1) Ask (3) questions from the chapter that you'd really like answered.
2) Write a response, choosing a line and explaining it's significance to you. Please remember: no plot re-cap! Share your analysis, make connections to the world, ask questions, and deepen your thinking.
3) Don't forget to respond to someone else's post!
3) Don't forget to respond to someone else's post!
“’No, Uncle Jim. That is my husband there.’ I told that man, ‘That is my husband and I’ve come here to bury him and he is with us.’”
ReplyDeleteThis quote is very significant, because it shows Ruth really standing up to the racism that people are showing her. Before, people would always judge her and Dennis for being married, because they made each other feel strong and encouraged. Now, however, Dennis is dead, and Ruth is at her weakest state, and yet she is standing up to racism. Instead of just ignoring it, she is confronting it, which really shows how strong a person she can be.
I agree, but I feel like she had to be strong, she had to show the world that she was not torn. She had to show that she was able to live without her husband, but it was tearing her inside. She didn't have anyone to hold her and help her, except herself. I feel like alot of single moms face the same thing she did.
DeleteI agree, I to found it interesting. Ruth usually doesn’t care and doesn’t want people to know her business. But this time she is putting all her business out there, which is unusual for her. I like seeing Ruth having a passion for something and being strong.
Delete"You don't need them to help you," he said "Il help you for the rest of my life if you'll marry me" (193)
ReplyDeleteI choose this quote because it shows the difference between Ruth’s first and second husband. This quote is said by Ruth’s new husband in response to how Aunt Betts treated her. When Dennis, Ruth’s first husband, was with Ruth, Ruth sounded so happy and talked about how much she loved him. But after Dennis dies Ruth was saying that she was in dire need for money. I think Ruth is only marrying Boaz, Ruth’s second husband, for the money and to provide safety for her children who are in need. Boaz says “help you for the rest of my life” instead of “love”. This just shows what people would do for their kids and money. I wonder: Does Ruth feel bad for remarrying after Dennis dies, since she loved him so much? Does Ruth still love her old family who is Jewish, or does she just want their money when she is in the most troubling times? Why did Ruth have so many children, why didn’t she think about the future when she had all of them?
I agree with what you're saying, but I don't think Ruth only married Boaz for money. Although, she was in need of support, she found goodness and probably felt love for him. Through his helpful deeds, I think Ruth learned to love him close to her love for Dennis.
Delete"We have to be strong. You know what people say about us, Ruth. They'll try to break up." I said, "I know. I'll be strong," and over the years we were tested, but we never split up or even spent a night apart except when he took the kids to North Carolina to see his parents. (Page 237)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it showed how strong and alive the love is in their relationship. Although it would be hard for them to stay together, they made it through all the criticism and judging. They didn't let anything else get in their way because even if there were a million reasons why they shouldn't be together, one strong bond;love, kept them together. This quote also showed how hard it was for interracial marriages to last and the reasons why. Ruth was hated for marrying a black and the black folks didn't treat her well either. Many people were disgusted because of their marriage. Was there ever times Ruth and Dennis wanted to get divorced? What were factors that pushed them to the edge? What was the worst situation they've experienced and were their children affected by this?
"We have to be strong. You know what people say about us, Ruth. They'll try to break up." I said, "I know. I'll be strong," and over the years we were tested, but we never split up or even spent a night apart except when he took the kids to North Carolina to see his parents."
ReplyDeleteI found this quote so significant and important. It showed the love between Dennis and Ruth and that even though things got hard and one of them wanted to call it quits, the other one made the other stronger. It shows how comitted and interested in their relationship they were. Even though they didn't have much to offer to their children, they were able to provide them love and adventure. Ruth was so happy and when he died her life fell apart. He was her everything and he was the person who gave her strength, but he was gone now. She states how content and happy those years with him were, she was actually in love him, no matter what people said. One question i have is I still don't understand why Ruth hid so much from her children? Why did she never again try to my contact with her family? How were Dennis and Ruth able to live with people that hated them for loving eachother?
Matt Baldwin
DeleteIn response to your questions:
1: I think she hid so much from her kids were to keep that there are really just bad people in the world that hated Ruth and Denis.
