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.

Castruccio helps the emperor with the siege of Brescia, which according to him "made a gallant resistance, and yielded only on honourable conditions" (129). Watching the emperor torture his enemies finally causes Castruccio to split from the army, and join up with Galeazzo Visconti. Again, this seems intention on Shelley's part to make Castruccio seem sympathetic. 

Upon hearing of Castruccio's illness, Galeazzo Visconti demanded to be taken to him, despite his own illness. He made it to Pescia, about halfway between Lucca and Pistoia, before dying. "On the same day, and at the same hour, Castruccio died at Lucca" (441). Mary Shelley's ending to Valperga is lightly fictionalized. Galeazzo I Visconti died of malaria on August 6, 1328 in Pescia.