Questions for 3/9

1. What similarities can we draw between Ruth Hall and Eliza from Uncle Tom's Cabin? Both characters try almost anything to keep their children from terrible fates. Does it mean anything that both of these novels were published around the same time?

2. I like Fanny Fern's chapter divisions. How do the short chapters lend to moving the story along?

Questions for 3/9

Ruth Hall is far from the ordinary female character we are used to seeing.  She received a lot of flack for creating such an individual character.  How is Ruth Hall different from other characters, like Dorothea?  How are they similar?

What is Fanny Fern saying about the society she lives in with this novel? She penned it knowing the attention she would get for it.

Fanny Fern

I've decided that instead of ranting about the book this week, I would get to know the author, and probably end up ranting about her. Fanny Fern, Aka Sarah Payson Willis Parton received loads of backlash for this book.  Her main character (Gasp!) doesn't get married?! She doesn't depend on a man for money, instead she makes her own?! the Olive Branch was quoted as calling this book "eminently evil in it's tendencies and teachings".  I was amused to see how many men, and women actually were outraged by this book.  it's a female success story, she carved her own path without waiting for a man to do it for her, which Yay!!! I finally can read this book without cringing.  Fern's own back story could be made into a movie.  After losing her first husband to Typhoid, she begrudgingly marries Samuel Farrington, who turns out to be an abusive husband.  She leaves him, he spreads lies about her being promiscuous, and she can't get work because of the lies.  Her family scorns her because she's been married unsuccessfully twice and they refuse to help her. She starts writing for the newspapers, and this is where she starts reading about woman's suffrage, thus Ruth Hall was born.  So far, I like reading about her more than I enjoy reading the book. 

Do Mrs. Skiddy's words "tell the whole story"?

Throughout the book, I have been anxiously awaiting the moment when Ruth finally realizes her worth and decides to speak up. Unfortunately, however, Ruth's struggle to seek independence is a long, arduous journey filled to the brim with hardship and heartache. I feel like Ruth's drive to succeed is continually diminished until she finally reaches rock bottom and realizes that she has no choice but to make a change. As horrible as this will sound, I think that losing Katy is one of the best things that could have happened, as the loss forces Ruth to acknowledge the need for change and gives her the courage needed to chase success. When Ruth finally gains confidence in herself and her abilities, she comes to realize that what others think of her does not matter; the only opinion worth fighting for is your own.

I noticed that Ruth's transformation from a meek, submissive female to a strong, accomplished woman proceeds the scene in which Mr. Skiddy leaves for California. Mrs. Skiddy is portrayed as a confident woman who appears to thoroughly understand the ways of the world. One of the lessons that Mrs. Skiddy learned is that women have two options in life--to be in control or to be controlled. Mrs. Skiddy states that she chooses to maintain authority: "When a woman is married, Mrs. Hall, she must make up her mind either to manage, or to be managed; I prefer to manage" (135). Mrs. Skiddy's ability to assume control provides her with the ultimate source of independence; thus, when Mr. Skiddy leaves for California and asks for money to return home, Mrs. Skiddy has the inner-courage needed to just say no. I think that Mrs. Skiddy's words are relevant to Ruth's story, because Ruth finally achieves success when she realizes she is responsible for taking control of her own fate.

How do you comfort someone?

Two years ago, I (along with some friends) went to Sao Paulo, Brazil for two weeks. The trip was interesting and I had a good time, but I was ready to go home. The woman I was staying with, Diana was getting on my nerves! She was just too nice. She had a high pitched voice and she always called us, “Girls,” or even worse, “The American Girls.” Plus, she was quite touchy and wanted a hug all the time. The night that we went to the airport to return home, we found out that our flight had been delayed twelve hours. I couldn’t take it anymore. I just started crying in the middle of the airport. Well, Diana immediately came and put her arms around my shoulders and said, “God has a reason for everything, Girls.” This was not comforting to me! I know her intentions were good and I know there probably was a reason why I stayed in Brazil longer. Her “comfort,” however, was just not what I needed to hear at the time.

My experience from Brazil reminds me of how Fern, and Stowe as well, use religion as a means to console. I am particularly reminded of the way in which Tom and some of the other slaves use scripture and religion to comfort themselves. For example, the slaves sing hymns while working in the fields. In Ruth Hall, Fern is also using religion as a means for comfort and it seems awful. After Harry dies, Ruth’s father comes to speak with her. He says, “This is the hand of God” (79). I don’t think that Ruth’s father says this because he is a “villainous” character. Lots of people say this to console those who have lost a loved one. It doesn’t help!

Another religious line that is commonly used as comfort is: “He/she is in a better place.” Ruth tells Katy this after they move. I love Katy’s response: “’Happy? without me, and you, and Nettie?” Her response is child-like and real. It points out the inadequacy of Ruth’s comforting phrase. Perhaps Fern is trying to say that religion can’t cure everything. Sometimes, bad things just happen.

Questions for 3/9

1. Do you think that the Halls are wrong for wanting to take Katy and Nettie in given Ruth's circumstances or do you think they are justified in their actions? What would you do if you were in their situation?
2. Why do you think Fanny Fern spends so much time talking about the struggle of getting a job but provides little detail about how she actually finds employment? What does this say about the message Fern is trying to convey throughout the novel?

The Power of Strength!

Ruth is a remarkable character and I find myself more like her everyday because of the amount of strength she carries and her dignity...or maybe it's because I see her as some what like my mother and the woman I hope to be.  We all have been through challenges in life and have our own story to tell, and so does Ruth. She has been through so much, if it's the death of her husband, being a "supermom" or to working such crappy hours, and also receiving a "shitty" pay just to provide food for her family. I admire her because she not only looks out for herself but for her children. It's cleary that she wants to provide a hopefuly future for her children and she will go at any cost to achieve that goal. I come from a divorced family, my mom raised me and my siblings on her own and has certainly come along way. My mom has been a fighter for a very long time, and when my dad left we had to start at the very bottom, As I was reading, I came across page 155, first paragraph that says "But she knew to climb, she must begin at the lowest round of the ladder." As I sat back, and started to tear up (of course!) it made me think of the struggle, and the hardships my mom and my family had endured. My dad made a decision that changed his childrens lives more than his own, and I feel that it shows more so today than it did growing up. He was selfish and only cares about himself. It didn't come to a surprise that I turned to my mom. I would consider her to be the definitation of a "supermom", she has been to every soccer, basketball, and volleyball game and practice, every music concert, and encouraged me to do my best in everything.  My mom had to break down barriers to get where she is today, every day was a challenge because she had three little children who were dependent on her. I feel that in some way, I'm scared of having to deal with what she went through which makes me not want to get married and raise my children on my own. Though if it came to that I would be capable of doing so because I'm reminded of the strength she has built for herself, and that with how strong she is she can truly conquer anything. I also hope that now that my siblings and I are older my mom finds peace when she sleeps and in her daily life. "A sweet peace steals into her troubled heart, and the overtasked lids droop heavily over ther weary eyes."-page 161. I'm constantly amazed by how similar Ruth and my mom are and I know they both will continue to surprise me.

The picture in my post is something I designed for a tattoo, I know it will be touched up and everything but just looking at the picture can put me at ease. It represents certain aspects of my life, and it also helps me with being proud of where I come from and the woman I am today.