Ruth is the long suffering husband of Walter and thus the
daughter-in-law of Mama. She is also the caring mother of Travis. She is deeply
committed to her family and to her role as wife and mother, but at the same time is also
clearly overburdened by the stresses of poverty and trying to meet the various needs of
her family and cope with their dreams whilst also holding down a cleaning job herself.
She tries to support her husband by interceding with Mama and asking her to give the
insurance money to Walter so that he can invest it in a liquor store, because she
recognises how important this is to him.
However, sadly,
during the play, Ruth realises that she is pregnant and considers having an abortion,
which was illegal at the time, because of the family's poverty. Her decision to keep
this child can be seen as a symbolic act of hope in a brighter and better future for her
unborn child that is linked to the family's new-found unity and decision to move to
their own house.
Thus when we think of Ruth, we often see
her as a peacemaker, as an intermediary between other characters, and as a character who
is passionately committed to moving and making a better life for her
family.
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