A Unique Sort of Girl

     Margaret could not help her looks; but the short upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, full of soft feminine defiance, always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness. She was tired now, and would rather have remained silent and taken the rest her father had planned for her; but, of course, she owed it to herself to be a gentlewoman, and to speak courteously from time to time to this stranger; not over-brushed, nor over polished, it must be confessed, after his rough encounter with Milton streets and crowds. She wished that he would go....

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

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     Margaret is so unique. I love how she is not perfect, or beautiful, or cheerful, or social, which are traits of most heroines. Not everyone loves her. In Pride and Prejudice, which is of course the book I compare everything to, Elizabeth Bennet always knows what witty thing to say. She goes to parties, where she is admired, and always appears beautiful, even when her skirt is splattered with mud. Here, Margaret, who has time on her hands, is frustrated with having one person in the house. She, who is an extreme introvert, has not been around too many people, has had plenty of time to rest, but when the most handsome man in town walks in her door, she wants him to leave. This makes me so happy. Elizabeth knew how to flirt, as she did with Whickham, but Margaret sends off a haughty, prideful, unintentional look. She is so different from typical women, and I love her for it.