Through the looking glass...

After reading Cranford, I start to think of evolution of culture, customs and societies. The evolution of Cranford is obvious, the female taking on independent and dominant roles. The ability to be both insider and outsider is gray and fuzzy. Mary Smith, however; is not truly a Cranford woman anymore. Mary has passed through the looking glass and is independent in a way the Cranford woman will never know. Mary is the narrator, yes, but she holds a insider decoder key no one else does. Mary also posses the ability to tease the Cranford horde, because she is no longer one of them. Mary's actions and opinions remind me of Skeeter from The Help.
Skeeter is both a insider and outsider. She is privileged to luncheons, gossip and fancy dress parties but is viewed under suspicion constantly. The fact that both Skeeter and Mary Smith have left their hometown and have returned to the horde yet both mock the horde and their customs shows the changing of the tide or times.