The Character of Ruth Younger by Sarahy Guadalupe Gonzalez https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc A hopeful strong wife that is in need of a new change, but is held back by the love she cherishes. en-us 2018-03-20 14:54:12 UTC 2023-06-22 23:48:47 UTC hello@padlet.com In search of new beginnings, Ruth has been living with the Younger's family for quite a while now. Throughout these years, she has grown independent, and has been helping the family by working in the white rich neighborhoods cleaning. Although Ruth has been happy with the family, she is tired of being isolated from her true dreams. Like a sun, it is the main source earth depends on. Ruth is depended on as a wife and a mother. As the play continues she is the source of the light that had came into this family. She is the one in hopes of a better life, and even though she is far from being recognized in this family, she will shine when darkness comes. “Is there —is there a whole lot of sunlight?”(52) “HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY.. . I DON'T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN!”(51-52) gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244077942 2018-03-20 15:19:21 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244077942 Ruth Younger is like a clock. She has been ticking through the same problems over and over again in need of money and love. Ruth began her life being controlled on what her husband, Walter, wants her to do. She has to make up time for the happiness of the family. “Lena-I’ll work . . . I’ll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago . . . I’ll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors in America and wash all the sheets in America if I have to - but we got to MOVE! We got to get OUT OF HERE!!”(84) Therefore Ruth is willing to spend as much time as possible for the family. gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244080337 2018-03-20 15:22:46 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244080337 A raisin is a partially dried grape. Once the sun has shined it's light on the grape it starts to lose it's juiciness. Ruth has a limitation of Walter's love that holds her back. With his mistakes, Ruth is set towards a certain standard. She wants his love, but he was too reckless. “What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for?”(52) Independently, Ruth can make her own living with her son, but all she want's is to be a family again, not partially of one. gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244562335 2018-03-21 14:55:25 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244562335 A kangaroo carries her child until born and fully grown. She will spend most of her baby's life carrying him/her. While the baby is developing inside the pouch, another baby is held in reserve in a uterus, waiting for its sibling to grow up and leave. Like Ruth, she has a baby on the hold because the family is still growing and learning to accept dreams. She is willing to sacrifice both her baby and time for the Younger family. “Your wife say she going to destroy your child. And I'm waiting to hear you talk like him and say we a people who give children life, not who destroys them — I'm waiting to see you stand up and look like your daddy and say we done give up one baby to poverty and that we ain't going to give up nary another one . . . I'm waiting."(38) gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244565295 2018-03-21 15:00:24 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244565295 Ruth is like a black canvas. A black canvas cannot be drawn on with many colors in order to be seen. The color white is to appear on this black canvas. The cultural background Ruth Younger has is African American. Throughout the play the Younger family has been wanting a new change or a new opportunity because of a check. Walter Lee was given the responsibility of this money, and he lost it. Before handing the check to Walter, Mama bought a house in a White neighborhood. Shortly they were given an opportunity of money instead of the home. There was many limitations towards if they wanted the money or the home. Ruth wanted the home although it was in a White neighborhood. Setting aside her color and putting forward her personality. The White people would have judged, but she didn't let that define her. “Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain't no colored people living in Clybourne Park.”(51) gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244571985 2018-03-21 15:10:37 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244571985 Money has been all around the world. There's not a specific place that money can be located. It is exchanged by many people around the country. Ruth has the dream of freedom, exploring, and change. Ruth hasn’t been out of Chicago and when George introduces the city of New York, Ruth sounded interested in the subject. “Oh—that's nice. I've never been to New York.”(43) Seeking a break from her old lifestyle, has her wanting to achieve this long lost dream. gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244580688 2018-03-21 15:22:38 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244580688 The iron board and the iron symbolizes Ruth. Ruth is a strong worker, and will do anything for the Younger family. Like this iron, it will it straighten out the creases of shirts, and it will sometimes be used to imprint wordings or pictures. “I got to go in. We need the money.” “Now that's your money. It ain't got nothing to do with me. We all feel like that—Walter and Bennie and me—even Travis.”(16) Although Ruth was offered money by Mama she would not accept it. gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244982034 2018-03-22 13:35:09 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244982034 Ruth is very indecisive of her decision. She will want to do what is best for her family, but not for herself. Ruth is a hard working lady, and has been one of the biggest support on this family. Since Walter has been in control of her relationship, she has been questioning many decisions towards him. She knew that . having a kid will cause the family issues, so she didn't say anything until necessary. "Did you mean to? I mean did you plan it or was it an accident?” “Did you plan it?” “Mind your own business.” (26) Her dreams are want able but not affordable. “Oh, Mama makes me so mad sometimes, I don’t know what to do!” (7) gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244989349 2018-03-22 13:47:49 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/244989349 The burnt matches describe the relationship between Ruth and Walter. Walter has been immature, and has been acting in a selfless matter. Because of his actions, it causes the family to fail as a relationship. The relationship that Ruth and Walter have is running out of time and love. Although Ruth is being patient, she doesn't know how much longer she can handle the flame. "Mama, something is happening between Walter and me. I don’t know what it is – but he needs something – something I can’t give him anymore. He needs this chance, Lena." (16) gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/245037118 2018-03-22 14:57:20 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/245037118 Even through tough situations, Ruth still makes a joke out of anything. This is the only way Ruth has been going along in this family. Her irony and sarcasm will lighten up the mood, but will take it too far. "Shallow – what do you mean he’s shallow? He’s rich!…Well – what other qualities a man got to have to satisfy you, little girl?" (20) Ruth jokes that money is the most important part of being a man, and Beneatha took it offensively. gon5418 https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/245042049 2018-03-22 15:04:59 UTC https://padlet.com/gon5418/e9brg60vqajc/wish/245042049