North and South Lesson Plan

Margaret reacts to Mr. Thornton’s confession of love with extreme shock and disgust. Do you think these are her true feelings, or that she is in denial of some affection towards Mr. Thornton?

Student answers may vary. Some may think that Margaret’s rage is disproportionate to the situation, indicating that she is overcompensating to conceal her true feelings. Others may understand her anger as arising from embarrassment and frustration, and conclude that she is being perfectly honest in her rejection of Mr. Thornton’s proposal. Encourage students to point to specific passages to support their stance.

Besides mere surprise, Margaret has a logical argument for why she...