maya1711 's review for:

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

3.0

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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While it does critique class divisions, amplifies working class voices and centres a woman who shifts from being ignorant to politically and socially conscious, the book still feels conservative in that the workers’ demands don’t bring systematic change but are redirected into paternalistic compromise under Thornton AND while Margaret initially transgresses a lot of the patriarchal norms, in the end she’s folded back into marriage and that’s seen as the novels resolution in a way that does not feel fulfilling!!!