Summary
Margaret and her father visit Mrs. Boucher, the suicide victim's widow, finding her consumed with self-pity and blame for everyone except herself. Her children mourn their father more genuinely than she does, heartbreaking Margaret who sees how the woman's selfishness extends even to her grief. The visit leaves both Hales discouraged about their ability to help. Meanwhile, Margaret torments herself over her lie to the police about Frederick, especially knowing that Thornton witnessed her deception. She burns with shame remembering how she once criticized trade for its dishonesty, while Thornton defended commercial integrity. Now she feels hypocritical and dreads facing him again, yet longs to know where she stands in his opinion. That evening, Higgins arrives in a subdued mood, having spent the day seeking work to support Boucher's family—a responsibility he's taken upon himself out of guilt. Rejected everywhere, he desperately suggests moving south where Margaret once said life was easier. But Margaret, drawing on her southern experience, paints a realistic picture of agricultural labor: backbreaking work, isolation, starvation wages, and mental stagnation that would destroy someone like Higgins who thrives on intellectual companionship and debate. Convinced by her arguments, Higgins abandons the idea but agrees to swallow his pride and approach Thornton directly for work, despite his hatred of asking favors. His mixture of fierce independence and genuine care for Boucher's children reveals the complexity beneath his rough exterior.
Coming Up in Chapter 38
Higgins faces his dreaded confrontation with Thornton, while Margaret anxiously awaits the outcome of this meeting between two proud, principled men who could either destroy or understand each other.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
LOOKING SOUTH. “A spade! a rake! a hoe! A pickaxe or a bill! A hook to reap, or a scythe to mow, A flail or what ye will— And here’s a ready hand To ply the needful tool, And skill’d enough, by lessons rough, In Labour’s rugged school.” HOOD. Higgins’s door was locked the next day, when they went to pay their call on the widow Boucher: but they learnt this time from an officious neighbour, that he was really from home. He had, however, been in to see Mrs. Boucher, before starting on his day’s business, whatever that was. It was but an unsatisfactory visit to Mrs. Boucher; she considered herself an ill-used woman by her poor husband’s suicide; and there was quite germ of truth enough in this idea to make it a very difficult one to refute. Still, it was unsatisfactory to see how completely her thoughts were turned upon herself and her own position, and this selfishness extended even to her relations with her children, whom she considered as incumbrances, even in the very midst of her somewhat animal affection for them. Margaret tried to make acquaintances with one or two of them, while her father strove to raise the widow’s thoughts into some higher channel than that of mere helpless querulousness. She found that the children were truer and simpler mourners than the widow. Daddy had been a kind daddy to them; each could tell, in their eager stammering way, of some tenderness shown, some indulgence granted by the lost father. “Is yon thing upstairs really him? it doesna look like him. I’m feared on it, and I never was feared o’ daddy.” Margaret’s heart bled to hear that the mother, in her selfish requirement of sympathy, had taken her children upstairs to see their dead disfigured father. It was intermingling the coarseness of horror with the profoundness of natural grief. She tried to turn their thoughts in some other direction; on what they could do for mother; on what—for this was a more efficacious way of putting it—what father would have wished them to do. Margaret was more successful than Mr. Hale in her efforts. The children seeing their little duties lie in action close around them, began to try each one to do something that she suggested towards redding up the slatternly room. But her father set too high a standard, and too abstract a view, before the indolent invalid. She could not rouse her torpid mind into any vivid imagination of what her husband’s misery might have been, before he had resorted to the last terrible step; she could only look upon it as it affected herself; she could not enter into the enduring mercy of the God who had not specially interposed to prevent the water from drowning her prostrate husband; and although she was secretly blaming her husband for having fallen into such drear despair, and denying that he had any excuse for his last rash act, she was inveterate...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Misplaced Shame
When shame points in the wrong direction, it becomes a destructive force that prevents growth and healing rather than motivating positive change.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when shame is pointing you toward growth versus when it's just creating suffering.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel ashamed and ask: 'What am I actually responsible for here?' versus 'What's beyond my control?'
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Querulousness
A habit of constantly complaining and finding fault with everything, especially when it becomes someone's default way of dealing with problems. Mrs. Boucher shows this by blaming everyone else for her situation instead of taking any responsibility.
Modern Usage:
We see this in people who always play the victim and never take accountability for their role in their problems.
Animal affection
Love that's purely instinctive and physical, without deeper emotional connection or sacrifice. Gaskell uses this to describe how Mrs. Boucher loves her children but still sees them as burdens.
Modern Usage:
Like parents who say they love their kids but constantly complain about the cost and inconvenience of raising them.
Agricultural labor system
The 1850s farm work system where laborers worked for landowners, often in isolated conditions with no job security. Workers lived in tied cottages and could be evicted if they lost their jobs.
Modern Usage:
Similar to today's gig economy workers who have no benefits, job security, or worker protections.
Pride vs. necessity
The internal struggle between maintaining your dignity and doing what you must to survive. Higgins hates asking for favors but knows he needs work to support Boucher's family.
Modern Usage:
Like having to ask family for money when you're broke, or taking a job you feel is beneath you because you need the income.
Moral hypocrisy
Criticizing others for behavior you're guilty of yourself. Margaret feels like a hypocrite for lying to police after she once criticized businessmen for being dishonest.
Modern Usage:
Like calling out someone for being on their phone too much while you're constantly scrolling social media.
