The Color of Water, a novel by James McBride, deals with a lot of conflict involving racism. At one part in the novel the author states that race is “ignorable”. The author is portraying the fact that the race of a person should not matter. There are many examples from the text where the main characters experience racism and push through the struggle. Ruth McBride-Jordan is one of the main characters throughout the novel and is also the mother of James McBride.
She grows old with the self-condemnation of staying with Nathan for as long as she did, for if she mustered up the courage to leave the Congo earlier, Ruth May would not have died. Ruth May’s plea for Orleanna to forgive herself, just as Ruth May has forgiven her, presents the possibility of repentance for anyone, no matter how great of consequence their mistakes are. Though she never passed the age of 6, Ruth May seems to have learned better than most the importance of finding strength from and learning from wrong-doings. Urging her mother to “Move on. Walk forward into the light”, Ruth may passes along her own moral reassessment to anyone whom will listen, telling the error in letting so-called sins weigh down ones self forever
You’re goin to lose you job…with you mother working like a dog every day –’” (Hansberry 1072). When she confronts Walter about him missing work this is her attempt to keep her husband from falling off the wagon. Ruth is continually fighting to keep her family together and everyone seems to be fighting against
For example, Ruth was in constant pressure from the fear of racial clans around her town (McBride 51). This contribute to Ruth’s agonizing childhood while James did not suffer from this as much. James coping mechanics were also different than that of Ruth’s. For instance, James picked up Jazz as a way to escape his painful reality (McBride 55). Even though both lived in constant pressure of their perspective society, they had different experiences from school and different ways as to how they coped with these fear.
In the narrative, Oates recalls her high school years in which she reconnects with Ruth Weidel, who gave teachers the implication that “something had happened” and how they “treated her guardedly” (Oates 561). This ties into the theme of the individual versus society. When she lived with her family, Ruth and the rest of her family were treated as outcasts and were talked about behind their backs. Now in high school, she remained alone until Oates worked up the nerve to befriend. Something had caused her to mature quickly and in the midst of that growth, Ruth created a barrier to protect herself from anymore pain.
The latter is described as being pretty and lively whereas Mrs. Wright lives the life of an outcast, keeping to herself. The loneliness in the two women’s lives adds a dark atmosphere to the respective stories as well as an undeniable gloom. In conclusion, Ruth Warren and Mrs. Wright share many life experiences and struggles, but what makes them different is the way in which those struggles shape them. While Ruth Warren retains her cheerful attitude despite her gloomy situation, Mrs. Wright becomes a shell of her former self, yielding her happiness completely to her
The usage of both literal and indirect ways allowed the reader to dive into Ruth’s thoughts, actions and attitude. By showing her as a troubled girl who had insecurities and self-doubts about bullies such as Macca, the human readers may empathise with her. Later, Ruth becomes a quiet hero despite the consequences; this inspires the audience. The author allows her audience to see her thoughts and
Ruth is willing to work harder and harder if it means she works for what her family wants and needs. Ruth Younger is motivated by working for her family’s and her goals to get what they dream
Ruth May gives the closure that a novel needs by telling Orleanna to forgive and move on and by letting the reader know that she is at peace. The significance of the quote is to show that Ruth May is the congo now. She is apart of the congo and shares the same spirit that the congo has. Ruth May calls herelf muntu, “I am muntu Africa, muntu one child and a million all lost the ame day” (Kingsolver 537). She is saying that she is a person and that she has become one with the spirits of all those other children who have lost their lives in the congo and become a part of the congo’s
“The Color of Water” by James McBride, elucidates his pursuit for his identity and self-questioning that derives from his biracial family. McBride’s white mother Ruth as a Jewish seek to find love outside of her house because of her disparaging childhood. The love and warmth that she always longed from her family, was finally founded in the African American community, where she made her large family of twelve kids with the two men who she married. James was able to define his identity through the truth of his mother’s suffer and sacrifices that she left behind in order to create a better life for her children and herself. As a boy, James was always in a dubiety of his unique family and the confusion of his color which was differ than
Ruth lived a very sad life with her father, she admire the Black folks they were poor but they appeared happy. Ruth states, “If there was one thing Tateh didn’t like more than gentiles, it was black folks”(McBride 107). Tateh hated black folks so much that after Ruth married Dennis James’ father a black man, he disowned her. Keeping that a secret was better off for her kids but James wanted to know where was his mother from, who was her family, so James went to Suffolk, Virginia where his mother was raised. To find out that his grandfather was a racist, horrible person.
Instead of giving in to the man’s racist ways, Ruth holds her ground and honors her husband by displaying her pride for him and their relationship publicly. She was undeterred by the possible negative outcome of her bold actions, which is key in an effective leader. Her courage and confidence lead her to making daring decisions, like marrying a black man, moving away from home, and helping her husband create a church from scratch. “‘What color is God’s spirit?’ ‘It doesn’t have a color,’ she said.
In life we must understand that by breaking someone else, we won't fix ourselves. Her obstacles allowed her to learn that love can vanquish evil. Difficult situations are necessary in life and everyone goes through
When Ruth lets Walter win the arguments, he thinks he is right, even though most of the time he isn’t so than with him thinking he is always right, they argue more because Ruth knows he isn’t. In conclusion, Ruth and Walter are the characters who influence the plot the most because they are always arguing and complaining to each other. Ruth and Walter are a married couple and disagree about things which causes conflict between the
Her faith in God also advanced since it is evident in the novel that she has total dependence and faith in God despite all the hardship that she