Ruth is a young orphaned girl who works in a sweatshop. Mrs. Mason Ruths boss runs the sweatshop in a respectable manner earning a sterling reputation among her employees and society. However the comfort and acclaim of Ruths job is threatened when she attends a ball to repair any dresses that get torn during dancing. There she meets an aristocratic man named Henry Bellingham who is infamous for his immoral treatment of women and frivolous spending. Ruth however is blinded by his charm and after they have another chance encounter befriends the man. When they are spotted together Ruths reputation is at stake as rumors start to fly. Worried about the gossip harming her sweatshop Mrs. Mason fires Ruth leaving her with nowhere to go. With no other viable options Ruth accepts Henrys invitation to go to London. Now considered a fallen woman Ruths reputation seems to be in a state beyond repair though while she stays with Henry she is protected by his privilege. Held to lower standards by society Henry is slightly looked down on but his wealth and gender protects him from actual consequence. Perhaps that is why he finds it so easy and acceptable to leave Ruth stranding her in Wales with a small allowance and tarnished reputation. Hopeless and pregnant Ruth slips into a deep despair. It is only at the mercy of a kind local family the Bensons that Ruth is able to continue living. With their help Ruth creates a new alias and backstory to live under and is able to get a job and start to rebuild her social status. However when Henry makes a surprise return and rumors start to grow once again Ruth must overcome illness and social disgrace to provide a better life for her son and for herself. With strong characterization and themes of morality gender and sexuality in Victorian society Ruth by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell provides a compelling glimpse into the hypocrisies of social expectations while depicting a moving narrative that captures both the audiences mind and heart. This