Class mobility barriers
The practical obstacles that prevent people from moving between social or economic classes, even when they're desperate. Different regions had different job markets and social expectations.
Modern Usage:
Like how moving to a new city for better opportunities requires money you don't have, or how your resume gets ignored because you don't have the 'right' background.
Characters in This Chapter
Mrs. Boucher
Grieving widow
She represents how some people respond to tragedy by becoming consumed with self-pity and blame. Even her love for her children is overshadowed by her resentment about having to care for them alone.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who makes every conversation about their problems and never takes responsibility for anything
Margaret Hale
Protagonist
She's struggling with guilt over lying to the police and feeling like a hypocrite. She also tries to help Mrs. Boucher while giving Higgins realistic advice about job prospects in the south.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who's always trying to help everyone while dealing with her own mistakes and shame
Higgins
Reluctant job seeker
He's swallowed his pride to look for work so he can support Boucher's children, showing his hidden compassionate side. His desperation makes him consider drastic moves like relocating south.
Modern Equivalent:
The proud guy who finally has to ask for help when his family depends on him
Mr. Hale
Well-meaning helper
He tries to comfort Mrs. Boucher and lift her thoughts to higher things, but finds her completely focused on her own grievances and unable to see beyond her immediate problems.
Modern Equivalent:
The counselor or pastor who tries to help someone who just wants to complain and isn't ready to change
Boucher's children
Innocent mourners
They grieve their father more genuinely than their mother does, each remembering specific acts of kindness. Their simple, honest sorrow contrasts with their mother's self-centered complaints.
Modern Equivalent:
Kids who remember the good things about a parent while the surviving parent only focuses on their own problems
Key Quotes & Analysis
"She considered herself an ill-used woman by her poor husband's suicide"
Context: Describing Mrs. Boucher's attitude toward her husband's death
This reveals how some people make even tragedy about themselves. Instead of grieving for her husband or understanding his despair, she sees his suicide as something done TO her.
In Today's Words:
She acted like her husband killed himself just to make her life harder
"Daddy had been a kind daddy to them; each could tell, in their eager stammering way, of some tenderness"
Context: Describing how Boucher's children remember their father
The children's memories focus on their father's love and kindness, showing they understand what really matters. Their 'eager stammering' shows genuine emotion, unlike their mother's calculated complaints.
In Today's Words:
The kids remembered all the sweet things their dad did for them and couldn't wait to share those memories
"I mun try and find work somewhere. I've been a fool, I know, but I'm not going to be a fool again"
Context: When he realizes he needs to swallow his pride and ask Thornton for work
This shows Higgins taking responsibility for his past mistakes while committing to do better. His willingness to humble himself demonstrates growth and his genuine care for Boucher's family.
In Today's Words:
I need to find a job somewhere. I screwed up before, but I'm not going to keep making the same mistakes
Thematic Threads
Deception
In This Chapter
Margaret's lie about Frederick haunts her, creating internal torment about her integrity
Development
Evolved from her earlier criticism of trade dishonesty to personal moral compromise
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when a necessary lie to protect someone you love makes you question your entire character.
Class
In This Chapter
Higgins faces rejection everywhere due to his reputation as a strike leader, forcing him to consider leaving
Development
Deepened from abstract class conflict to personal consequences of taking a stand
In Your Life:
You see this when speaking up at work labels you a troublemaker, limiting future opportunities.
Pride
In This Chapter
Higgins must swallow his pride to ask Thornton for work, despite their bitter history
Development
Transformed from destructive pride that fueled conflict to pride that must bend for survival
In Your Life:
You face this when you need help from someone you've had conflict with, but people depend on you.
Responsibility
In This Chapter
Higgins takes on supporting Boucher's family out of guilt, while Mrs. Boucher avoids her responsibilities
Development
Introduced here as contrast between taking on burdens and shirking them
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone's crisis becomes your responsibility because they won't handle it themselves.
Identity
In This Chapter
Margaret realizes her southern perspective helps her see the reality of agricultural life that Higgins romanticizes
Development
Built from her ongoing reconciliation of northern and southern experiences
In Your Life:
You recognize this when your background gives you insight others lack, making you responsible for sharing hard truths.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What different ways do we see characters dealing with shame in this chapter, and what are the results of each approach?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Margaret's shame over her lie feel so different from Mrs. Boucher's self-pity, even though both women are suffering?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today getting trapped by shame over things they can't control while avoiding responsibility for things they can change?
application • medium - 4
How would you help someone distinguish between shame that motivates positive change and shame that just creates suffering?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how our response to shame affects not just ourselves, but the people who depend on us?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Shame Compass
Think of a recent situation where you felt ashamed or guilty. Draw two columns: 'What I Can Control' and 'What I Can't Control.' List everything about that situation in the appropriate column. Then identify one concrete action you could take to address something from the 'Can Control' side.
Consider:
- •Notice if you're spending more mental energy on the 'Can't Control' side
- •Ask yourself: 'Is this shame pointing me toward growth or just punishment?'
- •Consider how your shame response affects others who depend on you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when shame motivated you to make a positive change versus a time when shame just made you feel stuck. What was the difference in how you handled each situation?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 38: When Pride and Misunderstanding Collide
What lies ahead teaches us jealousy can poison even the most rational minds, and shows us defending someone's character matters more than being right. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.