Why was Ruth attracted to Rocky?

When Ruth moved to New York, she was genuinely attracted to life in Harlem, but her involvement with Rocky revealed that she wasn't as innocent as she seemed. Ruth was aware that Rocky was a pimp, and she understood where the relationship was heading. At the same time, her attraction to Rocky's lifestyle is not wholly surprising, since pimps often lure in new women by dangling the image of the "good life" before them. For the first time, Ruth felt free, and reveled in the excitement of Harlem. She also most likely believed in Rocky's image of "prosperity". The usage of this phrase adds even more depth to her character: in the reader's mind, at least, Ruth was very far from being an innocent "victim".