# Ruth Watkins — Oil! character guide > Ruth Watkins in Oil! by Upton Sinclair. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Ruth Watkins, Ruth, the Watkins, Miss Ruth, Dear Ruth, Ruth Watkins **First appearance:** 0001-oil ## Who they are Paul's sister, raised in a household of tent-meeting fervor and hardscrabble poverty, whose quiet dignity and watchful eyes unsettle Bunny more than any sermon. ## In the story ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Paul's 13-year-old sister who shares his doubts about their family's religion and encourages him to leave. ### [IV: The Ranch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv-the-ranch) Bunny meets her while she tends goats; she is gentle and trusting, and reveals Paul's resentment about the ranch sale. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Brings milk and eggs; Bunny notes she is the sister Paul loves and who has 'sense.' ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Tends goats, learns of Paul from Bunny, and discovers Bunny sent the anonymous money. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Ruth is caught between her loyalty to Paul and her gratitude to Bunny, and is distressed by Paul's loss of faith. ### [V: The Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v-the-revelation) Prepares the Rascum ranch bungalow for the Rosses, confides in Bunny about Paul bringing her a forbidden book. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Confides to Bunny that her father whipped her for reading a book given by Paul; is nearly sixteen. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Sits terrified during Eli's outburst, watching the strangers and her brother. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Talks with Bunny about the plan to live on the Rascum ranch, but fears her father's opposition. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Has prepared the bungalow for the Rosses' visit, welcomes her brother Paul, and continues to manage the household. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Opens grape-juice for Dad, runs from her chicken-yard to hear the news, and encourages Dad to drill, recalling her Uncle Eby's belief in oil. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Keeps house for Dad and Bunny, bakes for them, and is happy about Paul's success. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Present with her family at the ceremony. ### [VII: The Strike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii-the-strike) Ruth is the 'Superintendent of Horticultural Operations' at the ranch, managing laborers and the grounds, a minor but present figure in Bunny's domestic life. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Appointed 'Superintendent of Horticultural Operations' at a salary of ten dollars a month, Ruth oversees the care of the trees and roses Bunny planted. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Now a young lady of almost eighteen; bakes food for the strikers and tends the garden; her presence is soothing to Bunny. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as a truehearted girl; Bertie mocks Bunny's admiration for her. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Dedicates her time to baking and supporting the strike, providing Bunny with firsthand accounts of violence and hardship. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Works with Bunny on strike relief; Paul warns Bunny to stay away from her. ### [VIII: The War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii-the-war) Happy that Paul is not going overseas; cooks turkey for Christmas. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Opposes the war, becomes pale and silent after Paul leaves; returns to her father's home. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Happy Paul is not going to be killed. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as Ruth, who cooks the Christmas turkey at Paradise. ### [IX: The Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix-the-victory) Joins the family excursion to visit Paul, smiles at Bunny's joke about the Trans-Siberian Railway. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Part of the family excursion, communicates with Bunny about the trip. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Inconsolable over Paul's departure; weeps, rushes from the room, and faints after his farewell. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Paul's mother, writing agonized letters to Bunny because she has not heard from Paul. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Deeply anxious about Paul's silence, has aged visibly, faints upon hearing Paul is alive, and reveals her extensive self-taught knowledge of Siberia. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Receives Paul's letter and treasures it, reading it repeatedly. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Bunny must face her and justify the Allied presence in Siberia, where her brother Paul is stationed. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Promoted to housekeeper and general boss at Paradise. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Bunny rushes to tell her the news of Paul's return; she nearly faints from the shock. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Horrified by Paul's account, listens with clasped hands and white face, and reaffirms her dislike of war. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Exchanges a smile with Bunny when Paul mentions Vernon Roscoe, showing her awareness of the oil game. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Happy again, courted by oil workers but devoted to her brother Paul. ### [XIV: The Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiv-the-star) Pleads with Bunny to help Ben Riley; shows deep concern for the workers' plight. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Pleads with Bunny to help Ben Riley after he is fired for his Socialist activities. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as a poor country lass Vee thinks is pining for Bunny, though Bunny believes she is wrapped up in Paul. ### [XV: The Vacation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xv-the-vacation) Sends a telegram to Bunny informing him of Paul's arrest and asking for help with bail. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Tells Bunny about the jailed workers and pleads for help; emotionally recounts the horrors of prison conditions. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Sends a telegram to Bunny pleading for help to bail out Paul and the others. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Sends telegrams about Paul's imprisonment; turns Bunny's money to strike relief. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) In Angel City with Paul after his release from jail. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Works in a department store, explains Paul's arrests and the situation. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Vee sees Ruth as a threat, believing she is setting snares for Bunny despite her lack of education. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Watches in anguish as Paul commits to a dangerous path, reminiscent of his departure for war. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Referenced as the sister Eli defended from their father Abel, leading to the creation of the Third Revelation. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Paul's sister, described as deep but colorless by Rachel; Bunny defends her intensity. ### [XIX: The Penalty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xix-the-penalty) Bunny thinks of her fondly and sends her a message upon sailing home. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Bunny asks about her; Paul's sister, mentioned in passing. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Referred to as having learned about Bunny's actress from the papers and having to accept the world as it is. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Remembered by Bunny as gentle and brave, not abandoning her brother Paul despite his Bolshevik turn. ### [XX: The Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xx-the-dedication) Mentioned as sending a cablegram; her class-consciousness and anxiety about Paul's work are noted; she is angry at Rachel's paper for supporting Social-revolutionaries. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Anxious about Paul's safety, reads Communist literature, and is angry at The Young Student for supporting a Social-revolutionary lecturer. ### [XXI: The Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xxi-the-honeymoon) Informs Bunny of Paul's return and the meeting; expresses pleasure at Bunny's marriage. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Receives news of Bunny's marriage with pleasure; is bound to her brother Paul and the Communist movement. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Arrives at the hospital and breaks down in grief upon seeing Paul. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Sits vigil by Paul's bedside, refusing to rest, her eyes fixed on him. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Overcome with grief, unable to eat or speak, eventually forced to rest by the doctor. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Awakens and overhears Eli's broadcast, horrified, whispering 'Oh, what a lie!' ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Anxiously tends to Paul and insists on understanding his delirious words. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiii) Excited by Paul's movements, watching over him. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiv) Clings to Paul's foot, screams in anguish, and attempts suicide after Paul's death. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xv) Grieves at the funeral and later commits suicide by jumping into the discovery well. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/miss_ruth_watkins - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters