{"id":3064,"date":"2017-04-25T20:32:31","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T15:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fableandi.com\/?p=3064"},"modified":"2020-03-20T12:28:29","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T06:58:29","slug":"ruth-elizabeth-gaskell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebooksatchel.com\/ruth-elizabeth-gaskell\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell – Story of a Fallen Woman"},"content":{"rendered":"
Elizabeth Gaskell tells the story of a fallen woman in the Victorian period in her novel Ruth<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Ruth Hilton\u2019s parents die, her guardian helps her to secure the position of an apprentice at a seamstress\u2019 shop. Sixteen year old Ruth is befriended by Mr. Bellingham who convinces her that he is in love with her. They run away and Ruth finds herself becoming his mistress. When Mr. Bellingham falls ill, his mother sees it as the perfect opportunity to whisk her son away from the temptress that is Ruth. Alone, abandoned, moneyless and pregnant, Ruth finds a friend in Mr. Benson, minister of a small congregation. After a lot of persuasion, she moves in with Mr. Benson and his sister and starts a new life with an invented past. But what happens when the past catches up with her? Elizabeth Gaskell\u2019s bravery in writing a novel that touches on such sensitive topics is commendable, especially since she is the wife of a minister. The public must have been furious for writing a novel that talks about illegitimacy. Ruth<\/em> has a brisk pace throughout, except in the middle where it drags a bit. Gaskell is successful in pointing out the hypocrisy prevalent in the Victorian society. When Sally, Mr. Benson\u2019s household help, is suspicious about the truth about Ruth, she makes her cut her hair like a widow before she accepts her. Mr. Bradshaw, who highly praises Ruth seems to forget all her good qualities when he comes to know of her past. There are thought provoking passages on what the society considers as \u2018sin\u2019 (example : a fallen woman) and whether the church should accept or rebuke those who have sinned. Also, the burden of this sin falls solely on the woman\u2019s shoulder and the man is never blamed, thanks to the gender hierarchy that existed in those times. There is an underlying theme that defies the logic of \u2018good looks make a gentleman\u2019. By the examples of Mr. Bellingham and Mr. Benson, a hunchback, Gaskell effectively guides the reader through such examples that makes one see how weak or strong human nature can be.
\n <\/p>\nThe Good<\/h3>\n
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