Something to Think About

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.