Maria Hale’s gruff but loyal maid, who sees Mrs. Hale’s marriage to Richard Hale as the great downfall of Mrs. Hale’s life. She says that she loves Mrs. Hale, Frederick, and Margaret, but no one else in the world. She resents Mr. Hale for spending so much time studying and thinking rather than doting on Mrs. Hale. She remains Margaret’s maid after Margaret returns to London.
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Dixon Character Timeline in North and South
The timeline below shows where the character Dixon appears in North and South. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5
...She retreats to her room and finally lets go of her own self-control, crying until Dixon comes into the room some time later. Dixon is indignant about Mr. Hale’s “turning Dissenter...
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...She brightens, however, when she comes up with the plan to settle Mrs. Hale and Dixon at Heston, a seaside town, while she and Mr. Hale search for a house in...
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Chapter 8
Margaret undertakes a lengthy search for a servant to assist Dixon and finds it a very different experience from hiring respectful young girls from Helstone school....
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Chapter 9
...could meet with—enemies, winds, or circumstances.” But, despite her reluctance to see him, Margaret helps Dixon prepare for the guest.
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Chapter 16
...firstborn, Frederick, however, her relative calm is shattered, and she dissolves into violent hysterics. With Dixon’s help, Mrs. Hale is finally calmed enough to sleep, and Margaret and Dixon discuss Mrs....
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After Margaret leaves, Dixon says to herself, “Bless her!...There are three people I love; it’s missus, Master Frederick, and...
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Chapter 21
When Margaret and Mr. Hale get home, they are met by an anxious Dixon. Dr. Donaldson is there; he has given Mrs. Hale an opiate to relieve terrible spasms,...
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Chapter 27
Later, Dixon comes in and tells Margaret that Mary Higgins has come with the news that Bessy...
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Chapter 30
Margaret and Dixon, meanwhile, discuss the possibility that Frederick might soon arrive and plan how to keep his...
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...Margaret is impressed by the way Frederick channels his energies into helping his parents and Dixon. However, Dr. Donaldson proves correct, and within a couple of days, Mrs. Hale rapidly worsens...
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Chapter 31
As Margaret helps Dixon in the aftermath of Mrs. Hale’s death, she has no time to cry—while Mr. Hale...
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When Margaret briefly gives in to weeping, Dixon, not unkindly, tries to brace her up by pointing out that Margaret has been lucky...
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That evening, Dixon confides to Margaret that she doesn’t think it’s safe for Frederick to stay any longer....
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Chapter 33
After the funeral, Mr. Thornton approaches Dixon to ask how Mr. Hale and Margaret are doing. He is disappointed to hear that...
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Chapter 37
...doesn’t appear for an expected lesson that evening. Instead, a subdued Higgins shows up, to Dixon’s disgust: “Why master and you must always be asking the lower classes upstairs, since we...
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Chapter 42
Margaret falls into a state of physical exhaustion from the shock of Mr. Hale’s death. Dixon and Mr. Bell discuss what’s to be done about Margaret and decide to write to...
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Chapter 47
Dixon returns from Milton and takes her place in the Shaws’ household as Margaret’s maid. Margaret...
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Chapter 51
One summer evening at Harley Street, Edith, looking for Margaret, complains to Dixon that “I’m always expecting to hear of her having met with something horrible among all...
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