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Ruth - Week 4
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Probably too much to write about in this week’s emotional (for Ruth) chapters. I’ll begin by briefly replying to some of Lori’s astute questions.’ Do you see any meaning in the Eagle’s Crag scenery’ - For me there was more in the name. My first instincts were - The predator is back!
’ What did you think of the electioneering?’ Well, the electioneering seemed typical, as often portrayed in Trollope’s novels and experienced by Trollope himself when he stood for parliament (and lost.) What was emphasised by it was the enormous hypocrisy of Bradshaw who turned a blind eye to blatant bribery.
Like Ruth, Bellingham has changed his name. Why do you think he did so? Had all his serious wrongdoings whilst known as Bellingham finally caught up with him or could it be him just escaping his debts and maybe debtors prison?
The word ‘Aber’ is Welsh for estuary as in mouth of a river. There are a number of coastal resorts in Wales beginning with Aber, such as Abersoch, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth etc. That Welsh connection coming back to haunt Ruth once more.
The return of Bellingham/Donne (BD) has left Ruth in turmoil, but she has definitely made the right decision in refusing his advances. Jemima’s description of BD as a racehorse was spot on in respect of how his excitable ‘fast twitch’ animal instincts went into overdrive when he tried once again to convince Ruth to resume her role as his mistress. As he planned how best to get to Ruth, I could almost picture the ugly sight of him pulling on the rein, slavering at the mouth and having to be cooled down by a stable boy.
His menacing threats to expose her to the Bensons and the Bradshaws revealed how little he really cared about her or their son, despite the fine words about giving Leonard an excellent education and providing Ruth with luxury accommodation. His offer of marriage was both desperate and pathetically trite (and it would have probably turned out to be a sham one anyway.)
I was worried that Ruth’s secretly cherished ongoing regard for BD might send her back into his arms, but her experiences with the Bensons together with her relative maturity meant that the man who pleaded with her on the sands fell far, far short of the ideal she fell in love with as a young girl. The years of anguish between her attempted suicide in Wales and this meeting on the sands led Ruth to speak in probably the strongest language she had ever used to anyone....
’ If there was one thing needed to confirm me, you have named it. You shall have nothing to do with my boy, by my consent, much less by my agency. I would rather see him working on the roadside than leading such a life–being such a one as you are. You have heard my mind now, Mr. Bellingham. You have humbled me–you have baited me; and if at last I have spoken out too harshly, and too much in a spirit of judgment, the fault is yours. If there were no other reason to prevent our marriage but the one fact that it would bring Leonard into contact with you, that would be enough.”
Even BD was shocked enough to stop pestering her….
“It is enough!” said he, making her a low bow. “Neither you nor your child shall ever more be annoyed by me. I wish you a good evening.”
Poor, stunned Ruth showed the strength to resist the ‘liberal’ charmer, even if the voters of Eccleston didn’t, but can she have a future there with her former lover residing as the MP?
I was late getting started on this week's reading, then was so drawn in I read the whole section in one sitting.The election engineering was an unhappy reminder that here in the US we are about to have an election and there's plenty of contemporary engineering going on.
As to what Ruth should do, I don't know, but so far I think she's been doing a good job of living her principles as best that she can. I hope Bellingham/Donne has no real interest in Leonard and just drops out of the novel, though I'm guessing that's not what's going to happen.
And I'm apprehensive about the next chapter based on its title, "Jemima Makes a Discovery". I'm still hoping Jemima and Mr. Farquhar can end up together in a mutually happy relationship where her life is more free and his is more lively.
My favorite passage comes after one of Ruth's meetings with Bellingham/Donne when she's feeling weary and sad but then sees the sunset:
"She shut her eyes, until through the closed lids came a ruddy blaze of light. The clouds had parted away and the sun was going down in a crimson glory behind the distant purple hills. The whole western sky was one flame of fire, Ruth forgot herself in looking at the gorgeous sight...somehow all human care and sorrow were swallowed up in the unconscious sense of God's infinity. The sunset calmed her more than any words, however wise and tender, could have done."
Mod
I was glad to see Ruth showing some spirit and initiative in this section. Her passiveness and especially her obliviousness had been getting on my nerves. I find Jemima a more interesting character.
I agree on Jemima. She feels more rounded. She reminds me of Louisa in Hard Times, in that she pushes back against the role assigned to her by society. (Although It takes Louisa a while to act). But Jemima is an interesting counterpoint to Ruth - I wonder what readers thought of her when the novel was written.
I always admire Mrs. Gaskell's gift for describing the physical world, and never more than in this section. The wildness and isolation of Eagle's Crag mirrored the torrent of emotions, fear, and loneliness being felt by Ruth, and the beautiful sunset coincided with the peace she re-gained by firmly rejected B/D's proposal. Ruth's emotions feel so real to me - the longing for a lost love, the anger at being deserted, the sickening realization of who that lost love really is, the fears for Leonard's safety. The one thing that seemed off to me was that she never asked B/D why he changed his name - a question that have might revealed much about him that she needed to know. I hope in the coming chapters that he and Mr. Bradshaw both get their comeuppance (hopefully at the hands of Mr. Benson!).
Jaylia3 wrote: "I'm apprehensive about the next chapter based on its title, "Jemima Makes a Discovery". I'm still hoping Jemima and Mr. Farquhar can end up together in a mutually happy relationship where her life is more free and his is more lively."I'm still hoping that Jemima can go visit her brother in the city, and meet someone normal who makes her happy.
It probably won't happen, but I continue to hope.
B/D is menacing and horrible. Could feel Ruth's stress.
I started late, but almost caught up as I was surprised to notice I’m starting Ch 25 just now. These last chapters have gone fast. I believe Ch 20-24 have brought me into the story more than any others this far. Nancy, I too, wondered why she didn’t ask him about the name change, but when emotion takes over so strongly, sometimes things slip by. The whole topic of Leonard was so much more important- I can understand that. Looking forward to listening to Ch 25 right now!
This section made me so mad! Bellingham/Donne and Bradshaw are two different kinds of jerks. But B/D seems especially inexplicable. I found myself shouting, “What the Hell is wrong with you??” over and over. Seriously!! B/D: That can’t be the girl I seduced and abandoned. She’s got to be dead or a prostitute by now. Zounds! It IS Ruth! How dare she get away and have a life! I must have her! I must destroy her by any means/lies possible.
Just Ew!
It did me good to have her kick him to the curb, though. I would have liked her rejection to include some actual kicking.
Do you see any meaning in the Eagle’s Crag scenery, or in Ruth’s and Leonard’s dreams about each other?
What did you think of the electioneering? How does it compare with what you’ve seen in other novels from this period (some of which we may have read together)?
Like Ruth, Bellingham has changed his name. Why do you think he did so?
What was Bellingham/Donne’s offer?
What do you think Ruth should do?
From the endnotes:
“Like other settings in the novel, Abermouth does not correspond to any one place, although it is, as Shelston notes, ‘traditionally associated … with Silverdale, a village on the North Lancashire coast where the Gaskell family took their own holidays.’”