14 Questions
What is the underlying issue that Margaret and many other poor people in Manchester face?
Harmful exploitation in the society.
What is the primary reason Margaret cannot afford to stop working despite the risk of going blind?
She and her grandfather rely on her income to survive.
How does Margaret view the society she lives in?
As a harmful and exploitative system.
What is the sentiment conveyed by Margaret's reluctance to criticize the society out loud?
Shame and guilt.
What is the only way Margaret and others can overcome their impossible predicaments?
By talking about the issues and banding together to address them.
What is the consequence of the business world's treatment of people like Margaret?
They are left with nothing, physically and emotionally drained.
What is the reason Alice Wilson was denied the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother?
She moved away from her family home and lacked the resources to make the journey back.
What is the primary reason Alice provides Mary with a mother figure?
Mary's father is unable to provide emotional support.
What is the significance of Alice's introduction of Mary to Margaret Jennings?
It is an extension of Alice's role as a mother figure to provide emotional support.
What is the consequence of Margaret's habit of sewing by the dim light of a candle?
She will eventually go blind.
What is the primary theme explored through the relationship between Mary and Margaret?
The power of female relationships.
What is the reason Mary is reluctant to talk about the young man she is seeing?
She wants to keep her relationship private.
What is the significance of Alice's lonely existence in her basement apartment?
It emphasizes her poverty.
What is the implication of the emotional support provided by women like Alice in the context of poverty?
It is a necessary aspect of survival in poverty.
Study Notes
Alice Wilson and Mary Barton's Bond
- Alice and Mary bond over their shared grief of losing their mothers without a chance to say goodbye.
- Alice's mother's death was due to her moving away from her family home and lacking the resources to visit her relatives, while Mary's mother's death was sudden and shocking.
- Alice provides Mary with a mother figure, offering understanding and comfort that John Barton cannot.
Alice's Gift to Mary
- Alice introduces Mary to Margaret Jennings, providing her with a female companion and emotional support.
- This introduction is an extension of Alice's role as Mary's mother figure, helping Mary to cope with her life.
The Life of the Poor in Manchester
- The life of the poor people in Manchester is helped by women like Alice who can provide emotional support despite limited resources.
- Women like Alice play a crucial role in providing necessary support to those in need, even on a reduced budget.
Mary and Margaret's Relationship
- Mary and Margaret explore not only their characters but also the material conditions in which they operate.
- Both girls share their secrets, but withhold information: Mary is reluctant to talk about the young man she is seeing, while Margaret reveals her worries about going blind due to her sewing work.
Margaret's Predicament
- Margaret's habit of sewing by candlelight may lead to her going blind, but she cannot afford to stop working due to financial dependence on her grandfather.
- Her short-term financial interests will be destroyed or her long-term financial interests will be destroyed, leaving her with no choice but to continue and hope for the best.
- Margaret's situation reflects the material condition of many poor people in Manchester, who are trapped in a cycle of exploitation and cannot afford not to work, even if it damages their health.
The Exploitation of the Poor
- Margaret realizes that the entire society is built around harmful exploitation, and there is no other option but to continue to harm herself.
- Her reluctance to admit this truth to her best friend turns the sentiment into profanity, highlighting the taboo nature of criticizing the society.
- Margaret's predicament is felt by many other characters, and only when they start to talk about the issues will they be able to band together to overcome them.
Alice and Mary form a bond over their shared grief of losing their mothers without saying goodbye. Alice, a lonely woman, provides a motherly figure to Mary.
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