Marxism in 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell

'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell can easily be analysed by the Marxist theory.  Gaskell's both conforms and questions the criticism of Marx, which makes it intriguing to study and creates an interesting accompaniment to the theory. 

In the literary theory it argues that 'social circumstances determine much, if not all, of your life'. This can be applied to the character of Mr Boucher. He is a worker at 'Mulbourgh Mill's' who has to strike because of the force of the union. He then has not enough money to support his wife, his seven children or himself. This drives him to violence at one of the strike protests where he hits Margret Hale with a stone. Finally he drowns himself in the river. Marx would argue that this is because his birth circumstances were low class, and that they was no way he could have escaped his fate.

The marxist theory argues that 'the way we think and the way we experience the world around us are either wholly or largely conditioned by the way the economy is organised.' This can be evidence in 'North and South' through the two characters 'Bessy Higgins' and 'Margret Hale'. Both characters are women of a similar age and daughters to strong fathers. the only difference is their place in economy. Margret is the daughter of a former vicar and professor, who teaches for a living. She as inherits a wealthy sum at the end of the book and it can be argued that, because of all these factors, she ends up marring 'Mr Thornton' the master of a mill. Bessy, however, is the daughter of a low class factory worker, and consequently ends up as one herself. this leads to her lung disease, which then leads to her death. This can successfully be applied to the marxist theory as it is only their difference in circumstance which leads to the different life outcomes in these two characters.

However, Gaskell challenges this theory by writing these two characters as dearest friends. If this were to completely agree with Marx's views then the two women wouldn't want to mix, and if they were to be friends it would because of 'economy'. However the characters are friends because of a mutual respect shared between each other, and therefore it questions the marxist theory.  Gaskell clearly recognises the difference between the effect of the social status on a person, and the person themselves:

'if Mr Thornton would be patient enough to listen with his human heart, not with his masters ears-'

And this supports the idea that questions if Marxism can completely be applied to 'North and South'.