Little Voices in a Big Narrative

            In a historical era where children could be used as cheap labor, a novel like Fanny Fern’s Ruth Hall illustrates the humanity of the young ones through the expressive emotions of Katy and Nettie.  The lack of concern for the children is evident in the dismissive manner in which, against Ruth’s protestations, her father wants to send the two girls to the Halls.  Mr. Ellet sees Ruth’s daughters as “a great burden…[on her] hands”, one that he is wont to put on his own (68).  This glib tone is mirrored in the Halls’ opinion of their grandchildren, as the supposed conclusion of Dr. Hall that Katy and Nettie do “not [have] much Hall blood in [them]” is reason enough to deserve compensation for their son’s offspring.  Neither side of the parents is concerned with the useless assets of a misbegotten arrangement. 

Such blithe dismissal is at odds with both Ruth Hall and Ruth Hall.  Both Katy and Nettie are treated with a respect of character in particular scenes highlighting their emotional struggles during the trying times of both poverty and wealth.  Katy’s fear of her grandfather Dr. Hall carries on her face as “a troubled, anxious, care-worn look” in a paragraph cum chapter that deals with the nature of Ruth’s troubles from the perspective of her eldest living daughter (87).  Just as much as Katy’s worth is given a breadth of depth, so too does Nettie’s joy be given a showcase for the peer infatuation of a schoolgirl crush through rapturous proclamation: “I’m in love!” (194).  These incidents of childhood life wrought better or worse by circumstances are still more supported by Ruth’s care for her children, be it for the love Ruth displays in seeing Katy’s safe return or the advice to her young Nettie that “she was glad little Neddy loved [Nettie], and [Nettie] might love him just as much as ever [Nettie] liked” (195).  Such care to be given in respecting a child’s love or safety is a task too daunting for the father and the in-laws but quite probable for Ruth Hall.