Quote: “She threw herself down on the lying by the side of the road, in despair. Her only hope was to die, and she believed she was dying. She could not think; she could believe anything. Surely life was a horrible dream, and God would mercifully awaken her from it. She had no penitence, no consciousness of error or offence; no knowledge of any one circumstance but that he was gone” (Gaskel 77).
Comment: I found this reaction to her finding out about Mr. Bellingham very interesting because it highlights her level of dependence on the situation, not just because they have romantic sentiments but because she entrusted him with her livelihood. It might sound like she is a dramatic, emotional, fragile young girl he has rejected. Still, she is an orphan – also of working-class status and has no flexibility in society – who succumbed to a decision viewed as staining her reputation. I am thinking of the similarities and contrasts between Ruth and the novel Moll Flanders – Moll felt out of place in a lower society just as Ruth did as she suffered in Mrs. Mason’s shop. Yet, Moll uses men like Mr. Bellingham to advance her social position and does not seem ever to let off her guard or put any hope that her well-being will be cared for by anyone but herself.
Question: I wonder how the audience of this period would receive a character like Mr. Bellington; thinking back to Bodichon’s remarks, he certainly does not appear to be a ‘man of good feeling’ – would they lay the blame on Ruth for falling victim to his charms and vanity or would they look to him as being deceitful and opportunistic. Judging by how the other female characters react to Ruth’s situation, especially Mrs. Bellington, they say that she is obsessed with her looks or that she must have lured him in. Yet, the charity that the Benson family shows to her makes me wonder if those Christain values took precedence over the shameful societal feelings.
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