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English 1123 - Eng. Comp. II

30 March 2007

"Revelation"

There are three distinctive characteristics that Ruby Turpin showed in the essay "Revelation." Ruby was an extremely dominant woman who was judgmental, controlling, and blind to the true reality of life. She was definitely in need of a revelation in order to help her with a change in attitude. I suppose she was never introduced to the saying "the first shall be last and the last shall be first."

Claud and Ruby Turpin were a couple that had a little of everything. They didn't want for much and didn't mind giving to the needy. They didn't have any children, just a yard full of chickens, cows, and hogs, and a house of their own. So Ruby considered herself to be at the top of the poll when it came to economic standing. Her thinking was what drove her to believe that she could be so judgmental of others. This was clearly seen as they entered the doctor's office. She boldly sized everyone up upon entering the office, and this was done by first taking a look at his or her outer appearance. It mattered to Ruby what kind of clothes and shoes they had on, how their hair was combed, and the words they spoke. She believed in her mind that she could figure out what kind of person they were by judging their outer appearance. To Ruby she believed that her life (even though she was 180lbs.) was better than any "nigger" or "white trashy person." So in other words her life was by far better than these classes of people. At least that's what she thought.

"Mrs. Turpin put a firm hand on Claud's shoulder and said in a voice that included anyone who wanted to listen, "Claud you sit in that chair there," and gave him a push down in the vacant one. Claud was florid and bald and sturdy, somewhat shorter than Mrs. Turpin, but he sat down as if he were accustomed to doing what she told him to do" (266). As you see Ruby was very controlling. She was a woman who was pretty big in size, a bit taller than Claud, and she had a stern voice. She felt like what she viewed and said goes and that everyone should think and move to her command. Ruby also showed this controlling attitude towards those in the doctor's office also. Which is why the young college girl, Mary Grace, called her "a wart hog from hell." Mary Grace referenced her to the big husky, mean, and stern wart hog. Mary Grace could see right through her, which is probably why she felt the need to throw the book at her and proceed to choke her. Ruby couldn't figure out why this happened then, but she would soon find out why.

Ruby believed that doing good deeds made her the better person and would surely get her a first class seat into heaven, when in fact it doesn't. She felt like these things made her also a better Christian: "To help anybody out that needed it was her philosophy of life. She