Margaret Hale in Gaskell's novel about the condition of England; The North and the South enter the public sphere of industrialized Milton. As a form of Bildungsroman, this "Manchester" novel exemplifies the depiction of industrial life and its purchase on the relationships between workers and masters, labor and capital, while describing Margaret's first encounters with this world. It is suggested that middle class women upon their entry into the public sphere, in this case a single woman; Margaret entering Milton finds herself confronted with some form of danger. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In both North and South, the greatest danger Margaret faces is the potential threat to her own livelihood, both both physically, morally and physiologically, illustrated in Chapter XXII A Blow and Its Consequences, where she is struck by a stone intended for Mr. John Thornton. Margaret's sheltered and somewhat passive childhood in Helstone undoubtedly juxtaposes her existence and entry into the public sphere in Milton. The "idyllic Helstone" represented Margaret's feminine lifestyle of discussing fine silks and reading novels, and the reader infers a great sense of gender role reversal upon entering and residing in Milton. Margaret arguably adopts a more traditionally masculine role in Milton, as first highlighted by the fact that it is she who must make arrangements for the selection and purchase of her new home, not her father, M .Hale. From one perspective, this gender fluidity allows Margaret to live a life challenging the status quo of what she sees as an unjust society, where "masters and men" and the treatment of "hands » as monetary ties represent social inequality. There are other interpretations. as to what inspired Margaret's desire to challenge this injustice. Margaret is arguably the product of her father finding the strength to challenge the Articles of the Anglican Church, which is the most relevant reason she came to Milton in the first place. Alternatively, it is through Margaret's affections towards Mr. Thornton that she puts forward her views on social injustice, making it very clear where she stands, first alongside and then in front of Thornton in confronting the strike . Margaret repeatedly denies her feelings for Thornton, perhaps so as not to appear weakened by emotion, and an example of this strong exterior is her character fiercely denying that it was "a personal act between you and me.” This external force is juxtaposed in this chapter when Margaret is struck by a stone "meant for [Thornton]" which produces a "thread of dark red blood." This bold act of courage on Margaret's part involves not only asserting her opinion, but also her place in society, and when she realizes that a more masculine character is required, exemplified in her emasculating language when she tells Thornton to “come down and face it.” like a man,” she is able to place herself physically within Milton’s “masters and men” politics. Margaret therefore uses the recasting of gender boundaries as a means of overcoming the physical danger she puts herself in during the "turnout." Margaret's entry into Milton's public sphere takes her out of her interiority. This entry into the "real world" is positive for one's character, because otherwise an interiority can distort a person's sense of reality and identity. In order to represent the.