Mary Barton
Introduction
Mary Barton is the first novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell, an English writer who was known for her works during the mid-19th century. In Mary Barton which was published in 1848, Gaskell described the difficulties faced by the working class during her time, thus the subtitle of the novel, ‘A Tale of Manchester Life’. Moreover, there is also the emphasis on women’s role during the Victorian era, which she cleverly narrated with the use of narratives that described the different female characters in the novel. This novel is a depiction of how Gaskell saw the relationship between the upper and working class, as well as the gender roles during the time of rapid economic and societal change in the 19th century.
In the novel, Mary Barton, the author focused on the members of the different class, presumably to project a realistic element about the dissimilarities in the lives of these people and the circumstances that they faced during the economic depression. In the initial part of the novel, the reader is introduced to the different Manchester families. First was the family of John Barton, which the reader my perceived to have lived comfortably, for they have a room which “was tolerably large, and possessed many conveniences” (Gaskell, 17). George Wilson was a worker in the mill, so he must have just enough to sustain the family, while the Davenport’s family lived in extreme poverty as described by Gaskell, “no one can be surprised that on going into the cellar inhabited by Davenport, the smells as so fetid as almost to knock the two men down” (Gaskell, 90). On the other hand, the family of the mill owner, John Carson, have the extravagance that was denied to others: “Mr. Carson’s was a good house, and furnished to lavish expenditure, there was much taste shown” (Gaskell, 100).
It was the goal of the author to awaken the society about the situation that has generally impacted the social and economic lives of the poor. She did it by initially portraying a cheerful family setting in the first chapter, which eventually moved into the times when the working class have to face social and economic crisis. The central theme of the novel was a depiction of the difference between the life conditions of the working class and the upper class. During the mid-19th century, the working class was forced to work under poor and dangerous working conditions. This was depicted in chapter V, when the mill caught fire and Jem Wilson have to risk his life to save his father who was trapped in the mill (Gaskell, 79).
In chapter VI, Gaskell portrayed how the rich took advantage of the poor working class when she narrated how John Barton was right about his thought that the owners of the mill were “not be over-much grieved for the consequences of the fire in their mill” (Gaskell, 85). The non-grievance comes from the fact that the factory was well-insured, and that the machineries have not been improved in recent years. The author implied, that in contrast to the loss, the owners can in fact procure better equipment. In the same chapter, the utmost disregard of the rich over the predicament of the working class was evident. When Wilson went over the Carson’s home to ask about the infirmary order for Davenport, who was very sick, Mr. Carson answered he didn’t know him at all: “I don’t pretend to know the names of the men I employ; that I leave to the overlooker” (106). The chapter was full of the inconsistencies of life, for instance, as Davenport lay weak in his bed and wanting for medical assistance which his family cannot afford, the Carson’s were shown to have more than enough to spare on trivial and luxurious things. The book is full of the interesting but tragic portrayal of the lives of the working class during the 1800s, and while the era was shown in history as the time of mass industrialization, the Mary Barton depicted the story that was seldom contained in history books.
Gender Roles in Mary Barton
The fact that the name the title of the novel was that of a woman, and it was something that was written sometime in the 1800s, makes the reader think of it as something that heavily relate to the role of women during that time. In her portrayal of the treatment of the female characters in her novel, Gaskell face up to the dominant outlook towards women during her time by using characters that defy the norm on how a woman should behave in the Victorian society. While the Mrs. Mary Barton, was presented as the typical woman of that era, the other female characters were shown to have more independence than the others. For example, Esther was described as very proud and independent; “ there was no holding her in. Her spirit was always up” (Gaskell, 7). Nevertheless, Gaskell still holds onto the proper role of women as dictated by the society. This is apparent in the in the novel because despite their independent personality, most of them still emulate a dedicated character that value the family. For example, Esther wanted to warn John Carson about Mary’s wellbeing: “How shall I save her? She won't hearken to warning, or heed it more than I did; and who loves her well enough to watch over her as she should be watched?” (Gaskell, 194).
Moreover, the author did not deviate on the foremost duty of the woman, which is to serve in the home. First of all, Mary Barton was depicted as a caring child, typical of a daughter in the Victorian era.While she is pictured as an innocent girl who believed that her loveliness can lift her up to the higher society, it remains that her want for a better life includes better life for her father. She was described by the author as follows: “ she should ride from church in her carriage, with wedding bells ringing, and take up her astonished father, and drive away from the old dim work-a-day court forever, to live in a grand house” (Gaskell, 122). In the later part of the novel, she will save the man she loves, though she will not be able to save her father.
The important role of the mother in keeping the home is also depicted in Gaskell's novel. For example, when Mrs. Carson died due to childbirth, her husband, who was always sure of himself, was at a loss: “One of the ties which bound him down to the gentle humanities of earth was loosened, and henceforward the neighbors all remarked he was a changed man” (Gaskell, 30). He was a man who was contented and peaceful with what life has to offer, but the death of his wife made made his wellbeing deteriorate, and Gaskell made this as a remarkable way to show the important role of women in keeping up the family during that time. The reader is also left to ponder on the fact that Mary, in her adolescence, is left without a mother who will comfort and guide her along the way. The author also implied, about the role of women in the factory, which was generally criticized, taking from the fact that Mr. Barton disapproved of her daughter working in the factory and Mrs Wilson saying, “ as thought there was no harm in putting their little ones out at nurse, and letting their house go all dirty” (Gaskell, 86).
Conclusion
In Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton, the reader is exposed to the author’s idea about the lack of equality between the working and upper class. She showed how the rich have everything at their disposal, while the working class have to contend with with they have, or worse, none at all. While the novel was devoid of extreme violence, except the killing of Harry Carson, the reader is extremely touched by the presence of death due to the inability of one party to understand the predicament of the other. Accordingly, gender issues were also prevalently discussed in the story. Despite having female characters that deviate from the societal expectation on women, the author strongly supports the Victorian role of women. That is, they must still conform to their role as mothers and doting daughters, and prioritizing the family above all else.
References
Gaskell, E. (1848). Mary Barton: A tale of Manchester life. London: Chapman and Hall.
