The novel’s heroine, Margaret, is known for her pride and haughtiness. Her childhood of Southern living means that she has enjoyed the luxuries of this lifestyle, yet her intelligence and unconventional beauty ensure that she is different to the other insipid, self-indulgent girls of the South. Despite this, she still holds a Southern prejudice toward tradesmen and manufacturers, not believing this to be a respectable profession. Her move to Milton (i.e. the North) is the turning point for Margaret’s aversion. She is thrust into a whirlwind of smoke and bustling tradespeople, who possess their own bias against Southern people (shocking!). Margaret’s strong views are called into question as she becomes friends with Nicholas and Bessy Higgins of the working class. Their friendship blossoms, as despite her prejudice, Margaret is kind-hearted and moral. Her strong religious identity ensures that she feels it her duty to serve others. So, after meeting the Higginses and seeing their hardships, she becomes firm advocate for working people’s rights.
