Jennifro

I got one for ya!

North & South

Elizabeth Gaskell's classic novel explores the simmering, restrained passion between two very different people who fall in love in spite of themselves.

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England's industrial north, it follows the experiences of Margaret Hale. Margaret is a privileged, middle class southerner who is forced to settle in the northern town of Milton. She takes instant offense to the town and its people. She becomes terribly lonely and hates the dirt, noise and lack of civilization, blaming their new way of life for her mother's ailing health. Her distaste for the town and its people extends to handsome and charismatic cotton mill owner John Thornton, (Richard Armitage--oooh baby, baby!), whom she believes epitomizes everything she dislikes about the North.

However, Margaret gradually begins to settle in Milton. Her social conscience awakens and she befriends some of the local mill workers, learning about their poverty and workplace struggles. As events conspire to throw Margaret and Thornton together, the two spirited characters have to overcome their repressed physical attraction for one another and conquer prejudices of class and circumstance.

Since I knew some of Gaskell’s life and 1850s industrial England, I anticipated a sad story full of suffering and social injustice. Instead, I found an exciting love story intertwined with rich detail on the harshness of industrialization for owners and workers alike. John Thornton is the “Master” of a doomed cotton mill in the fictional town of Milton. He has triumphed over poverty but is a tradesman materially better off than the educated clergy, but not held in high social regard. John is hard, principled, conservative and in love with Margaret Hale, an upper class daughter of a non-conforming former parson recently moved North from the South.  She forms her first impression of Thornton as she witnesses him brutalizing a worker. Both carry the weight of the world on their shoulders but in different worlds. Both live with crushing loneliness.  Their progress to love is captivating and believable. 

The cast was great.  I had a few complaints, but I won't taint your experience. John’s mother and Margaret’s father are vital relationships for the pair: she is tough and devoted to her son, he soft and oblivious to most things. This series reminds us why we believe in and covet true love. Aren't the British the best at portraying yearning? It is strongly reminiscent of Pride in Prejudice in Margaret and John's outward disdain for one another, but the setting and plot are much different.  Both Nick and I loved it and thought it was our best rental in ages. Watch it--this weekend!

P.S. DO watch the interview with Richard Armitage afterward.  Crush City!

Sorry Johnny (he thinks his silly sisters are always crushing on someone make believe!)