Discuss the techniques Gaskell uses to present Margaret, Thornton and workers in the riot scene Essay

North and sulphur is set in the mid nineteenth century at the time of the industrial revolution. It is an industrial novel, which manner that it portrays the difficult lives of the working class during the industrial revolution. This was a genre with few female writers due to the seriousness of the work, it was not considered appropriate for women. The riot scene is a watershed, a turning point, more like the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The themes are It is a book of contrasts. Mr Thornton represents the business-minded north and is juxtaposed with Margaret Hale who represents the rich, weak south. The violence of the riot scene causes agnizeing and what the char typifyers have done wrong. It shows us that our impressions of the characters are wrong and their impressions of each other. Everyone has misjudged each other. Gaskell is challenging her Victorian readers black and washcloth stereotypes and asking them to revaluate their views.The North-South divide exi sts in Great Britain. It refers to both the economic and the cultural differences between South England and North. The North is usually seen as poorer and more left wing, and the South as richer and more right wing. The South can be seen as much more comfortable, and a place where a give way class of wad live, shown in the contrasting descriptions of Helstone and Milton. Helston is deascribed to be, it really sounded like a village in a tale rather than in real life. And the sky in Milton is exposit to be darker than Helstons wintry blue, foreshadowing the later storm. This was particularly so in the Victorian period, that North and South is set right in the mall of, when the North became increasingly industrialised and polluted.In the novel the place that Margaret has grown up in, the fictional village of Helstone is in the South. It is a gentle place and is draw as like a village in a poem which severalises the reader how beautiful it is. However, Margarets first view of th e industrial Milton (The Northern town that she moves to) is the deep lead-coloured cloud hanging over the horizon She dislikes Milton at first, scarce slowly falls in love with the spirit and enterprise of the people. She realises that behind the machines that bet to run Milton thither are real people and families. Her friend Bessie helps her understand this. Thats wherefore her views tack. North and South argues that the Industrial North represents the future, with Margaret gradual transmutation from Helstone to Milton. Milton is based on Gaskells knowledge of Manchester. At the time Manchester was the jewel in the crown of the industrial north.Mr Thornton is a factory owner in Milton who Margaret last falls in love with. He is described as having a sharp and angular face, making him appear chiselled, as if he is made from stone. This accentuates his regretful inflexible nature. as if they were carved in marble. He is described as an iron man which could suggest his machin e like qualities and industrialist nature which was common in the north during the Industrial Revolution. He represents the hard working Northern factory owners, business and shows that there were real men behind harsh masters. He is the confrontation of Margaret. The riot scene is where Mr Thornton and Margaret are thrown together.This represents the union of north and south, and how they should work together and protect each other. In the riot scene Thornton changes from cold (before the scene) to caring Miss Hale is hurt to romantic You are the only woman I have ever loved The women in the kindle depend on him and his instructions, making them all typical of the time Shut down the windows instantly mother When Margaret is hit by the pebble it is like a wall between them (Margarets pride) has been broken, and it allows Thornton to step forward and take control. Another thing that allows us to see another aspect of him is that he takes lessons from Mr Hale, which shows us he is a sensitive man, and he is an unusual factory owner. The workers hate him, and view him as cruel and harsh.This is because most of his actions are fuelled by wanting more money, not humanitarianism. For example, when he installs a overbold fan in the factory. It makes the workers more comfortable because it reduces the amount of cotton in their lungs, but Mr Thornton did it because he wanted them to live longer, to maintain an experienced workforce. . He altered his chimneys which reduced smoke emission but this was to save fuel, not the environment. In the workers view they have an unfair deal. This is why they strike. After the riot scene the workers and Thornton better understand each other, because the workers see that he is human because of his love for Margaret. He is steep of Miltons industry and he realises the extent of their desperation.Margaret is a very proud and strong woman. Other people view her as overly proud and judgemental. always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness Her quiet coldness of demeanour he interpret into contemptuousness. She is an atypical Victorian woman because she is strong and complex, but in the riot scene she becomes a typical Victorian woman, who needs someone to protect her. She lets Mr Thornton tell her what to do. As a southern gentlewoman she views Milton as on a regular basis built meaning everything is the same, and dull and boring. She sees the hopeless streets and regrets moving to Milton. She usually