Mary Barton

Mary Barton is the daughter of John and Mary Barton, the niece of Esther Barton, and the central character of the novel. Her parents are poor, working class people, but they have a relatively happy life until the elder Mary dies in childbirth, losing the baby as well. Mary and her father, John, grow closer over the years since they are the only two left in their family. John wants a better life for his daughter than that of a factory worker. As she grows, Mary becomes friends with Alice Wilson, an older woman who lives nearby, and Margaret Jennings, a cheerful girl who becomes a singing sensation. Mary takes a job as a seamstress, but she aspires to be rich and live well. To this aim, she lets herself be pursued by Harry Carson, the son of a wealthy mill owner. Jem Wilson, the son of...