# North and South — Character guide

> Key figures in North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

- [Margaret Hale](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/margaret_hale.md): The protagonist, a young woman from the south who moves to the industrial north.
- [John Thornton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/john_thornton.md): A wealthy mill owner in Milton, proud and stern, who becomes Margaret's love interest.
- [Mr. Hale](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mr_hale.md): Margaret's father, a former clergyman who moves the family to Milton.
- [Mrs. Hale](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_hale.md): Margaret's mother, who is frail and struggles with the move to Milton.
- [Nicholas Higgins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/nicholas_higgins.md): A fiery but principled mill worker who becomes a friend to Margaret.
- [Mrs. Thornton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_thornton.md): John Thornton's proud and domineering mother, who dislikes Margaret.
- [Dixon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/dixon.md): The Hales' loyal and outspoken family servant.
- [Henry Lennox](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/henry_lennox.md): A London lawyer and Margaret's former suitor.
- [Frederick Hale](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/frederick_hale.md): Margaret's exiled brother, a naval officer involved in a mutiny.
- [Edith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/edith.md): Margaret's fashionable and frivolous cousin, who marries Captain Lennox.
- [Bessy Higgins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/bessy_higgins.md): Nicholas Higgins' sickly daughter, who becomes a close friend to Margaret.
- [Fanny Thornton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/fanny_thornton.md): John Thornton's vain and shallow sister.
- [John Boucher](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/john_boucher.md): A desperate and struggling mill worker during the strike.
- [Mrs. Shaw](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_shaw.md): Margaret's wealthy aunt, who raised her in London.
- [Mr. Bell](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mr_bell.md): Mr. Hale's old friend and Oxford don, who becomes Margaret's guardian.
- [Leonards](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/leonards.md): A former sailor who recognizes Frederick and later dies from a fall.
- [Captain Lennox](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/captain_lennox.md): Edith's husband, a military officer and brother of Henry Lennox.
- [Dr. Donaldson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/dr_donaldson.md): The physician who attends to Mrs. Hale in her final illness.
- [Harrison](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/harrison.md): A mill worker and friend of Higgins, involved in union activities.
- [Hamper](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/hamper.md): A fellow mill owner and associate of Thornton.
- [Mrs. Boucher](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_boucher.md): John Boucher's wife, left destitute after his death.
- [Martha](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/martha.md): A servant in the Hale household in Milton.
- [Mr. Horsfall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mr_horsfall.md): A surgeon who treats Boucher after his suicide attempt.
- [Charlotte](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/charlotte.md): A servant in the Hale household in Helstone.
- [Betsy Higgins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/betsy_higgins.md): Nicholas Higgins' wife, mentioned but not seen on page.
- [Susan Lightfoot](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/susan_lightfoot.md): A young girl from Helstone, briefly mentioned.
- [Sir John Beresford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/sir_john_beresford.md): A deceased friend of the Hale family, mentioned in backstory.
- [Dolores Barbour](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/dolores_barbour.md): A Spanish friend of Margaret's from her time in London.
- [Captain Reid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/captain_reid.md): The captain of the ship on which Frederick served, central to the mutiny.
- [Mrs. Hepworth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_hepworth.md): A lady of Milton society, friend of Mrs. Thornton.
- [Miss Thornton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/miss_thornton.md): A cousin of John Thornton, briefly mentioned.
- [Mrs. Lennox](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_lennox.md): Mother of Henry and Captain Lennox, mentioned in passing.
- [Old Betty Barnes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/old_betty_barnes.md): An elderly woman in Helstone, mentioned in passing.
- [Aunt Hale](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/aunt_hale.md): Mr. Hale's sister, mentioned in passing.
- [Miss Beresford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/miss_beresford.md): A friend of the Shaw family, mentioned in passing.
- [Lady Beresford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/lady_beresford.md): Mother of Sir John Beresford, mentioned in passing.
- [Poor Maria](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/poor_maria.md): A deceased friend of Mrs. Hale, mentioned in backstory.
- [Williams](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/williams.md): A servant in the Hale household in Helstone.
- [Miss Barbour](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/miss_barbour.md): A friend of Margaret's from London society.
- [Mrs. Gibson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mrs_gibson.md): A lady of Milton society, briefly mentioned.
- [Old Simon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/old_simon.md): An old man in Helstone, mentioned in passing.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/north_and_south_se/characters