Liverpool was an important part of the book. It was where Will was located, who was of course important for Jem's trial as he could advocate for him. Mary Barton would of course travel to this land and would first think that she missed Will but in the end, she ended up finding him and he would go to the Trial and clear the name of Jem. "The early trains for Liverpool, on Monday morning, were crowded by attorneys, attorneys' clerks, plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, all going to the Assizes" (pg. 355).
After everything is said and done, Jem and Mary marry and move to Toronto so he can get a new job free of the taint of murder charges. Their family is happy in Toronto; they have a son named Jonnie and the household is harmonious (482).
Manchester is the location in which the story of Mary Barton. takes place. It takes place in the years 1839-1842. During this period, the middle class stuggled while the working class thrived. Things of course went sour when the middle class decided to form their union to combat the factory owners until they get what they want. It was indeed something epic. It was around this time that that the factory owners reduce the wages of the employees, thus leading to them to revolting against them for what they did.
John Barton goes to Parliament on behalf of the Chartists to present their grievances to the governement. He is representing the people of Manchester and they tell him all they want to say (131). On the way to Parliament, he and the other delagetes get yelled at by a policeman and they're dismissed out of hand. Barton becomes angry and he "seldom spoke, less than ever; and often when he did speak, they were sharp angry words" (164). Parliament, as a location, represents a rejection of the working class and the arrogance of the upper class.
"A fortnight passed thus; when the Albinois brought a message from Mandragola, bidding Beatrice repair that same night at twelve, to a wood about four miles from Lucca. At this time Castruccio was employed in building the tower of Nozzano, on a small hill which was surrounded by the wood chosen by the witch" (386). Beatrice is lured into the forest by the witch (Fior di Mandragola) to test her power over Castruccio.
Castruccio takes part in the siege of Monte Catini, and according to Shelley the victory is due to him alone. (Page 153). Apparently, battles between Pisa, Lucca, and Florence often took place in Montecatini due to its geographical location. Below the hill were marsh lands, where many soldiers met unfortunate deaths, including a battle of 1315. Apparently by some accounts Dante was thought to have taken part in that battle.
In another moment of action (rashness even?) Castruccio allies with Uguccione to defeat the Guelphs in Lucca. Uguccione, unsurprisingly, then forsakes any promises to Castruccio and plans to raze the city. (Page 132). Castruccio uses public opinion to manauever into a position where he is able to prevent the worst of it. Not long after, Uguccione plots with Renieri to remove Castruccio. The have him arrested, but again the people rise up in revolt and drive them in the city, leaving Castruccio strongly in control of the town his family was once exiled from.
