Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant

Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant

In Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South," the character of Margaret Hale embodies the idea that a girl of sixteen is well aware of her own beauty, but may be ignorant of her plainness. Margaret is described as a strikingly beautiful young woman, with her dark hair, fair skin, and expressive eyes capturing the attention of those around her. She is confident in her appearance and knows the effect it has on others, particularly on men.

However, despite her beauty, Margaret is also portrayed as being somewhat unaware of her own plainness. She is not concerned with fashion or vanity, and her focus is on more important matters such as her family and her principles. This lack of concern for her own appearance may lead her to underestimate her own attractiveness, as she is more interested in her inner qualities rather than her outward appearance.