Miss Warren's and Margaret Hale's Relationship with their Parents

Growing up in the 19th century didn't necessarily mean being raised by parents. Poor children
wouldn't be raised at all but just live a family life dominated by brutishness or ignorance
(Nelson 71). Upper-class children were raised and educated by nursemaids, governesses and
later send off to boarding schools. Children of middle-class parents seem to be the most
fortuned where a loving family upbringing is concerned. For middle-class parents were not
fortuned enough to leave their children in the care of others. But there would be enough
money in the household to leave their parents the choice to be loving educators to their
children.
Both Margaret Hale, the heroine of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South, and
Vivie Warren, the main character in Bernard Shaw's play Mrs. Warren's Profession, were in
the lucky circumstance to be born in middle-class families. In this essay I will contrast and
compare the relationships these two woman have with their parents.
Margaret Hale was brought up at home and seems to have a very loving relationship
with her parents. Her father could even be considered as close as a friend to her. The
relationship with her mother is not as firm as the one with her father but when her mother lies
on her sickbed we do see that they feel a mutual and genuine affection towards each other.
Vivie Warren on the other hand has been in the care of other people then her parents
all her life. She barely saw her mother while growing up and does not even know who her
father is. Naturally she blames her mother for this. And to such an extent that in the end she
wants to break off all connections with her mother.
The relationships between the lovers of both ladies and their lovers parents is also very
contrasting. Mrs. Thornton is very demanding of her son. Her personal feelings almost make
her sound like she commands him at some times. For example on the evening before her son
will propose to Margaret. Mrs. Thornton makes her feelings known to him and she asks him
to come to see her before going to check on Margaret. The feelings she expresses are very
strong. She leaves him in no doubt that she is not fond of the thought of him marrying this
girl. And she dislikes the thought of her being the new mistress of the house. Of course John
Thornton is a man who follows his own will and conscience but the way she expresses herself
can almost be labelled as emotional blackmail.
Frank Gardner, Vivie Warren's lover, on the other hand is a man who bosses his father,
reverend Samuel Gardner, around a lot. He shows no respect for his father in any way. And is
even offending him many a time. Where it concerns a remark to or about his father it doesn't
even once inhabit a positive remark.
The contrasts between Miss Hale and Miss Warren and the relationships with their
parents may be easily recognized on first glance but there are some striking similarities none
the less. To start with the fact that both woman are in the neighbourhood of their parents
throughout the hole story. Of course Margaret her parents die at three quarter of the novel but
especially her father is mentioned a lot in the end of the novel as well. So it seems he is still
present as much as he could be. As for Vivie, her story start at the point in her life where she
is going to get more acquainted with her mother and ends exactly at the point where she cuts
all possible relations with her mother.
In some way both Margaret and Vivie both end their story with breaking free from
their parents and mother. Margaret is forced to this because they pass away but she could have
lingered in self pity because of her misfortunes. She does not however. She comes out maybe
even a stronger woman then she was before. Vivie turns out to be very strong as well for she
forces herself to no longer depend upon her mother or even to have any contact with her at all.
In the middle section of their stories they feel a great sympathy. Margaret towards her
poor father who is suffering from the loss of his wife. And Vivie towards her mother after
Mrs. Warren explained to her what her profession is and why. They even feel a great amount
of pity at some point in the story. Margaret is so struck with pity towards her mother as she
lies on her deathbed that she would have done anything to fulfil her mother's last wishes. For
Vivie the pity is another result of her mother's explanation of her profession and Vivie's
upbringing.
And there is one last similarity between the two ladies in relation to their parents
which lies in the way the parents think about obedience. Margaret her mother, Vivie's mother
and even John Thornton's mother all live in the apprehension that they know what is good for
their daughters, or sons. And they believe that their children will be wise enough to follow
their advice. None of them dictate their will but are disappointed in there children at one time
for not doing what they were brought up with or advised.
Comparing the parental relationships of Margaret Hale and Vivie Warren is something
that might not seem such a natural thing to do at first. But I have come to the conclusion that
it in fact points out that both woman are very similar but have such different stories because
of their kind of upbringing. Because of their parents. Margaret as well as Vivie is a very
strong woman with a great deal of character. Both of them do feel sympathetic and
compassionate in some circumstances. And how very different their stories may be, both
woman conclude their story as independent business woman.

WORKS CITED

Nelson, Claudia “Growing Up: Childhood.” A Companion to Victorian Literature & Culture.
Ed. Herbert F. Tucker. Oxford:Blackwell Publishing,1999. 69-95.
Gaskell, Elizabeth North and South. Ware: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994.
Shaw, Bernard “Mrs Warren's Profession.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th
ed. Volume 2. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.,
2006.