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Ruth
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Ruth - Week 3
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Mr. Bradshaw makes me nervous. He’s entirely too self righteous and too given to judging those around him while puffing up his own feathers. Any piece of the scaffolding around Ruth might give reason for censure and shaming; loss of income and loss of community. As a person reading this in 2024, it pains me to see Ruth continuing to castigate herself for the indiscretion of youth and desperation. She worries that she is unfit to be around the Bradshaw children, while I worry that the increased intimacy with the family will mean increased exposure and/or increased repercussions when the lack of marriage comes out (As I believe it will.)
The Bensons, Ruth, and Sally are all complicit in the lie that she is a widow. But the society is complicit in its condemnation of “fallen” women and children born out of wedlock. P. S. I was surprised that there wasn’t a market for Ruth’s lovely tresses as there was for Fantine’s hair in Les Miserables.
I definitely see trouble on the horizon. I suspect that Mr. Farquhar will pursue Ruth, making Jemima jealous (even if Ruth discourages him). Jemima will then try to hurt Ruth and will somehow discover her secret, convey it to her self-righteous father, and attempt to ruin everything. I hope I'm wrong, but I definitely have a sense of impending doom about the whole thing. Knowledge of Ruth's secret past will also implicate the wonderful Bensons. I continue to grow fonder of Mr. and Miss Benson, but Sally has become a special favorite of mine. She may the key to a happy ending for all because she is absolutely unafraid to speak her mind and take any situation in her capable hands.
Mr Bradshaw is horrible, poor Jemima being stuck there instead of being able to leave. That situation reminds me of Jane Austen.I was dreading Ruth's story being discovered, then tossed out with a baby in her arms, no money, in the dead of winter (like on the cover). When the pages turned and Leonard was six I was greatly relieved
Mod
Gaskell did a great job humanizing the Bensons so they come across as rounded characters rather than flat saints.
I had a bit of trouble sometimes since there are so many B names.
For me, the episodes in these chapters all contributed to a definite foreboding of a calm before a storm. The hints were everywhere, including Ruth’s self condemnations, the reluctant acquiescence of Benson to his sister’s agreement regarding Ruth’s employment and the ever increasing mountains of praise heaped on Ruth by Bradshaw and his daughter.Ruth might have been saved from immediate social castigation by the Bensons but the continuing extension of the ‘widow’ lie can only store up trouble for her in the long run. Not too far away there were plenty of people who knew what really happened and a chance meeting within the web of social circles that existed at that time across the country might easily bring shame, humiliation and disgrace on the whole Benson household.
There was one quote which made me reconsider and think that I may have been wrong. It followed on from Benson reluctantly agreeing that Ruth should go and be a governess for the Bradshaws.
’ “I have no fear,” said he decidedly. “Let the plan go on.” After a minute, he added, “But I am glad it was so far arranged before I heard of it. My indecision about right and wrong–my perplexity as to how far we are to calculate consequences–grows upon me, I fear.”
“You look tired and weary, dear. You should blame your body rather than your conscience at these times.”
“A very dangerous doctrine.”
The scroll of Fate was closed, and they could not foresee the Future; and yet, if they could have seen it, though they might have shrunk fearfully at first, they would have smiled and thanked God when all was done and said.’
Slightly disturbing was Ruth’s enduring thoughts about the man who abused her. He was still secretly cherished and no one has ever sought to explain to her why such emotions ought to be completely dispelled.
Farquhar’s introduction has only complicated matters even more. He has greater insight than Bradshaw, even if he has found his partner’s daughter contrary and impenetrable. If he does latch on to Ruth instead, she is in even greater danger of exposure than she was before.
I was interested to know more about the Limerick Gloves offered to Ruth by Miss Benson for her evening visit to the Bradshaws.’ “You should have light gloves, Ruth,” said Miss Benson. She went upstairs, and brought down a delicate pair of Limerick ones, which had been long treasured up in a walnut-shell.
“They say them gloves is made of chickens’-skins,” said Sally, examining them curiously. “I wonder how they set about skinning ’em.”’
I wonder if Ruth would have worn them if she knew what the gloves were actually made from?
https://limerickslife.com/limerick-gl...
I assumed they prized because made of lace, but found this article about Limerick gloves…https://limerickslife.com/limerick-gl...
Mod
There once was a dainty thin gloveThat Victorian women came to love
From Limerick it came
Chicken skin was its name
To hide what it was really made of
OR
There once was a dainty thin glove
For which Victorian women developed a love
Chicken skin they were called
Since what really appalled
Was what they were actually made of
Calfskin. Lambskin. Snakeskin. All labeled accordingly. But chickens? Nope. Putting your hand inside a chicken is somehow creepier. Why is that?
Changing the subject a little- perhaps I missed it, but when they refer to a room upstairs being Mr Benson’s ‘lumber’ room- what is that? I feel like it must have been mentioned awhile back but I can’t recall. I’m listening to the audiobook. BTW.
Mod
A lumber room is an attic or spare room where you store old and unwanted items and furniture. I think it's mainly British.
Thanks, Robin. This is something new to me & one reason why I read: to learn new things.
This section covers more than six years. We see the birth of Leonard at the beginning, and Leonard at age six at the end. Ruth also finds friends and employment.
What is Ruth’s new way of life like?
What do you think of the Bradshaws, and why was Ruth reluctant to accept Mr. Bradshaw’s gift?
How have our characters changed over time, and are these changes what you expected?
What do you think of Mr. Farquhar?
What do you think will happen next?
From the endnotes:
“Shelston notes that Benson is based on the Unitarian minister, the Revd William Turner of Newcastle Upon Tyne, whom Gaskell knew when she was young. His denomination is never named, however, perhaps because Gaskell and her husband, the Revd William Gaskell, were Unitarians, and she was anxious that Benson be read as a representative, and not a sectarian, figure.”
It was a common practice to inform the family’s bees of a death in the family and tie a black ribbon around the hive.