Literary Eras II by Isadora dos Santos Ariza

Elizabeth Gaskell

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-10 18:58:51 UTC

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, (born September 29, 1810, Chelsea, London, England—died November 12, 1865, near Alton, Hampshire), English novelist, short-story writer, and the first biographer of Charlotte Brontë. In 1832 she married William Gaskell, a Unitarian minister, and settled in the overcrowded, problem-ridden industrial city of Manchester, which remained her home for the rest of her life. Domestic life—the Gaskells had six children, of whom four daughters lived to adulthood—and the social and charitable obligations of a minister’s wife claimed her time but not all her thoughts. She did not begin her literary career until middle life, when the death of her only son had intensified her sense of community with the poor and her desire to “give utterance” to their “agony.” She collects notable works such as Cranford (1853), Mary Barton (1848), North and South (1855), Ruth (1853), Sylvia’s Lovers (1863), Wives and Daughters (1866).

Source: Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell". Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Nov. 2023, Last seen on 10/11/2023. Available on: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Cleghorn-Gaskell>

Mary Barton

bia_schulze — 2023-11-12 17:53:36 UTC

Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester, the 1848 debut novel of Elizabeth Gaskell tells of the Victorian working class in Manchester, a city in England, from 1839 to 1842. It focuses on political and domestic issues. The title character serves as the first-person narrative voice. There are differing views as to whether or not the narrator is the alter ego of the author. Gaskell instills social class and time period realism by using working-class dialect and colloquial speech and also with literary references. A good portion of the novel is devoted to comparisons between classes on the opposite ends of the economic spectrum.

Source: Super Summary- Mary Barton. Last seen on 12/11/2023. Available on:

Analysis Mary Barton

bia_schulze — 2023-11-12 18:01:35 UTC

The novel “Mary Barton” by Elizabeth Gaskell, related to issues during the Victorian Era, situations between poor and rich people, Industrialization, lack of social justice, and so forth.

Succeeding the consequences of industrialization, as exploration on workers, to work more than was necessary, in those situations, Elizabeth Gaskell wrote Charlie Dickens explaining how the problems were at that period, with these people living in bad conditions, hence rich people were privileged, while their kids were with them or learning, the rest of the population were working as much as possible to survive. Social justice was correlated to all of these issues since it was not possible to obtain any reform on working conditions, or economic inequalities of the time. That time was horrible, and Elizabeth was trying to improve all of those situations.

In my conscience, many workers lost their own families, not only to diseases but to the factories. All of the members were working to survive, even the kids, and not only that but the relationship between parents and children, did not have time to play or have a simple hobby.

Source: GradeSaver- Mary Barton Study Guest Quotes. Last seen on 12/11/2023. Available on:

Cousin Phillis

bia_schulze — 2023-11-12 20:43:47 UTC

Cousin Phillis is one of Elizabeth Gaskell’s later works and one in which she returns to the rural Cheshire of her youth. Cousin Phillis was first published by George Smith in his Cornhill Magazine in four monthly parts from November 1863 to February 1864. Part two included an illustration by George du Maurier that has since become iconic. The entire novella is narrated by Paul Manning, who, as a mature man, is recollecting his days at Hope Farm and his acquaintance with Phillis and Holdsworth. He describes a rural idyll in which the heroine, Phillis Holman, discovers romantic love for the first time in her life. As an only child growing up in an isolated farming community, she has been overprotected by her devoted parents, who fail to observe her developing sexuality. Railway construction in Cheshire brings two young railway workers into regular contact with Phillis, her parents, and Hope Farm, where they live and work. Phillis’s father, Mr. Holman, is a Nonconformist minister (i.e., not a member of the Church of England or Roman Catholic Church), as well as a farmer. The young men are Mr. Holdsworth, an engineer, and Paul Manning, who is both Holdsworth’s assistant and Phillis’s cousin. Although the railway itself does not affect the farm, the presence of the young men, especially Holdsworth, disturbs the Edenic quality of this rural environment. Phillis, who is 17 when the story begins, experiences an emotional and sexual awakening that she tries to conceal from her parents.

Source: Literariness -analysis-of-elizabeth-gaskells-cousin-phyllis. Last seen on 12/11/2023. Availble on : https://literariness.org/2022/06/22/analysis-of-elizabeth-gaskells-cousin-phyllis/#google_vignette

North and South

bia_schulze — 2023-11-15 16:16:20 UTC

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell debuted in Charles Dickens’s magazine Household Words, appearing in 20 weekly installments between September 1854 and January 1855. The novel was later published in two volumes. Dickens heavily edited the novel and changed the title from Margaret Hale to North and South. In the novel, Gaskell draws on her personal experience of being married to a Unitarian minister, a role that brought her into contact with all levels of society. Like her heroine Margaret, Gaskell was involved in her community and not restricted to domestic duties like many women of her time. North and South is a social novel that presents the contrasts between England’s industrialized north and agrarian south and closely examines the changing class system of 19th-century England.

Source: Super Summary- North and South. Last seen on 15/11/2023. Available on:

The representation of women in Cousin Phillis

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-15 22:02:58 UTC

When Paul Manning meets Phillis Holman, she is nothing like what he would have expected, taller than him, smart, knows Latin and Greek, and enjoys the several books at her disposal. Although like the other women from her time, her main activities consisted of household responsibilities, Philis did more than that and her eagerness for knowledge is noticeable, but also criticized. In one dialogue with his father, Paul describes Phillis with the following words: “You see she’s so clever she’s more like a man than a woman—she knows Latin and Greek.” this shows how some qualities were not valued, and expected of women at that time, like intelligence in this case. Another character describes weakness as a girl’s feature, when Mr. Holdsworth is sick he describes himself as a girl “...but since my illness I am almost like a girl, and turn hot and cold with shyness, as they do, I fancy.”. Which demonstrates the fragile conception of women in the character’s view. These dialogues summarize the notions of that time, and how women were viewed as inferior to men, unfortunately.

Source:

Gaskell, Cleghorn Elizabeth. Cousin Phillis. The Project Gutenberg eBook. December 26, 2001. Last seen on: 15/11/2023. Available on: <https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4268/4268-h/4268-h.htm>

Phillis' uncertain end

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-16 00:08:07 UTC

The melancholy end of Cousin Phillis leaves us feeling sorry for Phillis's current state as she tries to recover from unrequited love. The story narrates her growing into a woman, although her parents still see her as a child. As she grew up isolated and overprotected by them on Hope farm, she is innocent, has no experience in love, and easily falls in love with Edward Holdsworth, Paul's boss, which does not end well for her since he ends up marrying another woman in Canada. When she finds out about Mr. Holdsworth's marriage, she falls badly ill. At the end of the story, she demonstrates to take action on her situation in her last dialogue with Paul: "A day or two after Phillis asked me, when we were alone, if I thought my father and mother would allow her to go and stay with them for a couple of months. She blushed a little as she faltered out her wish for change of thought and scene.“Only for a short time, Paul. Then—we will go back to the peace of the old days. I know we shall; I can, and I will!”. But, there is no evidence that she is really going to get better. This interpretation might be backed up by the meaning of the name Phillis. According to the website Behind the Name, Phillis means "foliage" in Greek. In Greek mythology, this was the name of a woman who killed herself out of love for Demophon and was subsequently transformed into an almond tree. Considering this, her name can give us a hint that probably she is not going to recover from unreturned love easily.

Sources:

Gaskell, Cleghorn Elizabeth. Cousin Phillis. The Project Gutenberg eBook. December 26, 2001. Last seen on: 15/11/2023. Available on: <https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4268/4268-h/4268-h.htm>

Phillis. Behind the name. November 20, 2020. Last seen on: 15/11/2023. Available on:

Phillis after discovering Mr. Holdsworth's marriage

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-16 14:17:27 UTC

Source:

GO, Jacob. Will I get over it? No. But life goes on. Youtube, June 5, 2019. Available on: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRO-2hUpcZ8>. Last seen on: 16/11/2023.

Paul's reaction to Mr. Holdsworth's letter after he'd told Phillis about his boss' "feelings" for her

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-16 14:34:21 UTC

Source:

TORREY, Leonard. Michael Scott and The Office - No!. Youtube, February 3, 2013. Available on: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSXV0KR4PWY>. Last seen on: 16/11/2023.

Portrait of Elizabeth Gaskell

2023-11-16 16:57:58 UTC

Thinking Critically about Cousin Phillis

2023-11-16 18:30:09 UTC

Ambiguity in Character Motivations: Gaskell's characters, particularly Cousin Phillis and Paul Manning, exhibit complex emotions and motivations. The novella leaves some aspects of their inner thoughts and feelings open to interpretation, allowing readers to question the true nature of their actions and decisions.

Representation of Social Change: "Cousin Phillis" captures the tensions between tradition and modernity, but some readers might question the completeness of Gaskell's representation of societal shifts.

Feminine Roles: The portrayal of Cousin Phillis, while praised for its depth, may be scrutinized in terms of how it aligns with or challenges Victorian gender norms. Does Gaskell fully subvert traditional gender roles, or are there elements of conformity in her depiction of female characters?

''Cousin Phillis'' by Elizabeth Gaskell Audiobook

2023-11-16 19:08:41 UTC

Cousin Phillis Full Audiobook by Elizabeth Cleghorn GASKELL by General Fiction

Source: Full Audiobooks - Cousin Phillis Full Audiobook by Elizabeth Cleghorn GASKELL by General Fiction - YouTube Channel. December 19, 2016. Last seen: 16/11/2023. Available on: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Ljlieb0eU>

Brief Analysis of Cousin Phillis

2023-11-16 19:41:42 UTC

"Cousin Phillis" by Elizabeth Gaskell is a captivating novella that intricately weaves together themes of love, loss, and societal change.
The novella's strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of characters, particularly Cousin Phillis and Paul Manning. Gaskell crafts complex individuals whose inner conflicts and emotions add depth to the narrative.
The novella also excels in its exploration of grief and its impact on relationships. The elegiac tone is palpable, contributing to the emotional resonance of the story. Gaskell delicately handles themes of mourning, allowing them to unfold organically within the narrative.
The novella is set in a specific time and place with a focus on a particular social class. Some critics might contend that the narrative lacks diversity, both in terms of characters and perspectives. A broader exploration of the societal changes affecting different classes and backgrounds could provide a more comprehensive picture of the era.
The first-person narrative through Paul Manning's perspective is a stylistic choice that may limit the reader's engagement with other characters.
While Gaskell challenges traditional gender roles to some extent through Cousin Phillis, the novella might be critiqued for not fully embracing a feminist perspective. The character's agency is evident, but there may be moments where she conforms to societal expectations, raising questions about the depth of her liberation from gender norms.

Phillis' constant brain fever after Mr. Holdsworth's departure

isadoraariza31 — 2023-11-17 00:38:32 UTC

Source:

Blah. "Miss.Rabbit has fainted" Original Clip|| Peppa Pig. Youtube. June 21, 2023. Available on <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e6NEDa59DM>

Last seen on: 16/11/2023.