Gaskell’s novel depicts several parent-child relationships, showing how those relationships can be either destructive or constructive for a child’s future. A common theme displayed across these relationships is a desire for parents to protect their children from what they perceive as threats. In some cases, this can backfire and prove harmful. Mrs. Bellingham believes that Ruth has seduced her son and might be trying to lure him into marrying her or providing her with money, mistakenly believing that Ruth is “the girl […] whose profligacy had led her son astray” (64). In her cruel actions toward Ruth, she operates out of misguided love for her son, but as a result, she causes great pain to Ruth and encourages her son to keep leading a self-centered and irresponsible life.

Likewise, Mr. Bradshaw truly wants Jemima to be happy and is correct in noticing that she and Mr. Farquhar could be a good match. Through his meddling, and his attempts to save Jemima from herself, he almost ends up ruining the relationship, whereas if he had not interfered, Farquhar and Jemima could likely have come together on their own. More seriously, Mr. Bradshaw’s strict moral severity with Richard is intended to protect the young man, but it sets Richard up to be comfortable with lying and deception, which ultimately becomes his downfall.