Characterisation of Ruby

The main character in the short story “Her Share of Sorrow” by Tessa Hadley is Ruby. Ruby is the protagonist of the short story and a developing character; throughout the story, she changes her personality and shifts from being an apathetic young girl to someone interested in literature and writing.

Outer characterisation

Her outer characterisation indicates that she is ten-years-old (l. 25) and does not look like her family in any way. While her parents and sibling are tall and thin, Ruby is fat and pale:

...

Inner characterisation

Ruby’s inner characterisation indicates that she is a very uncurious girl who is not interested in any activity suitable for children. She cannot find a hobby and the only thing she enjoys is spending time in front of the computer: “…she’s just looking at pictures of kittens in wellington boots or playing Crossy-Road or messaging her friends.” (ll. 21-22)

Her lack of interest in such activities makes her permanently enter a conflict with her mother:

Each evening, Dalia arrived in her daughter’s bedroom, strained and full of reasoned explanation, to enforce their rule that Ruby was only supposed to have computer-time for an hour; this resulted in stormy sessions of weeping, on both their parts. (ll. 13-15)

During the family’s holiday in France, Ruby is initially hesitant to go outside and do anything fun:

Dalia needed desperately to unwind and leave her clients behind; she took her book out into the garden (…) – bracing herself for conflict with Ruby, who couldn’t live without Wi-Fi and hated the sun. She came out scowling into the brightness, stomping her feet in her jelly shoes. Hopefully, Dalia suggested she should go exploring. (ll. 26-30)

However, as she explores the house, she comes across a pile of Victorian novels which she enjoys greatly. This is when we find out that Ruby despises the books she is forced to read at school, as they do not stir her imagination or interest:

The ones she’d been given as presents, or been forced to read in class, had seemed too drearily like her own real-life childish routines of home and school and family. She hadn’t had any idea that books could transport you like this – into something better. (ll. 57-59)

...