Ruth is the novel’s protagonist, and the plot follows her life experiences and character development, concluding shortly after her death. Ruth experiences significant change and growth due to her life experiences, namely her illicit relationship with Bellingham, the end of that relationship, and her experience of becoming a mother and raising her son. At the beginning of the novel, Ruth is a lonely, restless, dissatisfied young girl who dreams of something grander than a life of poverty and hard work, lamenting, “how shall I get through five years of these terrible nights!” (9). Ruth is also very sheltered and naïve, which leaves her vulnerable to being seduced by Bellingham; she almost leaves the inn where she is waiting for him (thus saving herself from being ruined). Still, she hesitates because she doesn’t have money to pay for a cup of tea, and “(like a child) all dilemmas appeared of equal magnitude to her” (46).

Ruth is initially so trusting and innocent that she doesn’t realize her fate until she finds herself abandoned and pregnant in Wales. As a highly emotional and reactive young girl, she does not initially try to problem-solve or look for help but very nearly kills herself.