Why do they want Fanny to leave her children and try to get rid of them.

-- Anonymous, February 19, 2000

Answers

I'm guessing it's for two reasons. First, she's a widow with no money and she can't support them properly. And second, maybe she would be more likely to marry again if she didn't have them.

-- Anonymous, February 20, 2000

The Halls want to raise her children themselves. To instill their beliefs and morals upon them. Ruth's father is just trying to do what is best for their welfare as well as hers. She would be better able to get a job without them.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2000

The main reason is that they don't like Fanny because they think that she is useless. Mrs. Hall is afraid that Fanny will teach her kids to be just like her and that to Mrs. Hall would be a shame. To her she has already lost a son because of Ruth and she dosen't want to lose her grandchildren as well. She feels that she is the only one who can teach them to be proper. As far as Mr. Ellet he dosn't care about the kids he just thinks it would be better if Mr. and Mrs. Hall take care of them because that way he will not have to help support them financially. These are the main reasons why they wanted the children to live with Mr. and Mrs. Hall.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2000

To me, it was a little odd why the Hall's would want to get the girls, they didn't seem to have any more use for them than they did for Ruth. I think partially, they wanted to hurt Ruth, and that was the ultimate way to do it. Also, those little girls were part of their son so maybe they thought they could stop them from making any "horrible" mistakes like they thought Harry made by marrying Ruth.

-- Anonymous, February 21, 2000