Ruth
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Synopsis:
Ruth Hilton, a young orphan and seamstress, captures the attention of Henry Bellingham, a wealthy gentleman, who is drawn to her innocence and beauty. After she loses her job and home, Henry offers her refuge, but soon abandons her, leaving Ruth devastated and disgraced. On the verge of despair, Ruth is taken in by kindhearted people who show her love and respect, unaware that she is hiding the secret of an illegitimate child. When Henry reappears in her life, Ruth is faced with a painful decision between societal acceptance and her own dignity.
In Ruth, Elizabeth Gaskell boldly challenges societal norms of the time, offering a sensitive and humanizing portrayal of a woman deemed “fallen” due to her circumstances, confronting the stigmas of sin and illegitimacy with empathy and insight.