Blog #1 Contemporary
Reviews Summary and Analysis of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
Summary:
In the review, Anthenaeum writer Henry
Fothergill Chorly gives a very positive opinion about the novel Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. He
focuses on the realness of the text in terms of character and ‘life-like’
dialogue. Chorly also describes Gaskell’s use of ‘Agitation’ and the success at
which she achieves a portrait of truth. Similarly the Manchester Literary Times review praises Mary Barton for its
truthful nature. In this review the unsigned author says, “Everything is plain,
simple, and truthful, both in its descriptive passages, and those of
passion—its sunlight or its storm.” The focus on truth and sincerity is also
discussed in the reviews towards the portrayal of the lower class. We read in
the review Examiner by John Forster that the novel is achieves greatness by
the way the good and bad are depicted. He writes, “the book is an ungilded and
sorrowful picture of the life of the class of the workpeople,” and that
portrayal of real people struggling to survive against all odds is relatable
and valid. In contrast to the reviews that offer mostly praise, other
examinations explored the novels shortcomings. In the unsigned review in the British Quarterly the author argues that
Gaskell did not have a complete understanding of the relationships between the
factory workers and the mill owners. The discussion of her work as being
one-sided is explored further. Her portrayal of so many deaths is also
questioned.
Analysis:
I really enjoyed this novel and I shared the opinions of
most of the contemporary reviews when it came to realness of the unmasked
darkness of the working class. I think the gritty authenticity we see in Mary Barton allows us as readers to
connect to the characters. We all share the common human experiences of loss,
struggle, and heartbreak. I understood that some critics did not agree with her
unsympathetic view of mill owners and upper class people but I think that was
her purpose. The characters in her novel never saw the other class’s side, so
it makes sense that Gaskell doesn’t include their strife. I also didn’t think
that Gaskell could have forgone the death of the twins, as one reviewer said
would have been preferred. Leaving out unpleasant realities would be
contradicting her entire purpose of chronicling the truth and unfaltering
realities of life.
I agree that tragedy seems to play an essential role in Gaskell's novel. It is the shocking simplicity of truth that many critics praise and I too think the simplification is a positive virtue of her writing. I also agree that in the realm of canonization, Gaskell utilizes well human sympathies in order to bring the novel into popular literature and make claims that apply to humanity as a while. Like you say, the unpleasant realities are the goals of the novel.
ReplyDeleteKatie, I agree that the human experiences that Gaskell forces her characters to go through helps readers to develop a connection not only to the characters and their experiences. As for the unsympathetic view of the mill owners, I think that perhaps for the time in which the novel was written, the "strife" of the upper class would have just been assumed, which is very fitting for the novel. I think that a story written from the views of the mill owners would make an interesting novel in response to "Mary Barton".
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about the history of British fiction--and its tendency through the 18th and 19th centuries to focus on the upper classes, the claims in the British Quarterly make even less sense. If the poor made up 75% of the population, it stands to reason--using the BQ's argument--that 75% of fiction should focus on the poor, when in reality about 95% focused solely on the lives of the wealthy up until the middle of the 19th century.
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