2: She never tried to contact their family because they didn't want her, because she left them. But i don't know why she didn't go back for Deedee.
3: They were able to live together because they didn't care what other thought of them.
" I'm a mother of black children, nobody will ever deny me my children"
ReplyDeleteThe whole chapter really stood out to me. Ruth was very outspoken, in the past she hasn't really shown emotion. We always knew that she didn't like racism, and was a silent advocate. I like that Ruth was standing up for her, and her children because she never really done that before. I think as we near the end of the book we will find out even more and we will see different sides of Ruth and James that we have never seen before.
I really like the point you're making. I agree and I hope we see a more emotional side of Ruth nearing the end of the novel. I believe that she is being very confident and in the quote. She is standing up for herself and standing up against racism too. Good job!
Delete"We lived in that one room for nine years, and those nine years were the happiest years of my life."- page 238
ReplyDeleteI personally think that this quote demonstrates the fact that Ruth is not materialistic meaning that she will put up with any given circumstance, whether it be good or bad just to be with the special people in her life such as her late husband. As shown in the book, Ruth was evidently content during those nine years and after her husband had passed away, she suffered greatly both mentally and financially and times were very tough for her. The death of her husband appears to be the main cause of why she is not so open to her children and why she is so strict towards them; realistically, she's only trying to protect her children from the possible pain that this world can provide.
I completely agree. Ruth always says that education and knowledge are more important than money or material things. I thought this was a very sweet quote, even though Ruth and Dennis didn't have space or money they were happy and loved each other. I agree that Ruth hides her past to protect her children, but I think she is also protecting herself from painful memories. She prefers to run away, to just keep moving.
DeleteI also agree a lot, considering I was going to write about this quote as well. She does deal with all the struggles life gives her, because she just knows there's something worth it at the end of the day.
Delete"He came from a home where kindness was a way of life. I wanted to be in this kind of family. I was proud to join it, and they were happy to have me." pg.236
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it shows how different Dennis' family was from Ruth's. His family was full of warmth and kindness while her father was abuse and uncaring. I think Dennis had a big influence on Ruth and the way she raised her children even after his death. Dennis taught her how to be a better parent and person than the people who raised her. While Ruth wasn't a perfect parent and still reflected her father by beating her children, she loved them fiercely and put them all through college. Dennis' influence helped her break the cycle.
Great job with comparing the two families. I haven't even thought of that yet.
Delete3 Questions about chapter:
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Ruth's friend Lily that made her reject Ruth, another white woman who married a black man?
Why didn't the doctors tell Ruth that Dennis had cancer until his death?
What happened to Gladys between her leaving Suffolk and ending up in Queens? Could be an equally interesting story...
"'That white woman don't belong here,' she said." (231)
ReplyDeleteRuth is being abused because she is white. She obviously does not like how poor the made treated her. She now sees that she can't get by living with a black man in a black area without having some incidents. It was the 1940's and in a primarily black neighborhood so most people looked down on them because they were an interracial couple. Later in the chapter Ruth starts to embrace christianity and becomes an active member of the church. I think incidents like these have caused her to rebel even more against her faith.
1. When James finds out that he was actually a mistake and his true dad was sick at the time what will he think about his dad?
2. Does Ruth ever find another woman in her same position that she can relate too?
3. Does Hunter keep the promise to take care of her?
I agree fully with your response. I think that after this was stated, Ruth finally faced reality and saw that she is being judged everyday. In a way, she knew it was occuring, but always tried refraining herself from thinking about it's existence. This moment does have significance in a sense that it really does show she can't get by in such a neighborhood, being who she is, and not get noticed. I think such a thing can STILL be said in several communities across America, and even New York specifically.
Delete"The bathroom was in the hallway and used used by all the tenants and there were roaches everywhere. No matter how many you killed, they kept coming back." (page 238)
ReplyDeleteThis seems to go deeper into her life then cockroaches. It seems to be referring to racism and how she can't get away from it. In Virginia she couldn't be out in public with her black boyfriend, and even in New York, where it's supposed to be way less racist, she was looked down upon when she went to get married to Dennis. Ruth killing the cockroaches signifies that she is strong and will not let them (the racist people) win.
