Summary: The Early Historical Portrait Of Ruth

The early historical portrait of Ruth in the book reveals that she went through a couple of name changes. It brings out the picture of self-fulfilling inspirations of individuals that influence behavior and shape character. In a sense, self-fulfillment, behavior, and personality go hand in hand. By looking at the series of name changes of Ruth, each name had significance. At birth, she was named by her parents Ruchel Dwajra Zylska. It signified her roots since this name purely depicted her Jews origin and cultural identity. When Ruth’s parents changed their location to America, she was given a different name, Rachel Deborah Shilsky. The second name signified that names determine acceptance. Therefore, her parents gave her the name so as to fit into the American culture and as a symbol of new birth in the American society. However, when she turned nineteen, she got rid of the name and changed it to Ruth after leaving their Virginia home in America. The name change to Ruth signified maturity and her need to embrace a new beginning since she was sick tired of her harsh family environment that even rejected her after realizing she preferred marrying a black man instead of a Jewish.

For instance, Ruth’s parents gave her the second name because they believed it could help her fit best into the American culture and to acquire self-acceptance easily. Names, therefore, define who we are and determine the feeling of what an individual can accomplish. Throughout our lives, names always give the first impression of cultural identity, orientation, and origin. For instance, my name means I am an honest and kind person, and also reveals my cultural disposition as well as religious affiliation. I was named after my father, therefore, granting me self-awareness and a deeper sense of