North and South · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.
Margaret Hale
major
Also known as Margaret, Miss Hale, Miss Marget, A. L. Waring Margaret, Spenser Margaret, Elliott Margaret, Duke of Normandy Margaret, Uhland Margaret
The protagonist, a young woman from the south who moves to the industrial north.
John Thornton
major
Also known as Mr. Thornton, Thornton, George Herbert Mr. Thornton, John Thornton of Milton
A wealthy mill owner in Milton, proud and stern, who becomes Margaret's love interest.
Mr. Hale
supporting
Also known as Mr. Hale, Hale, Poor old Hale
Margaret's father, a former clergyman who moves the family to Milton.
Mrs. Hale
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Hale, Poor Mrs. Hale, Henry Vaughan Mrs. Hale
Margaret's mother, who is frail and struggles with the move to Milton.
Nicholas Higgins
supporting
Also known as Higgins, Nicholas, the Higgins, Mr. Higgins, Hood Higgins
A fiery but principled mill worker who becomes a friend to Margaret.
Mrs. Thornton
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Thornton, the sensitive Mrs. Thornton, Mrs. Hemans Mrs. Thornton
John Thornton's proud and domineering mother, who dislikes Margaret.
Dixon
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Dixon, Only Dixon, Dear old Dixon, Miss Dixon, poor old Dixon
The Hales' loyal and outspoken family servant.
Henry Lennox
supporting
Also known as Mr. Henry Lennox, Mr. Lennox, a Lennox, Henry Lennox, Lennox
A London lawyer and Margaret's former suitor.
Frederick Hale
supporting
Also known as Master Frederick, Frederick, Frederick Hale, poor Frederick Hale, Poor Frederick, Master Fred, Fred
Margaret's exiled brother, a naval officer involved in a mutiny.
Edith
supporting
Also known as Miss Edith, Fancy Edith, this cousin Edith
Margaret's fashionable and frivolous cousin, who marries Captain Lennox.
Bessy Higgins
supporting
Also known as Bessy, poor Bessy, Bessy Higgins, Poor Bessy
Nicholas Higgins' sickly daughter, who becomes a close friend to Margaret.
Fanny Thornton
minor
Also known as Fanny, Miss Fanny
John Thornton's vain and shallow sister.
John Boucher
supporting
Also known as John Boucher, Boucher, poor Boucher
A desperate and struggling mill worker during the strike.
Mrs. Shaw
minor
Also known as Mrs. Shaw, Shaw, aunt Shaw, Aunt Shaw, Elliott Mrs. Shaw
Margaret's wealthy aunt, who raised her in London.
Mr. Bell
supporting
Also known as Mr. Bell, Bell, old Mr. Bell
Mr. Hale's old friend and Oxford don, who becomes Margaret's guardian.
Leonards
minor
Also known as young Leonards, old Leonards, George Leonards, George, Leonards, this Leonards
A former sailor who recognizes Frederick and later dies from a fall.
Captain Lennox
minor
Also known as Captain Lennox, Captain, Lennox
Edith's husband, a military officer and brother of Henry Lennox.
Dr. Donaldson
minor
Also known as Dr. Donaldson
The physician who attends to Mrs. Hale in her final illness.
Harrison
minor
Also known as Harrison, Mr. Harrison
A mill worker and friend of Higgins, involved in union activities.
Hamper
minor
Also known as Hamper, Mr. Hamper
A fellow mill owner and associate of Thornton.
Mrs. Boucher
minor
Also known as Mrs. Boucher, the widow Boucher
John Boucher's wife, left destitute after his death.
Martha
minor
Also known as Martha
A servant in the Hale household in Milton.
Mr. Colthurst
minor
Also known as Mr. Colthurst, Colthurst
A friend of Mr. Hale from Oxford.
Mr. Horsfall
minor
Also known as Mr. Horsfall
A surgeon who treats Boucher after his suicide attempt.
Sarah
minor
Also known as Sarah
A servant in the Thornton household.
