![]() ![]() ![]() Despite their presumably roughly-equal wealth-level, Margaret dislikes them simply because of their association with “‘useless'” trade, rather than older, established “‘learned professions'” or “‘occupations have to do with land'” (19). She disparages her neighbors, the Gormans, for being “‘shoppy people'” who make their money “‘in trade,'” claiming her family is “‘far better off'” not associating with them (19). Hale leaves his post with the Church, which emphasizes their middling place (77).ĭespite the Hales’ more humble means, Margaret demonstrates deep prejudice against those whose money and lives are tied to industry, whom she sees as lesser. Nevertheless, this is not enough to stop them from later being labeled as “‘penniless”‘ by Mrs. ![]() Her own immediate family, however, is not so wealthy as to afford to “equip afresh, from top to toe” for her niece’s wedding, though they live comfortably in “‘beautiful'” Helstone (15, 13). The Hales themselves occupy a sort of middle class. Apart from her parents, Margaret has enjoyed living with her richer family in London, which allows her to present herself like “a princess” in dress and manners (9). ![]() The opening chapters of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South begin to present the thorny issue of class prejudice – in North and South, however, there is not a simple distinction between the upper and lower classes, as the issue of new industrial wealth is thrown in. ![]()
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