Edward has an artistic and literary personality, unsuited to his social position as the son of a successful lawyer who takes over his father's practice in the provincial town of Hamley.

His legal representation of the local gentry and nobility leads him to try fitting into their social circles, only to be mocked and treated with derision.

His bad habits lead to problems in his business, and Edward is forced to take on a junior partner named Mr. Dunster.

[1] Gaskell criticizes the class discrimination that Edward is subjected to, and which ruins him and his initially bright prospects, while also showing the negative effects of his drinking and irresponsibility.

[2] The manslaughter and resulting misery for those involved is used by Gaskell to illustrate the effects of dishonesty and bad living, and the torment of conscience.

[4] Gaskell's pace and method, though, led to disagreements with Dickens over difficulties in keeping up the usual excitement of incident needed for serial publication.