Something to Think About

Summary

In a poignant exploration of social stratification and the burden of altruism, Cecil B. DeMille’s 1920 opus presents David Markley, a man of substantial wealth whose physical infirmities have relegated him to the periphery of romantic engagement. Markley, driven by a complex mixture of genuine affection and perhaps a desire for vicarious living, orchestrates the intellectual and social elevation of Ruth, the daughter of a local blacksmith. This pedagogical patronage transforms Ruth from a rustic maiden into a woman of refined sensibilities, yet it creates a psychological debt that Markley seeks to collect via a proposal of marriage. Ruth, caught between the crushing weight of gratitude and the visceral pull of youthful passion, flees the domestic security of their small town with Jim Dirk, a charismatic city worker. The ensuing narrative trajectory is one of stark tragedy: Dirk’s life is abruptly extinguished in a mechanical subway catastrophe, leaving Ruth destitute and burdened with an infant son. In a masterstroke of sacrificial benevolence—or perhaps a final attempt at possession—Markley re-emerges, offering a 'white marriage' to shield the child from the stigma of illegitimacy and Ruth from the penury of her choices.

Synopsis

Wealthy cripple Markley finances the education of blacksmith's daughter Ruth. When she returns to their small town he asks to marry her, but she runs off with city worker Jim Dirk who is then killed in a subway accident. Markley offers to marry her in name only to protect her new son.