Margaret the Superhuman

     He tottered towards her, murmuring, "Pray for me, Margaret. I have no strength left in me. I cannot pray. I give her up because I must. I try to bear it: indeed I do. I know it is God's will. But I cannot see why she died. Pray for me, Margaret, that I may have faith to pray. It is a great strait, my child."
     Margaret sat by him in the coach, almost supporting him in her arms; and repeating all the noble verses of holy comfort, or texts expressive of faithful resignation, that she could remember. Her voice never faltered.

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 Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, Volume 2 ch. 33 (pg) 263

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      Is Margaret superhuman? She who was an innocent, naive country girl must have had a god helping her stay strong after having everything ripped away from her. She who was broken-hearted by moving now has to comfort the one who made her move? It is her mother who died. It is her father who killed her mother. It is she who has to keep everyone's dark secrets.
     Her father is the one who was strong in his faith. It was because of that faith that he moved to the north. Why then is he the weak one? Did he care more for his wife than Margaret did her mother? Did he care enough about his wife to ask her opinion of the move? Did he care about his wife to comfort her and tell her he loved her? He did not even know his wife was sick! Did either mother of father build Margaret up to be a strong, confident woman? No. How did she get so strong? It certainly was not a bred trait. Her parents who spoke very little to her expected her to manage everything difficult. Was she ever trained in how to do such things? What is her secret?

First Impressions

     Margaret opened the door and went in with the straight, fearless, dignified presence habitual to her. She felt no awkwardness; she had too much the habits of society for that. Here was a person come on business to her father; and, as he was one who had shown himself obliging, she was disposed to treat him with a full measure of civility. Mr. Thornton was a good deal more surprised and discomforted than she. Instead of a quiet, middle-aged clergyman, -a young lady came forward with frank dignity, - a young lady of a different type to most of those he was in the habit of seeing. Her dress was very plain: a close straw bonnet of the best material and shape, trimmed with white ribbon; a dark silk gown, without any trimming or flounce; a large Indian shawl, which hung about her in long heavy folds, and which she wore as an empress wears her drapery. He did not understand who she was, as he caught the simple, straight, unabashed look, which showed that his being there was of no concern to the beautiful countenance, and called up no flush of surprise to the pale ivory of the complexion.

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 Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, Volume 1 ch. 7 (pg) 62-63

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      Whenever I read this scene, I think to myself how interesting it is that all these details, explained with such beautiful words, support and shape how affected Margaret is from moving to the North. Her dress is dark as in mourning, the shawl is long and heavy as the weight on her heart is, and her face is pale as ivory as though she were getting sick from the lack of clean air. Yet despite these unattractive traits, Mr. Thornton sees a lady full of dignity, like an empress. Perhaps his shock at seeing her and not her father prevents him from seeing the pain she carries. But it is as if since she wishes to appear mature, strong and capable, Thornton sees her that way, even though apparent signs show she is otherwise. (This goes to show what a performance people can put on to hide what they truly feel inside. One must look deeper if he hopes to discover if a soul is genuine.) All the other girls in the North are like Fanny, Thornton's sister, stupid and frivolous. Finding a lady with a presence of confidence was probably so shocking that it stuck him how attractive she must be to simply be different. Lucky for Margaret that a first impression like that veiled her stubborn and ignorant manner.