Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell and Bleak House by Charles Dicken show many similarities and differences in poverty and offer slim opportunities to resolve the character's situation. In addressing these questions in this essay, I will explore how characters attempt to improve their situations as well as the outside influences that contribute to making their environments better or worse. Starting from a historical perspective with the Industrial Revolution, which was gaining momentum after it began its life. in the heart of Manchester. Steady technological and economic progress was gaining momentum in the maritime industry, cottage industry, as well as new developments in factories. With these improvements, food production increased, resulting from new investments in machinery and factory upgrades. Further, the profits from foreign trade and the continued growth and development of the banking sector now had the capacity to provide flexible credit facilities to those who could afford the repayments. Comparing Elizabeth Gaskell's life to that of her main character Mary Barton from the novel Mary Barton, is very similar in the fact that Elizabeth's mother died when she was thirteen months old, leaving her father to care for his daughter who was then taken care of by her aunt. While Elizabeth's aunt is depicted as crippled and becomes young Elizabeth's companion, this is then reflected in Mary Barton, the character is shown as Margaret Jennings who is blind, while Mary Barton becomes her companion. While young Charles Dickens experienced poverty firsthand, with his family in debt, his father found himself in debtors' prison, unable to pay his debt. At the age of twelve...... middle of paper ...... and his associates, the work environment and social implications of the working class had a huge effect on the daily lives of the classes workers; which are seen through these two texts from Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton and Charles Dicken's Bleak House showed that a darker side still existed despite all the prosperity in England. A significant number of reforms had to be endured by people like Frederick Engels to help improve the working conditions and living conditions of the working class, but unfortunately this did not come soon enough for many people who died due to substandard working conditions. living conditions, poor health resulting from the various fevers that were rampant, lack of sanitation. But these problems did not only exist in London or Manchester, these problems and problems knew no borders, because they reached all over England..