#but she's nevertheless hampered by viewing The Poor through a paternalistic lens! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ohbutwheresyourheart · 9 months ago

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I watched north and south years and years ago; I don't remember exactly when but I'm pretty sure I was in my teens

I loved it then, but there's an extra appreciation to finally reading the book as an adult who grew up in the north, lived for a few years in the south, and now lives in Manchester

#north and south #loving the book so far #especially how it's clearer that Margaret is rarely trying to be rude #she's just absolutely goddamn exhausted by carrying her entire family's emotional health on her back #and she's such a product of her circumstances #of living so long with her wealthy london relatives #she and Thornton are a great example of intelligence vs wisdom #Margaret has education but little to no life experience #even in helston she was sheltered by her father's position in the church incurring a level of deference #which she notices the absence of as soon as she arrives in milton #and yet she still makes an active effort to identify and overcome her prejudice!#but she's nevertheless hampered by viewing The Poor through a paternalistic lens!#I don't agree with Thornton's claim that anyone can become a master (and TBF even he walks that back almost immediately)#but Margaret goes the other way and infantalises the workers to an extent #whereas Thornton was deprived of an education but went through the university of life and learned essential skills like budgeting #god his family of three getting by on 12 shillings per week #while the hales are panicking over a hundred pounds per year plus Mr Hale's tutoring earnings

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