North and South is a Victorian novel, specifically part of a sub-genre called the "condition of England" novel. Such novels were meant to stir up readers' social conscience regarding terrible conditions suffered by the working poor; they could also be very paternalistic. The latter characteristic can be seen in Margaret's insistence that John Thornton should take more responsibility for the moral guidance of his employees so that they can live happier lives. Other contemporary examples of condition of England novels include Dickens's Hard Times and Charlotte Brontë's Shirley.
The novel's close attention to details of working-class life—like Bessy Higgins's deadly illness and her father's drinking—also align with the concerns of literary Realism in its reaction to the industrial revolution's excesses. The novel also counters industrialization through elements of Romanticism, as in Margaret's sentimental longing for the natural beauty of Helstone.
Finally, the novel can also be classified as a coming-of-age work (Bildungsroman). Gaskell has readers follow Margaret's growing understanding of Milton and its people, from her youthful prejudice against the merchant class and discomfort with the working poor to her evolving sympathy with the Higginses' struggles, her growing love for Thornton, and her advocacy for better industrial policies. Margaret also comes of age as she gradually takes on a leadership role in her family, becoming her mother's caregiver and her father's strongest moral support.
