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Bessy Higgins
Mrs. Thornton is fiercely devoted to her son, John Thornton. She bears with and indulges the weaker Fanny, but John is the pride of her heart. Mrs. Thornton is described as “a large-boned lady, long past middle age,” with strong features. She turns heads in the streets because she is so “firm, severe, [and] dignified.” However, she is shy in society and ill at ease in meeting new people. She despises Margaret from the moment she hears about the girl’s proud demeanor, believing Margaret has disrespected her son. However, she grudgingly respects Margaret’s spirit and would like her if she weren’t a “prejudiced” Southerner who is ignorant about industry and life in the North. She also looks down on what she sees as the Hales’ pretensions of superiority and scorns education as a luxury. She promises to befriend Margaret in the event of Mrs. Hale’s death, but she uses this excuse to savagely insult Margaret’s virtue. When Margaret leaves Milton, Mrs. Thornton is pleased to be rid of her, little suspecting that Thornton and Margaret will come together in the end.
Mrs. Thornton Quotes in North and South
The North and South quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Thornton or refer to Mrs. Thornton. 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:
).
Chapter 15
Quotes
“If you live in Milton, you must learn to have a brave heart, Miss Hale.”
“I would do my best,” said Margaret rather pale. “I do not know whether I am brave or not till I am tried; but I am afraid I should be a coward.”
“South country people are often frightened by what our Darkshire men and women call only living and struggling. But when you’ve been ten years among a people who are always owing their betters a grudge, and only waiting for an opportunity to pay it off, you’ll know whether you are a coward or not; take my word for it.”
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Chapter 38
Quotes
“At first, when I heard from one of my servants, that you had been seen walking about with a gentleman, so far from home as the Outwood station, at such a time of the evening, I could hardly believe it…It was indiscreet, to say the least; many a young woman has lost her character before now—”
Margaret’s eyes flashed fire. This was a new idea—this was too insulting. If Mrs. Thornton had spoken to her about the lie she had told, well and good—she would have owned it, and humiliated herself. But to interfere with her conduct—to speak of her character! She—Mrs. Thornton, a mere stranger—it was too impertinent! She would not answer her—not one word. Mrs. Thornton saw the battle-spirit in Margaret’s eyes, and it called up her combativeness also.”
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Mrs. Thornton Quotes in North and South
The North and South quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Thornton or refer to Mrs. Thornton. 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:
).
Chapter 15
Quotes
“If you live in Milton, you must learn to have a brave heart, Miss Hale.”
“I would do my best,” said Margaret rather pale. “I do not know whether I am brave or not till I am tried; but I am afraid I should be a coward.”
“South country people are often frightened by what our Darkshire men and women call only living and struggling. But when you’ve been ten years among a people who are always owing their betters a grudge, and only waiting for an opportunity to pay it off, you’ll know whether you are a coward or not; take my word for it.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 38
Quotes
“At first, when I heard from one of my servants, that you had been seen walking about with a gentleman, so far from home as the Outwood station, at such a time of the evening, I could hardly believe it…It was indiscreet, to say the least; many a young woman has lost her character before now—”
Margaret’s eyes flashed fire. This was a new idea—this was too insulting. If Mrs. Thornton had spoken to her about the lie she had told, well and good—she would have owned it, and humiliated herself. But to interfere with her conduct—to speak of her character! She—Mrs. Thornton, a mere stranger—it was too impertinent! She would not answer her—not one word. Mrs. Thornton saw the battle-spirit in Margaret’s eyes, and it called up her combativeness also.”
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
