Introduction
The scene in The United Kingdom when Rosamund Pike’s character, Ruth, gives birth while on strike and drives herself to the hospital powerfully represents women’s determination, strength, and resilience. The film exploits her suffering to illustrate the emotional and physical challenges women face, particularly in a racially charged and politically unstable society.
Ruth’s Birth Scene as a Symbol of Racial and Gender Struggles
Film footage shows Ruth in agonizing agony as she drives herself to the hospital under immense stress and pressure. As she tries to make sense of the pandemonium around her, the audience is reminded of her vulnerable position as a white lady in an unfamiliar African milieu (Bradshaw). After that, we go to the hospital in Ruth’s small African village, where she delivers birth. Anguish, exposure, vulnerability, and ultimate exhilaration are all shown genuinely for the viewer’s benefit.
How Ruth’s Painful Journey Reflects Racial and Political Tensions
The film’s wider message regarding race relations relies heavily on this emotionally intense sequence. In The United Kingdom, viewers discover what happened when a black African prince married a white British lady, defying political and social expectations. Ruth’s painful birth experience highlights the film’s greater topic of racial struggle and injustice. Ruth’s difficulty in getting to the hospital is representative of the everyday struggles she faces as a white lady in a primarily black African community (Birthly TV, 2021, 00:44). Her resilience in choosing to have a child despite the overwhelming obstacles is emblematic of the fortitude of those on the margins who must deal with systemic prejudice and societal resistance daily.
Conclusion
Thus, the character of Ruth in The United Kingdom is an inspiring representation of human resilience, courage, and unity. The work deftly addresses racial tensions by depicting the difficulties she had as a white lady in an African setting during childbirth. This is a pivotal moment in the film, emphasizing the film’s overall theme of promoting kindness, strength, and unity in the face of widespread discrimination and bigotry.
References
Birthly TV. “A United Kingdom (2016): Ruth goes into labor and gives birth in a rural hospital.” YouTube. 2021. Video, 1:34. Web.
Bradshaw, Peter. “A United Kingdom review: Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo in fine romance.” The Guardian, Web.