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Who Is Mary Barton's Drug Addiction During The Victorian Era Industrial Revolution?

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Mary Barton is the first novel written by author Elizabeth Gaskell, which was published in 1848. The novel explores the struggles of the working-class in Manchester, England during the Victorian Era industrial revolution. Gaskell portrays a story that dives into socioeconomic inequality between aristocratic business owners and employees, while balancing a sub-plot love story between its characters. Mary Barton is full of modern day liberal overtones and fuels an argument for redistribution of wealth, as this is not a discussion of politics it’s important to highlight the ideological resemblance between Gaskell and modern theorists. This paper will revolve around the response to three questions about the novel; why did Gaskell write this book, drug addiction during Victorian times, and the impact of Mrs. Barton’s death on John’s political views. …show more content…

The author paints a clear picture of the daily struggles facing working-class individuals through poverty, death, drug abuse, prostitution, and violent crime. In the story the Barton and Wilson families are intertwined in tragic deaths of loved ones and severe poverty that fuels anger towards wealthy families like the Carson’s. I find it difficult to measure the effectiveness of Gaskell’s novel based on what I felt was her intent in writing the story. The theme of those who want what those who have still lives today and is debated in political arenas and throughout academia. I can hypothesize that Gaskell succeeded by publishing a story in 1848 that still maintains relevancy

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