ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several portraits of Fern's famous women authors and then consideration of her author-character Ruth Hall. It concerns a helpful case in point of Fern's regard toward fame. A crucial aspect of Fern's Coming Woman is that she be robust in mind as well as body. This differs markedly from Gaskells Bront, who is made perfect by suffering. A closer look at Fern's representations shows that while she criticizes the ramifications of fame, she does not critique its terms. Ruth is a character cut from the cloth of the best of all sentimental heroines. She is lovely, lithe, and good-hearted, easily wounded, humble, and pious. These representations covered a broad range the misunderstood genius of Charlotte Bront, the delicate and naive Ruth Hall, the monstrous and phallic Gail Hamilton, the old and Irish Mrs. Toms Cabin, and, above all, the irascible independence of her own persona, Fanny Fern.