Charlotte
minor
Also known as Charlotte
A servant in the Hale household in Helstone.
Betsy Higgins
minor
Also known as Betsy Higgins, Betsy
Nicholas Higgins' wife, mentioned but not seen on page.
Susan Lightfoot
minor
Also known as Susan Lightfoot, little Susan, simple Susan, Susan, Poor little Susan
A young girl from Helstone, briefly mentioned.
Jane
minor
Also known as Jane
A servant in the Shaw household.
Sholto
minor
Also known as Sholto, merry little Sholto
Edith and Captain Lennox's young son.
Sir John Beresford
minor
Also known as Sir John, Poor dear Sir John, poor Sir John, Sir John Beresford, John
A deceased friend of the Hale family, mentioned in backstory.
Dolores Barbour
minor
Also known as Dolores Barbour, Dolores, Barbour
A Spanish friend of Margaret's from her time in London.
Mrs. Purkis
minor
Also known as Mrs. Purkis
A woman who takes in lodgers in Milton.
Captain Reid
minor
Also known as Captain Reid
The captain of the ship on which Frederick served, central to the mutiny.
Mary Higgins
minor
Also known as Mary Higgins, Mary
Nicholas Higgins' younger daughter.
Bessie
minor
Also known as Bessie
A child in the Boucher family.
Jack
minor
Also known as Jack, Johnny
A child in the Boucher family.
Mr. Lowe
minor
Also known as Mr. Lowe
A mill owner and associate of Thornton.
Mrs. Hepworth
minor
Also known as Mrs. Hepworth
A lady of Milton society, friend of Mrs. Thornton.
Miss Thornton
minor
Also known as Miss Thornton
A cousin of John Thornton, briefly mentioned.
Henderson
minor
Also known as Henderson
A servant in the Thornton household.
Wallis
minor
Also known as Wallis
A servant in the Thornton household.
Mrs. Browning
minor
Also known as Mrs. Browning, Browning
A woman who keeps a shop in Milton.
Watson
minor
Also known as Watson, Watson—George Watson, George Watson
A mill worker and associate of Higgins.
Mrs. Lennox
minor
Also known as Mrs. Lennox
Mother of Henry and Captain Lennox, mentioned in passing.
Old Betty Barnes
minor
Also known as old Betty Barnes, Betty Barnes
An elderly woman in Helstone, mentioned in passing.
Slickson
minor
Also known as Slickson, Mrs. Slickson
A mill owner and associate of Thornton.
Makinson
minor
Also known as Makinson
A mill worker and union member.
Aunt Hale
minor
Also known as Aunt Hale
Mr. Hale's sister, mentioned in passing.
Lieutenant Hale
minor
Also known as Lieutenant Hale, the Lieutenant Hale
Frederick Hale's alias while in hiding.
Mr. Morison
minor
Also known as the Mr. Morison, this Morison
A friend of Mr. Bell from Oxford.
Miss Beresford
minor
Also known as Miss Beresford, Beresford
A friend of the Shaw family, mentioned in passing.
Lady Beresford
minor
Also known as Lady Beresford, the good old Beresford
Mother of Sir John Beresford, mentioned in passing.
Poor Maria
minor
Also known as Poor Maria, poor Maria, Maria, Dearest Maria
A deceased friend of Mrs. Hale, mentioned in backstory.
Williams
minor
Also known as Williams
A servant in the Hale household in Helstone.
Miss Barbour
minor
Also known as Miss Barbour
A friend of Margaret's from London society.
Crampton
minor
Also known as Crampton
A mill owner and associate of Thornton.
Mrs. Gibson
minor
Also known as Mrs. Gibson
A lady of Milton society, briefly mentioned.
Old Simon
minor
Also known as Old Simon
An old man in Helstone, mentioned in passing.
Jennings
minor
Also known as Jennings
A servant in the Thornton household.
Cowper
minor
Also known as Cowper
A mill worker and union member.
