Ruth

Character Analysis

     In Train, Danny Cohen examines a young girl Ruth with an intermixed family who had to struggle with her Jewish side when the Nazi were invading. She is a very bright kid who loves her family even though half is not biologically related to her. Whenever any of them are in danger, she always steps in to help.

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     One way to describe Ruth in the beginning of the book is how hopeful and innocent she is. Danny Cohen says when Elise and Ruth are having a sleepover, “After a special dinner, the girls would whisper in Ruth's room for hours, gossiping about boys and shrieking at nighttime sounds of scurrying mice beneath the floorboards. And then they’d wake up-on Ruth's birthday-for breakfast, gifts, and Alexander’s annual treasure hunt. And delicious cake, of course,”(8). This quote highlights how simple and carefree Ruth's life was before everything got turned around by the war. She was celebrating her birthday like any kid not knowing what was to come ahead. This point in her life is foreshadowing how Ruth will ultimately lose her innocence and her life won't be like this for long.

     Another trait of Ruth is being very loyal. She is always looking out for her family and friends. This following quote happens when the Nazi officers walk into their house and try to take Alex away from them,“The Nazi pig stepped towards Mama. He raised his arm towards Ruth. His hand missed her face and his palm landed hard on Mama’s head. He pulled hard at her hair. “Liars are worse than whores,” he said. “Don't touch her!” Ruth screamed, throwing her arm around Mama’s neck and pushing the  Nazi away,”(118-119). This quote is an example of when Ruth sees a loved one in danger she stepped forward to help to keep them safe.  Ruth tends to help her mom a lot. One example is when she and her mom were at their neighbor's house during the bombing. The neighbor was yelling at her mom and Ruth stood up and defended her. It is evident that Ruth sticks up for her mom a lot because it is the only family member that is blood-related who is close, so she wants to keep her safe.

     The third trait that represents Ruth is bravery. Her loyalty formed her into a brave person. She never stopped trying to help people even when she had to go against the Nazis. When Ruth's dad and brother were in Rosenstrasse, she decided to sneak in past guards just to see them.“When Ruth had approached the guards outside the building, wearing Elise’s uniform and holding the basket, she didn't have to say a word. One of the guards had smiled  and asked Ruth whom she was there to see...she was proud of thinking to take Elise’s uniform and proud that she’d fooled the Nazi guards, (288).” This quote reveals that Ruth, a young girl, is brave enough to put on a Nazi girls league uniform to get past Nazis just so she can see her dad. This action shows that a she was not afraid to face a Nazi even though they have taken away many of her family and friends.

Ruth is a key part of the story because she is a Christian who fully supports the Jewish people and tries to save them even though it could put her in serious danger.  The author is trying to show another perspective on the Holocaust.  In the war, there weren't many people who weren't targets in the Holocaust trying to help the Jewish people. One final thought about  Ruth is that she shows that she is a kid who stuck up for what she believed in and never gave up when she was fighting for her family.

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