Ruth

"Ruth" by Elizabeth Gaskell is a poignant novel exploring morality and societal judgment in 19th-century England. Ruth Hilton, an orphaned seamstress, is seduced and abandoned by wealthy Henry Bellingham. Shunned after giving birth out of wedlock, she finds kindness from Mr. and Mrs. Benson, who offer her refuge. As Ruth strives for redemption through hard work and compassion, her past haunts her, threatening her newfound life. Gaskell challenges Victorian hypocrisy, portraying Ruth as a sympathetic victim of circumstance rather than a sinner, while emphasizing the power of forgiveness and humanity.