Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, University of Potsdam (Anglistik/Amerikanistik), course: Images of Victorian Womanhood in Art and Literature, language: English, abstract: Gaskell's work Ruth deals with the central theme of the fallen woman at Victorian times. Ruth tells the story of a young innocent and orphaned girl that is seduced by a well-off noble man, Mr. Bellingham, who deserts her in the end. Left alone and pregnant she is willing to kill herself, but eventually rescued by the Dissenter minister, Mr....