Three questions I have are:
1. Does Ruth only try to be with black men? If so is it because she has had bad experiences with white people in her past?
2. Does Ruth envy her extended family that lives in New York?
3. Why does she insist she marries Dennis?
I don't think Ruth envies her NY family. She seems content on the 'black side'. I think she just might be angry with them for being so cold-hearted, and not helping her and her family out when they were struggling down south.
DeleteKatya
"We have to be strong. You know what people say about us, Ruth. They'll try to break up." I said, "I know. I'll be strong," pg 237
ReplyDeleteThis passage really stood out to me because of how Ruth and Dennis dealt with the times and other people. This was a time where there was segregation and it was a disgrace to have a mixed marriage. This statement that these two made to each other is very significant because it showed their love for each other. And for Ruth it really made her not be part of her Jewish family anymore because she was devoting her life to a black man. This is also significant because they were able to offer so much love to their children because of the love they had together which was something Ruth never had in her family.
Questions:
1.Are Ruth and Lily still friends?(if they are both alive)
2.Why does Ruth try to contact her other aunt in Queens if the other just slammed the door in her face?
3.Why did noone tell RUth that Dennis had cancer?
I think Ruth tries to contact her aunt because she was the one who helped her get the abortion when she was pregnant with Peter. She thinks that since her aunt helped her that time maybe she would help her again but sadly, her aunt is soulless and would just ignore her niece. I fell very sad for Ruth.
Delete"I just break out in tears in the middle of the day sometimes-and your sister Helen, she was about nine years old then, she said,"Don't cry Ma. Daddy's up in heaven," and it just made me cry even more". -page 245
ReplyDeleteThis is the only few times when Ruth would show her real emotion in front of her kids. It seems like all the people that she loves is slowly leaving her forever. First, it was her mom and now her husband. I can't imagine how tough it must be for her not only to be brave in front of her children but also to raise them alone. I wonder if this time her breakdown is about losing her husband or about raising her kids alone under the circumstances she is in or both. In these quotes, I can see how her family is always around each other when they need one another the most. It also shows how innocent Helen is and how much they all try to make things better for their mom even though they are just children.
Questions:
1. Are there other reasons for why Ruth wants to send her kids away other than for education importance?
2. Why does she cry even more when Helen comforts her?
3. Does Ruth think that she deserves the isolation and ignorant that her family returns when she asks for help?
Ruth gets upset when Helen tries to comfort her because she sees that her children are taking the death of Dennis better than she is. This upsets her because she is the adult and she is supposed to comfort her kids not the other way around. She is doubting that she can take care of her kids by herself.
DeleteMatthew Baldwin
ReplyDelete"A marriage needs love. And God. And a little money.That's all. The rest you can deal with,. It's not about black or white." (233)
I think this quote, after thinking about it after reading the chapter, shows how people other than Dennis family and Ruth think totally differently than other people back then. Ruth tell James how people were racist against Ruth and Denis behind her back and to her face. When Ruth say, And God, I think she foreshadows how she converts to Christianity. This chapter tell us a lot about how Ruth got to where she is now and also what James wants to know about his mom. In class we were talking about when do you thinks this interview or talk between Ruth and James happened, well i think it happened after he is done with the book. I think he interviews Ruth, or his mom, after he learns about her him self from people in Suffolk.
3 questions:
When did this talk between James and Ruth actually happen?
Why were people just so mean to interracial marriages?
Why is James so interested in his moms past?
Katya Bakal-Schlomann
ReplyDelete"I'd just break out in tears of the middle of the day sometimes." p.245
My first question is how come Ruth used to cry in front of her children, but later in her life she didn't? After the death of Ruth's first Husband, she completely broke down. I think this was because she hadn't experienced something so awful besides her mothers death. She didn't know how to cope and control herself, so she cried. Later Ruth must've decided that crying was weak and didn't solve her issues. Ruth thought hiding her emotions would keep her strong, but when you keep your feelings bottled up you will eventually burst. Maybe Ruth doesn't like crying in front of her children because she thinks that's embarrassing. Also, she probably doesn't want her kids to cry, and if they see her cry, they will think crying is okay, which Ruth doesn't want. My second question is how often does Ruth cry by herself? She probably cries by herself a lot because she has so much sorrow that she keeps to herself. My third question is when Ruth became older, when her kids were all grown up, what was her relationship with them? Did she show her emotions more?
