The Stepford Wives

by

Ira Levin

Ruthanne Henry Character Analysis

Ruthanne Henry is the author of a well-known children’s book that Joanna likes to read to Kim. Joanna meets Ruthanne in the library shortly after Ruthanne moves to Stepford with her husband and children. Ruthanne—who is Black—tells Joanna that she suspects the women in Stepford are racist, since they’ve been so flat and unwelcoming. Joanna, however, suggests that this isn’t necessarily because the women are racist but because they oddly don’t care about anything other than housework. She explains her and Bobbie’s theories about what turns the women in Stepford into such passive, subservient people, but Ruthanne insists that nothing could possibly force such a transformation on her. Later, at the very end of the novel, Ruthanne sees Joanna in the supermarket and is stunned to discover that she has become just like all of the other lifeless, passive women in town. Still, she doesn’t think much of it, though the novel makes it clear that Ruthanne will be the next woman to be turned into a Stepford robot.

Ruthanne Henry Quotes in The Stepford Wives

The The Stepford Wives quotes below are all either spoken by Ruthanne Henry or refer to Ruthanne Henry . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Sexism and Power Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“Oh no,” Joanna said. “I don’t do much photography any more.”

“You don’t?” Ruthanne said.

“No, Joanna said. “I wasn’t especially talented, and I was wasting a lot of time I really have better uses for.”

Related Characters: Joanna Eberhart (speaker), Ruthanne Henry (speaker), Charmaine
Related Symbols: Joanna’s Photography
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:

“I want to get it done with,” she said. “Otherwise I won’t enjoy next weekend.”

Related Characters: Ruthanne Henry (speaker), Joanna Eberhart, Bobbie Markowe
Page Number: 123
Explanation and Analysis:
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Ruthanne Henry Quotes in The Stepford Wives

The The Stepford Wives quotes below are all either spoken by Ruthanne Henry or refer to Ruthanne Henry . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Sexism and Power Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“Oh no,” Joanna said. “I don’t do much photography any more.”

“You don’t?” Ruthanne said.

“No, Joanna said. “I wasn’t especially talented, and I was wasting a lot of time I really have better uses for.”

Related Characters: Joanna Eberhart (speaker), Ruthanne Henry (speaker), Charmaine
Related Symbols: Joanna’s Photography
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:

“I want to get it done with,” she said. “Otherwise I won’t enjoy next weekend.”

Related Characters: Ruthanne Henry (speaker), Joanna Eberhart, Bobbie Markowe
Page Number: 123
Explanation and Analysis: