North and South

by

Elizabeth Gaskell

Edith Shaw Character Analysis

Edith is Margaret Hale’s cousin. Margaret has lived with Edith and Edith’s mother, Aunt Shaw, in London since she was a young girl. As the Shaw family heiress, Edith is spoiled, but too idle to be very strong-willed. She is also frivolous, sheltered, and self-centered, but Margaret loves her and indulges her. At the beginning of the novel, she marries Captain Lennox, and they live in Corfu for a time before resettling in London. They have two children by the end of the book, including Sholto Lennox, a son.

Edith Shaw Quotes in North and South

The North and South quotes below are all either spoken by Edith Shaw or refer to Edith Shaw. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nostalgia and Identity Theme Icon
).
Chapter 29 Quotes

“But, Margaret, don’t get to use these horrid Milton words. ‘Slack of work:’ it is a provincialism. What will your aunt Shaw say, if she hears you use it on her return?”

“Oh, mamma! Don’t try and make a bugbear out of aunt Shaw,” said Margaret, laughing. “Edith picked up all sorts of military slang from Captain Lennox, and aunt Shaw never took any notice of it.”

“But yours is factory slang.”

“And if I live in a factory town, I must speak factory language when I want it.”

Related Characters: Margaret Hale (speaker), Mrs. Maria Hale (speaker), Edith Shaw, Captain Lennox, Aunt Shaw
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis:
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Edith Shaw Quotes in North and South

The North and South quotes below are all either spoken by Edith Shaw or refer to Edith Shaw. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nostalgia and Identity Theme Icon
).
Chapter 29 Quotes

“But, Margaret, don’t get to use these horrid Milton words. ‘Slack of work:’ it is a provincialism. What will your aunt Shaw say, if she hears you use it on her return?”

“Oh, mamma! Don’t try and make a bugbear out of aunt Shaw,” said Margaret, laughing. “Edith picked up all sorts of military slang from Captain Lennox, and aunt Shaw never took any notice of it.”

“But yours is factory slang.”

“And if I live in a factory town, I must speak factory language when I want it.”

Related Characters: Margaret Hale (speaker), Mrs. Maria Hale (speaker), Edith Shaw, Captain Lennox, Aunt Shaw
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 233
Explanation and Analysis: