Ruth

Throughout the novel, many women are judgmental and harsh toward Ruth (for example, Mrs. Bellingham, Mrs. Mason, the landlady in Wales, Sally, etc.), while it is Mr. Benson who first shows her compassion and forgiveness. Why does the reaction to Ruth’s choices seem to be gendered? Why does Mr. Benson overlook social convention and feel empathy for Ruth?

Gaskell does not describe the period between when Ruth first goes to live with Bellingham and when the couple is established in Wales. What factors might have contributed to this structural choice? How would your understanding of the characters of Ruth and Bellingham potentially be different if this period of their relationship was described in the narrative?

Throughout the novel, many characters experience serious illnesses. What contexts and factors seem to precipitate these illnesses? How do episodes of sickness serve to move the plot forward? What thematic or symbolic significance does illness play in the novel?

Why is Ruth happy when she finds out that she is pregnant, even though this consequence will make her life much more difficult? How does becoming a mother change Ruth’s conception of herself, and how does it impact her relationship with other characters?

Throughout the novel, Ruth is often preoccupied with finding work and earning an income. She attempts careers as a seamstress, governess, and nurse. What does the choice of her career paths tell us about Ruth’s character and the role of Victorian women in society? Why is work important to Ruth? How does it intersect with her experience of motherhood?

In what ways is Jemima different from and similar to Ruth? Why does Jemima have challenging relationships with both her father and Mr. Farquhar? How does Jemima’s economic stability offer her choices and opportunities that Ruth lacks, and do these increased choices make her happier?

Compare and contrast the Benson and Bradshaw families. How are the two families structurally and emotionally similar and different? What core values lie at the heart of each family unit?

Ruth deliberately keeps her son away from Bellingham and therefore denies Leonard access to money, social prestige, education, and the opportunity to know his father. Is she justified in doing so? Why does Ruth believe that Bellingham would be harmful to Leonard? Why does Mr. Benson also reinforce this choice when he throws Bellingham out of his house at the end of the novel?