# Mr. Bell — North and South character guide

> Mr. Bell in North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Bell, Bell, old Mr. Bell

**First appearance:** 0028-xxix-a-ray-of-sunshine

## Snapshot

An Oxford don of leisurely wit and Oxonian prejudice, Mr. Hale's oldest friend, who regards Milton's smoke and commerce with amused disdain until Margaret quietly challenges him.

## Who they are

Mr. Bell moves through the Hales' drawing-room as a man of books, beauty, and proud old history, cheerfully needling Thornton about what Milton men actually live for beyond gathering materials. His gentle mockery of manufacturers masks a real curiosity, and Margaret's sharp rejoinder that a city is not its representative man lands where he least expects it. As an old friend of the family, he becomes a bridge between the quiet parsonage world and the industrial north, and his sparring with Thornton sets up a clash of values the novel keeps testing.

## Relationships

### [Margaret Hale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/margaret_hale)

_friendship_

A warm, paternal friendship with Mr. Bell acting as a kind mentor and godfather figure to Margaret.

### [John Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/john_thornton)

_friendship_

A cordial friendship between Thornton and Mr. Bell, with Bell acting as a confidant and intermediary in Thornton's romantic affairs.

### [Margaret Hale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/margaret_hale)

_friendship_

A warm, paternal friendship with Mr. Bell acting as a kind mentor and godfather figure to Margaret.

### [Margaret Hale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/margaret_hale)

_friendship_

A warm, paternal friendship with Mr. Bell acting as a kind mentor and godfather figure to Margaret.

### [John Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/john_thornton)

_friendship_

A cordial friendship between Thornton and Mr. Bell, with Bell acting as a confidant and intermediary in Thornton's romantic affairs.

### [John Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/john_thornton)

_friendship_

A cordial friendship between Thornton and Mr. Bell, with Bell acting as a confidant and intermediary in Thornton's romantic affairs.

## In the story

### [Out of Tune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xl-out-of-tune)

Visits the Hales, debates with Margaret, and suggests to Mr. Hale that Thornton and Margaret may have a tendresse; offers to be Margaret's protector.

### [XLII: Alone! Alone!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlii-alone-alone)

Takes charge of Margaret's care, writes to Mrs. Shaw to come, and later discusses Margaret with Mr. Thornton.

### [Margaret’s Flittin’](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xliii-margaret-s-flittin)

Writes to Margaret about financial arrangements and his intention to provide for her; mentions Captain Lennox and Mr. Thornton.

### [Ease Not Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xliv-ease-not-peace)

Mr. Bell visits London and is welcomed by the Lennox household. He defends Mr. Hale's conscientious motives and feels a growing irritation with Henry Lennox's remarks.

### [XLV: Not All a Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlv-not-all-a-dream)

Dreams of his youth at Helstone; feels the loneliness of old age; proposes and arranges the trip to Helstone with Margaret.

### [XLVI: Once and Now](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlvi-once-and-now)

Mr. Bell accompanies Margaret to Helstone, listens to her confession about the lie, and agrees to explain the circumstances to Mr. Thornton.

### [Something Wanting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlvii-something-wanting)

Corresponds with Margaret but writes short, bitter letters; is considering a trip to Spain with Margaret to visit Frederick.

### [XLVIII: “Ne’er to Be Found Again”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlviii-ne-er-to-be-found-again)

Margaret's father's friend, who had planned to visit London but is seized with an apoplectic fit and dies before Margaret can reach him.

### [XLIX: Breathing Tranquillity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/chapters/xlix-breathing-tranquillity)

Recently deceased; his death prevents Margaret from having the truth about Frederick's visit and Leonards' death explained to Mr. Thornton.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters/mr_bell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/north_and_south_se/characters