Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, and Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist for example, provide a contrast to the portrayal of different people relying on these government institutions, while also staying true to the cruelties and struggles they had to face against their authorities. ... In contrast to this, Gaskell decided to take a different approach to the characterization of her working class characters. ... Unlike Oliver Twist, North and South presents a realistic depiction of the strike itself and its attempts to reach its goals- differing vastly from the "luck " a passive Olive...

• Word Count: 726
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate