Estimated read time: 12 min read
Table of Contents
List of Characters
| Character Name | Role | Relation to Protagonist |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth Irene Garrett | Protagonist, Author | Self |
| Yost Garrett | Husband | Spouse |
| Ruth's Parents | Supporting Characters | Parents |
| Ruth's Siblings | Supporting Characters | Siblings |
| Amish Community | Collective Character | Former Community |
| English Community | Collective Character | New Community |
Role Identification
Protagonist
- Ruth Irene Garrett serves as the central figure, narrator, and voice of personal experience. Her journey drives the book’s plot and themes.
Supporting Characters
- Yost Garrett, Ruth’s husband, is both her partner and her co-traveler in the transition from Amish to English life.
- Ruth’s Parents and Siblings represent the emotional and cultural ties to her Amish heritage.
- The Amish Community provides the backdrop, customs, and source of internal conflict for Ruth’s identity.
- The English Community represents the world Ruth enters, full of new opportunities and challenges.
Character Descriptions
| Character Name | Physical Description | Personality Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth Irene Garrett | Modest, traditional Amish | Curious, introspective, courageous |
| Yost Garrett | Amish man, practical attire | Loyal, pragmatic, supportive |
| Ruth's Parents | Traditional Amish appearance | Strict, loving, concerned |
| Ruth's Siblings | Youthful, reserved | Curious, obedient, conflicted |
| Amish Community | Collective, plain dress | Insular, devout, conservative |
| English Community | Diverse, modern clothing | Welcoming, sometimes skeptical |
Character Traits
Ruth Irene Garrett
| Trait | Evidence in Text | Impact on Story |
|---|---|---|
| Curious | Questions Amish rules, seeks knowledge | Drives her to explore life beyond the Amish |
| Courageous | Leaves her community, faces the unknown | Enables her transition to the English world |
| Introspective | Reflects on choices and consequences | Deepens narrative perspective |
| Compassionate | Maintains concern for family and community | Creates emotional tension |
| Adaptable | Learns new customs and lifestyles | Ensures survival in new environment |
Yost Garrett
| Trait | Evidence in Text | Impact on Story |
|---|---|---|
| Loyal | Stands by Ruth during struggles | Strengthens their partnership |
| Pragmatic | Finds work, supports transition | Provides stability in new life |
| Supportive | Encourages Ruth’s choices | Enables Ruth’s personal growth |
Ruth’s Parents
| Trait | Evidence in Text | Impact on Story |
|---|---|---|
| Strict | Enforces Amish discipline | Source of conflict for Ruth |
| Loving | Expresses concern for Ruth’s well-being | Emotional anchor in Ruth’s journey |
| Concerned | Worries over Ruth’s future outside the Amish | Highlights the cost of Ruth’s decision |
Amish Community
| Trait | Evidence in Text | Impact on Story |
|---|---|---|
| Insular | Resistant to outside influence | Main obstacle to Ruth’s independence |
| Devout | Adherence to religious beliefs | Sets the rules Ruth challenges |
| Conservative | Preserves traditions strictly | Defines the environment Ruth leaves |
Character Background
Ruth Irene Garrett
Ruth grows up in a traditional Amish family in Iowa. She is taught to value humility, faith, and community. Ruth’s early years are deeply influenced by strict religious teachings and expectations of obedience. Her curiosity and questioning nature set her apart, even as a child. Ruth’s journey begins as she finds herself longing for knowledge and experiences outside her community’s walls.
Yost Garrett
Yost, also from the Amish community, shares Ruth’s doubts about the strictures of their upbringing. He is depicted as someone capable of balancing tradition with the need for change. His relationship with Ruth provides both of them with the strength to face the challenges of leaving their old life behind.
Ruth’s Parents and Siblings
Ruth’s parents are steadfast in their faith and commitment to Amish ways. They hope Ruth will remain within the fold and are deeply affected by her departure. Her siblings, though younger and less central to the narrative, echo the tension between familial love and communal expectations.
Amish Community
The community is depicted as tightly knit, with clearly defined roles and a resistance to change. The elders enforce Ordnung (the set of rules) and expect conformity from all members. The threat of shunning looms over anyone who challenges the established way of life.
English Community
The outside world, or “English” community, is foreign and often intimidating for Ruth. It offers freedoms and choices previously denied to her, but also presents cultural and practical challenges. Ruth must learn to navigate unfamiliar social norms, technologies, and expectations.
Character Arcs
Ruth Irene Garrett’s Arc
| Stage | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Innocence | Follows Amish customs unquestioningly | Establishes baseline for transformation |
| Doubt | Begins questioning rules and restrictions | Seeds of change |
| Decision | Chooses to leave the Amish community | Turning point |
| Struggle | Faces isolation, adaptation, and guilt | Humanizes her journey |
| Acceptance | Finds new identity and community in the English world | Resolution and growth |
Ruth’s arc is defined by her movement from compliance to independence. Her story is not just about leaving a community, but about self-discovery and reconciliation with her roots.
Yost Garrett’s Arc
| Stage | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Doubt | Shares Ruth’s doubts about Amish life | Motivates partnership |
| Support | Supports Ruth’s decision to leave | Strengthens bond |
| Adaptation | Learns to survive in the English world | Demonstrates resilience |
| Stability | Finds work and purpose outside the Amish | Provides security |
Yost’s arc aligns with Ruth’s, though he is less introspective. His role is essential in stabilizing their new life.
Ruth’s Parents’ Arc
| Stage | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Enforce rules and traditions | Represents Amish values |
| Loss | Experience pain upon Ruth’s departure | Emotional cost of cultural rigidity |
| Acceptance | Gradual (if partial) reconciliation | Nuanced depiction of parental love |
They embody the tension between tradition and familial love.
Relationships
Ruth and Yost Garrett
| Dynamic | Evidence in Text | Importance to Story |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership | Make joint decisions | Present a united front |
| Mutual Support | Help each other adapt | Mitigates loneliness and culture shock |
| Shared Struggles | Face rejection and hardship together | Deepens bond and resilience |
The relationship is a cornerstone of Ruth’s stability and success after leaving the Amish.
Ruth and Her Parents
| Dynamic | Evidence in Text | Importance to Story |
|---|---|---|
| Parent-Child | Parents guide and discipline Ruth | Sets up initial conflict |
| Emotional Strain | Distance after Ruth’s departure | Illustrates cost of independence |
| Lingering Love | Continued concern for Ruth | Humanizes both sides of the divide |
This relationship is marked by both love and sorrow, highlighting the cost of cultural and generational divides.
Ruth and Amish Community
| Dynamic | Evidence in Text | Importance to Story |
|---|---|---|
| Belonging | Ruth’s initial integration | Explains her internal conflict |
| Alienation | Shunning after departure | Shows communal impact of individual choice |
| Reflection | Ongoing memories and comparisons | Provides context and depth |
The community’s response to Ruth’s decision is central to the emotional stakes of the memoir.
In-Depth Character Analysis
Ruth Irene Garrett
Inner Conflict and Growth
Ruth’s journey is marked by profound inner conflict. She is torn between the comfort of her upbringing and her desire for personal freedom. Her introspection is a recurring theme; she constantly evaluates her decisions and their impact on herself and those she loves. Ruth’s courage is not only in leaving but also in confronting the loneliness and guilt that follow.
Adaptation and Resilience
Ruth’s adaptability becomes her greatest asset. She learns new skills, customs, and ways of thinking. The text reveals her struggles with modern conveniences and social norms, but also her willingness to persevere. Her resilience is evident in her ability to build a new life while maintaining empathy for her past.
Relationship with Faith
Ruth does not abandon faith altogether. Instead, she redefines her relationship with spirituality. She questions legalism but seeks a more personal connection to faith. This evolution is central to her character arc, as it illustrates the possibility of retaining values while challenging dogma.
Yost Garrett
Steadfastness and Support
Yost’s character is less conflicted but equally complex. He is a steady presence, providing Ruth with emotional and practical support. His ability to adapt to the English world, find work, and remain optimistic anchors Ruth during moments of doubt. Yost’s loyalty and pragmatism are highlighted in his willingness to leave behind all he has known for a new life.
Identity and Masculinity
Yost’s arc also explores the challenges of masculinity outside the Amish context. He must redefine his role as a provider and partner in a world with different expectations. His success in doing so demonstrates his flexibility and deep commitment to Ruth.
Ruth’s Parents and Siblings
Tradition vs. Change
Ruth’s parents represent the voice of tradition. Their approach to Ruth’s questioning is firm yet loving. The pain of separation is palpable, and the reader senses their internal struggle. They are not mere antagonists; their actions are rooted in love and concern, even as they enforce strict boundaries.
Emotional Complexity
Ruth’s siblings are less central but serve to reflect the range of possible responses to change. Some are curious, others more obedient. Their interactions with Ruth before and after her departure add layers to the family dynamic.
Amish Community
Collective Character
The community functions almost as a single character, enforcing norms and punishing deviation. Its insularity is both protective and suffocating. The practice of shunning is depicted not as cruelty, but as a deeply ingrained means of preserving identity.
Change and Resistance
The community’s resistance to change highlights the tension at the heart of the memoir. Ruth’s story is one of many in a culture grappling with modernity. The text invites empathy for a way of life under threat, even as it critiques its limitations.
English Community
Freedom and Alienation
The English world offers Ruth freedom, but also alienation. She must learn to belong in a society that is both welcoming and indifferent. The contrast with the Amish world is stark, underscoring the costs and benefits of individual freedom.
Opportunity and Challenge
The English community provides Ruth and Yost with opportunities for growth. However, it also presents challenges, such as prejudice, misunderstanding, and the loss of a clear identity. Ruth’s ability to forge connections in this new world is central to her success.
Comparative Character Table
| Character | Motivation | Conflict | Resolution/Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth Irene Garrett | Freedom, self-knowledge | Guilt, loneliness | New identity, reconciliation |
| Yost Garrett | Loyalty, stability | Adaptation, job security | Steady life, supportive partnership |
| Ruth’s Parents | Tradition, family | Loss of daughter, heartbreak | Partial acceptance, lingering pain |
| Amish Community | Preservation of values | Modernity, loss of members | Defensive, sometimes rigid response |
| English Community | Inclusion, diversity | Suspicion, cultural gap | Gradual acceptance of Ruth and Yost |
Themes in Character Development
Identity and Belonging
Ruth’s journey is a search for personal identity. Her movement from the Amish to the English world is both physical and symbolic. All characters, in some way, grapple with questions of belonging—whether to family, community, or self.
Tradition and Change
The tension between preserving tradition and embracing change drives the story. Ruth’s parents and the Amish community embody the former; Ruth and Yost the latter. The narrative explores the costs and rewards of both positions.
Family and Community
Family ties are a source of both comfort and pain. Ruth’s separation from her parents highlights the difficulty of balancing individual needs with communal expectations. The story does not demonize the Amish but presents them as a loving, if sometimes rigid, community.
Courage and Adaptation
Leaving a familiar life takes courage. Ruth and Yost’s ability to adapt is a testament to human resilience. Their story is one of transformation, marked by hardship but also by hope.
Character Relationships Table
| Pair | Nature of Relationship | Conflict/Resolution | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth & Yost | Spouses, partners | Face adaptation struggles together | Strengthens mutual bond |
| Ruth & Parents | Daughter-parents | Strain, partial reconciliation | Emotional anchor, source of guilt |
| Ruth & Amish Community | Former member-community | Shunning, alienation | Highlights cost of independence |
| Ruth & English Community | Outsider-new society | Gradual acceptance, challenges | Illustrates adaptation and growth |
Character Evolution Table
| Character | Starting Point | Key Challenge | Growth/Change | Final State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth | Compliant Amish girl | Leaving, alienation | Independence, adaptation | New identity, self-acceptance |
| Yost | Amish man, tradition-bound | Supporting Ruth, new world | Flexibility, strength | Steadiness, partnership |
| Parents | Tradition enforcers | Loss of Ruth | Emotional struggle | Partial acceptance |
| Amish Community | Insular, devout | Losing members | Defensive, rigid | Preserves tradition |
| English Community | Welcoming outsiders | Cultural differences | Inclusion, diversity | Integrated Ruth and Yost |
Conclusion
Ruth Irene Garrett’s Crossing Over provides a nuanced exploration of identity, tradition, and transformation. Through detailed character portrayals, the memoir illuminates the emotional and cultural costs of leaving a tightly knit community. Ruth’s courage and adaptability are central to her growth, while her relationships with family and community add depth to the narrative. The supporting characters, from Yost to Ruth’s parents, enrich the story by embodying the struggles and hopes of those caught between worlds. The book ultimately affirms the possibility of reconciliation—between past and present, tradition and change, self and community.