsiders in Cranford Identification of outsiders, and the reason they are perceived as such. The men. Attitude towards outsiders. Suspicion gives way to relative warmth. Relation of outsiders to the central theme. Treatment of the differences that characterize outsiders. Mostly a celebration, gentle upbraiding in parts. Outsiders in North and South The workers and the tradesmen are both outsiders from each others' perspective. Comparison of depiction of outsiders with Cranford. Similar in terms of relation to plot and themes, but a serious tone is adopted in the latter text. Perspectives of both groups of outsiders and the losses sustained on both sides. The need for reconciliation and Margaret's role in it. Conclusion Concluding remarks. Read More