contrasts to Mr Thorntons sister, Fanny, but in the riot scene she becomes more like her, being defenceless and acting on instinct, without careful measured thought. She is described as far from regularly beautiful which could also mean that she is far from regular in her actions and demeanour.When she does move to Milton she tries to make the most of it, instead of complaining about it. She tries to help people, and offers charity however though they dont want it. This is different to Thornton, but it d oesnt necessarily make her better than him because it can seem condescending to whoever she decides to help. She doesnt understand the Milton way of life and feels she doesnt fit in, but when she visits Helstone again she realises she has changed, and she no longer belongs there. The reader sees, along with Margaret, that Helstone has always been to her a mythical place cogitate to her more closely with idyllic romantic dreams than with the realities of nineteenth-century life.When Thornton gives her the dead rose from Helstone it symbolises that Helstone doesnt mean anything to her now, because she used to talk about the roses, but the rose is dead now, symbolize that her life in Helstone is no more.The workers are considered by the factory owners to be animalistic and unthinking, represented by Gaskells use of language, fierce growl mint of animals. Higgins is the atypical character in that group because he is clever. He is a union leader and naturally takes control. He is the voice of the workers. He is not in the riot, and is very angry that the strike has broken. He represents change, passion and aggression. He is bullying. In the riot scene Gaskell uses descriptions of the weather to represent the idea of the workers as a convocation storm roll of the tempestThe riot scene is a turning point in the novel. It is the point where Gaskell makes her main point about society at the time. The characters weaknesses and strengths are showcased and Margaret and Thornton become symbols of society at the time. The characters that before had all been so complex and unusual become more archetypal and in keeping with the more common character type. They all change and become more human, allowing them to connect. Only when they let their guard down can they understand. It is hot at the beginning of the extract because a storm is brewing, both metaphorically and physically.The feeling of the extract changes a lot, one of the more important and obvious place is where Thornton runs downstairs to the workers. The section is in short segmented sentences so its a list and reads really quickly. It creates the effect of a rush and the reader feels the anxiety of the characters. Another point where the tightness and atmosphere change is where Mr Thornton makes his declaration of love to Margaret when she has been hit with the pebble. The symbolic value of this is that the wall between them (their cold exteriors) has been damaged and so their emotions can leak out. It becomes much more romantic.Metaphors are a key part of the riot extract. One of the ongoing ones is of the workers being animalistic, with them being referred to as brutes and fierce. They also growl. This makes us fear for the safety of the characters, as animals are unpredictable. The workers contrast to Higgins because he acts rationally, in a carefully thought out way but the rest of the workers act on instinct, like animals. We feel sorry for them because of their unthinking nature a nd we feel scared of them because of the threatening vocabulary used to describe them.There are uniform references to a storm, for example the first slow-surging wave This is referring to the workers and makes the reader think of them as powerful and unstoppable. towards one point means the workers are focused on Thornton, and that there is no going back. This makes the reader feel worried for Thornton. The feeling of going past the point of no return is perhaps Gaskell referring to Victorian society, and what may communicate if the misunderstanding carries on.Symbolism is used a lot in the riot scene. There are symbols of division mighty fall of the ponderous gates, desperation unearthly groan, and passion you are the only woman I have ever loved. It is evident that the idea of division becomes more sound out in the riot scene. For example the gate being broken is symbolic of the divided breaking down the walls of society.Many conflicts happen in North and South. few of them ar e ongoing, like with Margaret and Mr Thornton. Some of them burst suddenly, like in the riot scene between Mr Thornton and the workers.These two conflicts are linked by the cold feelings, which change after the riot scene. Conflict is one of the main themes of the book. The riot scene causes conflict because it forces people together and forces debate between people. There is no cope between the workers and Margaret but still she is hurt. They have stepped outside of the set conflicts and so Mr Thornton is angry. This prepares us for reconciliation because their anger has peaked and will now decline to a flat and will become steadier.Margarets brother Frederick is involved in a mutiny, and is held responsible for it and exiled from England. It is a similar situation to the workers, which is one reason why Margaret understands their point of view.Gaskell uses many techniques to present Margaret Thornton and the workers. She is commenting on Victorian society that this misunderstandi ng of North and South is wrong and that they should try harder to understand each other.