'North and South' and the Possible Loss of Religious Faith Among the Victorians Anonymous 11th Grade

Gaskell’s portrayal of Victorian society in ‘North and South’ does not seem to entirely reflect Brose’s view that faith had ‘ceased to shape their lives’. Within the novel it continues to shape their lives in terms of their ideas of propriety and morality. However, it is undeniable that there was loss of faith during the industrial revolution, perhaps due to scientific advancement and the discoveries of new and better explanations for the world. Moreover, there were greater prospects of wealth and affluence in trade than in the traditional feudal jobs, where the symbiotic relationship of parish and parishioners reinforced the influence of faith.

Religious crisis lies at the centre of the novel as Mr Hale’s defection from the Anglican church is the first catalyst for change within Margaret Hale’s life. Gaskell has been criticised for using Mr Hale’s doubts as a flimsy plot device, as she gives limited information on the nature of his doubts. Rosemarie Bodenheimer defended the novel, arguing that “Mr. Hale’s decision is not a weakness but a placement of emphasis: his irrevocable change, its statement of doubt in the face of a traditional order”. There lies a subtle difference between the proposition that ‘North and South’...