Evolution versus revolution in society's progress in "My lady Ludlow" by Elizabeth Gaskell

The article analyses Gaskell's historical novella “My Lady Ludlow” (1858). The stress is done on the artistic means of depiction of the idea of gradual development of society as a preferable alternative to revolution. This idea is conveyed by the author through the description of the evolution of beliefs of the main character which becomes possible owe to her ability to free herself of out-of-date convictions and prejudices and to adapt to social changes. In the paper the character's development is shown through the description of her speech, author's irony and narrator's commentaries. The article deals with the peculiarities of the structure of the novella (a story within the story) and the narration (change of narrators). The paper discusses different attitudes of W. Scott and E. Gaskell to the democratic processes in the British society.