Coursework Outline - Free Writing

In my Coursework I plan to use the book 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell. I aim to focus on women and there place in the novel, and hope to come to some conclusion that suggests and reflects the idea that Gaskell was one of the first writers to introduce heroism in female characters and that effect on novels written after her time.

I will compare mainly the main character 'Margaret Hale'. She is a strong-willed, independent woman. This is presented both through her role and her actions. Her role is more that of a matriarch as her mother is very sick and her father, a former vicar, and therefore quite naive to the ways of northern England. This means Margaret has to do things like house hunting in a new society on her own. she is presented as Strong willed through her actions which include refusing a proposal from Mr Thornton, a master of 'Malbourgh Mills' and therefore a higher class than her. This presentation was quite uncommon for a 19th century writer, and yet has become more common since. So, Gaskell, through her novels and those of others like Austen, succeeded in created the literary female hero.

I am not entirely sure which Book to compare with this but it will be either 'Tess of the D'urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy, 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte or 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. All these novels Have strong female figures which I aim to compare with those in 'North and South'.

I would also be able to compare the dominating figure of 'Mrs Thornton', Mr Thornton's mother. She is very controlling in the novel and has raised her son through the suicide of her husband. This would make a good comparison with the character 'Rebecca' as they are similar in actions.

In conclusion, I am to write my course work on the female figures in 'North and South' and probably those in 'Rebecca'. I aim to come to a conclusion looking at the difference between the presentation of 19th and 20th centry women and to question the idea that Gaskell was one of the reasons for the change.