Cranford Criticism
Cranford (1853) by Elizabeth Gaskell is a novel that explores themes of femininity, societal norms, and the quiet life of an English village. Known for her keen observational skills and gentle humor, Gaskell paints a meticulous picture of early nineteenth-century life. Set in the fictional village of Cranford, the novel was serialized in Charles Dickens's Household Words, growing from a single piece into a full narrative.
The story centers around the women of Cranford, particularly focusing on Miss Matty, who embodies the town's virtues of community and moral integrity. Gaskell contrasts the serene, female-dominated village with the bustling, materialistic world of nearby Drumble, reflecting Victorian concerns about modernity's impact on traditional life. The novel's plot is marked by events such as the arrival of Captain Brown, the death of his daughter Jessie, Miss Matty's financial struggles, and the return of her brother Peter. These incidents highlight themes of love, loss, and resilience.
Critics have noted Cranford's exploration of gender roles and societal expectations. As discussed in Women Without Men at Cranford, the novel addresses feminine repression in a male-dominated society. Moreover, Structure and Movement in Cranford emphasizes Miss Matty's role as a central character, illustrating a shift in attitudes towards men. Gaskell's narrative technique, especially her use of Mary Smith as the narrator, is critically acclaimed for its subtlety and depth, as explored in A Penchant for Narrative.
Though initially underestimated by some as mere nostalgic vignettes, Cranford is now celebrated for its thematic unity and character-driven plot. It is regarded as Gaskell's most significant work, praised for its irony and nuanced depiction of provincial life. Feminist perspectives, such as those in ‘Peter Was a Lady Then’: Sexuality and Gender in Cranford, highlight its critique of cultural norms concerning female desire and repression.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Women Without Men at Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Dodsworth interprets Cranford as a plot-driven novel concerned with feminine repression of sexuality in a male-dominated world.
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Mrs. Gaskell and the World of Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Wright defends Cranford’s merits as a novel, arguing against its detractors who see it as Gaskell's “reminiscences thinly disguised as fiction.”
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Structure and Movement in Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Wolfe focuses on Miss Matty as the heroine of Cranford and a figure illustrating the novel's thematic progression from an initial female rejection of men to their gradual acceptance.
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Cranford (1853)
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Easson considers the sources and episodic structure of Cranford, Gaskell's skill in rendering emotion and character in the work, and the novel's enduring qualities.
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What Kind of Book is Cranford?
(summary)
In the following essay, Griffith details the problematic generic unity and narrative technique of Cranford.
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Affairs of the Alphabet: Reading, Writing, and Narrating in Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Schor analyzes Cranford as an experimental woman's narrative concerned with the cultural factors of women as writers and readers. The novel is better read as a woman writer's experiment with narrative, an extended commentary on the ways women are taught to read cultural signs, and a serious critique of the role of literature in shaping female readers.
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A Penchant for Narrative: ‘Mary Smith’ in Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Carse investigates the character and interpretive role of Cranford's self-effacing narrator, Mary Smith.
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‘Peter Was a Lady Then’: Sexuality and Gender in Cranford
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Allen studies Victorian anxieties concerning sexuality and traditional gender roles as they are represented in Cranford.
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Language Among the Amazons: Conjuring and Creativity in Cranford
(summary)
In the following essay, Gavin discusses how the Cranford women create oral fictions while their male counterparts are merely readers and quoters.
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Mothers without Children, Unity without Plot: Cranford's Radical Charm
(summary)
In the following essay, Croskery probes the charming, complex, and experimental narrative technique of Cranford, arguing that the work represents a significant development in nineteenth century sympathy and reform novels.
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Women Without Men at Cranford
(summary)
- Further Reading