"She hit me so hard I fell to the floor. Don't disrespect me! she said. She was a raving lunatic." pg 231
ReplyDeleteThis quote really stood out to me, it isn't the best one but it shows how hard being a black-white couple was back then. Ruth even said herself that she thought black people were a lot more trustful and how much she really thought that they were on her side. What it really shows Ruth is that the world is really against them. What I really thought interesting was that right afterwards Dennis went to go calm her down and she never bothered Ruth again. It shows that people are also scared of change. Just because for years whites married whites and blacks married blacks, primarily because of slavery, though if its a black man and a white woman it brakes the normality and it seems almost scary for some people.
I agree with you. People are generally afraid of change, when things are so nice the way they are already. It also interests me how Ruth and Dennis were able to stay in their marriage although the world was against them. Their love must have been strong. It seems that if love is strong enough, two people can stay together, no matter the odds.
Delete"We lived in that one room for nine years, and those nine years were the happiest years of my life." (pg 238)
ReplyDeleteThis quote really shows how Ruth looked past the low amount of money they had and the struggle they were going through because she didn't need money to be happy, here she was in a one room apartment with 4 kids to care for, with barely any money, yet she was happy because she had all that she needed which was family and love. The strength her husband had to get her to look past their situation and how others judge them as a couple really changes Ruth and in one of her lowest states she is the happiest she's ever been because of this.
I agree, Ruth felt complete and she feels like she has finally found what she has been missing. He showed her that in order to be happy they just needed each other and that rest didn't matter and that's why I think it was so hard for her to grasp that Dennis had died.
DeleteHi Jason, I agree with you! she didn't have a lot of money and she could still manage to take care of her kids and be happy. I think that's very interesting the fact that she lived for 9 years and for a women that is very tough.
Delete"We lived int hat one room for nine years, and those nine years were the happiest years of my life." (238)
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me a lot. I saw a side of Ruth that's constantly portrayed, but not as clearly as this. She described all the hardships she had in that little apartment, hygiene, privacy, space, and comfort. I've never heard of such a household, and it's quite sad. But to know that Ruth made it through the hell to get to the heaven makes me as a reader enjoy this book ten times more. Why does Ruth not share this with all her kids? To hide the trauma from them and herself. It must be hard to replay those frightening memories over and over again. Ruth is a very strong woman.
"That's why I never veered from the black side." Pg 247
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because It shows how much appreciation Ruth had for black people. And also because it demonstrates how they were there for her when her family shut her out. Also they were the only ones who showed her the love, affection and support others wouldn't show her. They showed her what family meant and that it was okay if you didn't have money because you have love and they treated each other with kindness. They also took each day as it came they didn't plan ahead they took it minute by minute and believed so much in Christ. They were the unity Ruth needed to go on and leave the past behind.
I completely agree with you. In my opinion it seems like they've brought her out that hole she has been trapped in and gave her hope in love. She has also proven herself right for the most part. Love brought her more happiness than money ever did. It brought joy to see Ruth this way.
Delete1. Why did aunt Betts slam the door?
ReplyDelete2. Why did Ruth even go back to the Jewish side for help?
3. Why wouldn't Ruth let the kids see Dennis in the hospital?
"We lived in that one room for nine years, and those nine years were the happiest years of my life."
ReplyDeletePage 238
I chose this quote from chapter 23 because it really surprised me the fact that Ruth never had any support from her Caucasian Jewish family, and society. With such a small amount of money, she was able to manage her happiness well and not care what people though about her marriage, and as she said that what helped her maintain her marriage was "love" and "God" because she would never keep her marriage going if she didn't love her husband. I think that God was what kept her not feeling that she was alone in that situation, and it have her hope that everything would get better.
My 3 questions are:
With such a low amount of money, how could Ruth manage to have 9 kids?
