Mary Barton
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Mary Barton was the English author Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, published in 1848. It is a work of Victorian literature that can be considered historical fiction due to its use of some real events during the 1840s in England and realistic settings and depictions.
Mary Barton is a fictional girl in Manchester during the 1830s and 1840s. Her life falls mostly within the reign of Queen Victoria. This era in history is a time of great hardship for the lower class, which Mary is a member of. As the story progresses, we see the young girl and her family go from happiness to great misery, partly due to the deaths of her mother (also named Mary) and her brother. Mary's father, John, begins to have trouble finding work as a millworker, and he becomes more involved in labor unions and in chartism.
The first half of the book focuses mostly on the hardships of the lower class. During this time, Mary becomes enamored with the affections of Henry Carson, a mill owner's son. He clearly has no interest in marrying her, but she believes she will one day become Mrs. Carson and leave the abject poverty she has been subjected to. Jem Wilson, the son of her father's friend George Wilson, attempts to convince Mary to love him, and finally becomes convinced himself that Mary will never love him. At this same moment, Mary realizes the truth about Carson's feelings towards her, and falls in love with Jem in return, but finds herself incapable of telling him.
Shortly thereafter, Carson is murdered, and Jem is held as the prime suspect in the case. His gun is found near the scene, and a policeman identifies him as having had a scuffle with Carson soon before the murder. Carson's father urges the trial forward quickly. Mary's aunt, Esther (who has become a prostitute due to a love interest similar in nature to Mary's interest in Carson), finds a piece of evidence she believes links Jem to the murder, and gives it to Mary. Mary realizes the evidence actually came from her father, John Barton, and that her father must've been the real killer. At this time, she realizes that Jem must have an alibi, and goes to her friend Job Legh to get help. He hires Jem a lawyer, and Mary goes to Lancashire to find Jem's adopted cousin, Will. Eventually, Will provides the alibi Jem needs, and Jem is released.
When they return to Manchester, Mary returns to her house and her father tells her to bring Jem. When she returns with Jem, Job Legh and Mr. Henry Carson are there hearing John Barton's confession to the murder. Mr. Carson is at first very angry, but after a long discussion with John and subsequent reflection on the events, learns to forgive him. John dies from his grief over the murder.
It is learned earlier (during the planning of the murder) and at the end of the book (when Mr. Carson meets with Job Legh and Jem Wilson to try to figure out what would make John commit murder) that the murder had nothing to do with Carson's involvement with Mary, and everything to do with the way in which the poor were mistreated by the middle class. Mr. Carson from then on becomes a champion of the lower class.
[edit] Characters
- Mary Barton - The titular character of the novel. Called "Little Mary" in the opening chapter.
- Mrs. Mary Barton - Mary's mother.
- John Barton - Mary's father. A millworker of the lower class.
- George Wilson - John Barton's best friend. A worker at Henry Carson's mill.
- Jane Wilson - George Wilson's wife.
- Jem Wilson - Son of George and Jane. Engineer and inventor. Love interest for Mary.
- Mr. Henry Carson - Owner of a mill in Manchester and a member of the middle class.
- Henry Carson - Son of Mr. Henry Carson. Love interest for Mary.
- Alice Wilson - Jane Wilson's sister. An apothecary.
- Margaret Legh - Neighbor of Alice and friend of Mary. Singer.
- Job Legh - Margaret's grandfather. Collector of insects.
- Will Wilson - Alice's adopted son. Love interest for Margaret. Sailor.
