The most obvious comparisons between the Book of Ruth in the Bible and Jane Hamilton's Book of Ruth are in the characters. In the bible Ruth says "I want to go wherever you go and to live wherever you live." (Ruth 1:16) This sentiment of Ruth toward Naomi is the same sentiment that is held by the fictional Ruth toward Aunt Sid. In the same way that Ruth attaches herself to Naomi, the fictional Ruth seems …showed first 75 words of 244 total…

…showed last 75 words of 244 total…again." (Ruth 4:17) One can see this connection as a way for Hamilton to add some light on the dark character May, whose name very well may be connected to Naomi's other name of Mara, for May is bitter throughout the entire book. Character development an connecting seems to be the strongest point of Hamilton's writing, she displays it famously in her comparisons of fictional characters to the historical characters described in the Book of Ruth.