When did Ruth opened up her past to James?
Did she open up her past to all of her kids before James?
I completely agree. I think that the black family earlier in the book who were poor but happy gave Ruth the idea that she wanted that life. And she got it! However her ideal life was eventually destroyed and it makes the reader wonder whether anyone could actually live the life they want to live without something going wrong.
Delete"A marriage needs love. And God. And a little money. That's all. The rest you can deal with. It's not about black or white." -Page 233
ReplyDeleteWith this quote, I think an abundance of interpretations on who Ruth is can really come through. I think that her childhood and the marriage of her parents, has always had her longing for basically ome thing: love. I think that she believes that she only recieved any of this from God, who she viewed as her savor. He was always there for her, and she believed that he was such a holy figure. I think that because of this, she sees her current situation, and thinks how love, God, and money is all that's needed. Because she herself married another race, I think it's easier for her to understand that color isn't the main thing behind life. It whom you share it with, and how that journey evolves. Three questions I still have however are:
1.) Is the fact Ruth married outside of her race make her more opened to love and not color?
2.) Why did she always have faith in God when technically, he allowed her childhood to occur the way it did?
3.) Is there a possibility Ruth is in love with the idea of finding love where it's considered forbidden for her, or was she actually in love with James' father?
HII!!
DeleteI like this quote as well it shows that she really doesnt want anything else in life but love and God. Yours questions have got me thinking and i have to say that i think Ruth wanted to look some where outside of her religion becuase everyone in her religion thought alike and hse didnt like that. James' dad was different ahd showed affection in a different way which she like. I think she actually feel in love which makes her open to race and love. She was open minded to a lot of things her momm wasnt.
"It was a lovely reception, just the five of us. I didn't need a million roses and a marching band. My husband loved me and I loved him, that's all I needed." page 237.
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because it interested me that Ruth felt this way about her marriage. The only thing she needed was Dennis' love. She didn't want her marriage to be grandiose, the fact that they loved each other was enough. This marriage is so different from the one of her parents', which was set up, and was not based on love. Ruth was so happy when she had Dennis, and was so miserable when she had to live with her parents. Ruth didn't care whether other people did or didn't accept her and Dennis' love for each other, it only mattered that they love each other. This made me think about the way marriage should be. From Ruth's parents' marriage, it is clear that for two spouses to be happy, there needs to be love. There was never any love in Ruth's life when she was a child, but her children and Dennis seemed to be happy. Not a lot of people enjoyed the fact that it was an interracial marriage, but they were happy anyway. All marriages should be like this, and most people should have this attitude that others don't need to accept them for them to be happy.
My three questions:
Why didn't the doctors tell Ruth that Dennis had cancer?
Why was Ruth's Jewish family so mean to her when she needed help?
Why was Dennis' family treating Ruth as family? A lot of other people didn't accept their love, including Ruth's family, so why did Dennis' family accept her?
I agree with you when you say "all marriages should be like this, and most people should have this attitude that others don't need to accept them for them to be happy." Marriage has been made so complex and I think Ruth explains the simplicity of it, love. Marriage is meant for two people that are in love and want to share their lives together. Does it matter who they are? People get married for other reasons too, like money or tradition. Are these reasons valid?
Delete"One day he was walking around, the next he was hoarse and laid up in the hospital"(241).
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out too me for many reasons becuase i have felt like that and becuase of the shooting taht happened in connentaict. Ruth didnt know that would be that last time he would walk around or that he had lung cancer. just like the parents didnt know that would be the last time they would see their kids and that they would die. i ask myself why didnt ruth know about him having lung cancer? why arent we as humans ever perpare for this pain? we see it happening to other in the world and to ourselves. but everytime it occurs we fall and break into tears. ruth was depressed that she lost him and even sfter he died and hunter died she still wasnt ready for it. those parent had have expressed death or atleast know someone who had. they knew the pain and how to deal with it. but at the end of the day when it happened to them the oain was to big to bear. my last question is can we every be mentally and emotionally ready for this pain? i think not becuase either you are in deniall or you face ut and cry and get sad. is quote reminds me of my love ones and i know many can relate to this feeling as well.
"See, a marriage needs love. And God. And a little money. That's all. The rest you can deal with. It's not about black or white. It's about God and don't let anyone tell you different" (pg.233).
ReplyDeleteThis quote showcases Ruth's love of simplicity. She is saying real relationships aren't based on materialistic items or the opinions of others. It's about love. And God. You might need a little money to feed your family but you don't need a heavy abundance of it. You can survive if you have each other.
3 Questions:
Why does Ruth never discus what happened to Frances?
Why were Dennis's parents so supporting of Ruth getting remarried?
Why do you think "DeeDee" (Gladys) never forgave Ruth? Do you think she should let go of her grudge?
"In 1942, a few months after my mother died, I told Dennis, 'I want to accept Jesus Christ into my life and join the church.'" (p. 235)
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it raised the question, why would Ruth decide tho join the church now? I think it is because her mother died. I think she cared about her mother, and her mother was the only thing keeping her from moving completely forward from her past. I think joining the church symbolized letting go of her orthodox, jewish background, and moving forward to a new state of being. For Ruth this is a turning point, she is not only letting go of her past, but questioning everything she is taught to stand for. This is difficult for human beings to do. Your past is a part of who you are as an individual, but Ruth proves that your past, though it plays a role, doesn't completely decide your fate
3 Questions:
Why does Ruth give James permission to go to Africa if he wants to?
Why did Ruth have to stay on the "black side" after her mother dies?
How is Ruth's definition of marriage similar and different to people's definition now? Who would agree and disagree with it?
"We lived in that one room for nine years, and those nine years were the happiest years of my life." (page 238)
ReplyDeleteThis line caught my attention because towards the beginning of the novel Ruth recognizes that black families were always together and seem to have a purpose to come every Sunday to church and although they were poor, they seemed happy. This quote perfectly connects because she has become part of a black family, her own family where I assume she considers herself black. Even though she lives in that one room apartment she's happier than she ever was as a child. She has proven herself right wealth isn't everybody's happiness and that love conquers it all. I honestly don't have any questions except one. Did Ruth honestly think Dennis' family would support her second marriage? and
“The doctor said, ‘He had cancer,’ and hung up. That’s the first time they told me he had cancer” (243).
ReplyDeleteIt surprised me that Ruth only found out Dennis had cancer until after he died. I wondered why Ruth only found out that Dennis had cancer until after he died. I think it was because of the doctors being racist. They saw that Ruth had married a black man and did not tell her what was wrong with Dennis. Also that is why the doctors were so rude to Ruth. Another possibility could be that the technology wasn’t good enough back then and they didn’t know it was cancer until after he died.
Three Questions:
1. Why did Ruth only find out that Dennis had cancer until after he died.
2. Why did Ruth go back to her Jewish family for help when she was struggling?
3. Why did Dee-Dee never get over her sisters broken promise?
I agree with you! I think that these events support the theme of racism in The Color of Water.
Delete"In 1942, a few months after my mother died, I told Dennis, 'I want to accept Jesus Christ into my life and join the church.'"
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it made me wonder why she decided to convert religions after her mother died. I think that this is kind of disrespecting her mother, and it would be even if she was still alive. To wait until her mother died to switch to Christianity kind of puts off the idea that she was hiding something from her mother, which isn't right. Meanwhile, if she were to convert while her mother was still alive, her mom would be disappointed and maybe even hurt that Ruth was going against her own mother's religion. In this situation, she would've disrespected her mother either way, but waiting until her mother died is kind of doing it behind her mom's back which is more disrespectful. I think she did this because she knew that her mother would be hurt by her change of religion.
1. Why did Ruth want to switch religions in the first place?
2. Did Ruth think she would be more accepted if she changed religions?
3. How did this decision of Ruth's affect her kids (in the future)?
"That's why I never veered from the black side."
ReplyDeletePg 247
This quote shows all of ruths respect for the black race, although she was white. She didn't care that both of her husbands were black, or the fact that she is raising 12 black children in a very black neighbrohood. I think that she isn't a racist like her parents, and thats why she didn't want to raise her children to become racist, and that is why she never talked about race with them