Not sure why this went over my head before but the puff'nsnuff experienced by Honey was in fact an abortion? I just wondered how this would escape a learned science man like Nick. Or perhaps deep down he knew just didn't want to come to terms with it since I believe the film does try to present parallels between the two couples.
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Hi movie-nazi...when I first read the title of your post, I thought you meant Martha. That's always been one of my theories...that the imaginary son she gave birth to was really a back-alley abortion (remember, this movie was set in 1966, and Roe v. Wade wasn't
' passed until 1973.)
What makes you think Honey had an abortion as opposed to an hysterical pregnancy? They do happen, but usually only when the women wants a child so badly and can't get pregnant...her mind takes over and creates the biological illusion of begin pregnant.
I mentioned this in another thread, but I have witnessed one...when I was a child, our next door neighbor wanted to get pregnant, but after a year, nothing happened. Then all of a sudden, she is telling everyone she's going to have a baby. She started wearing maternity clothes, painting the nursery, etc.
And then, she started seeing an obstetrician who told her that she wasn't carrying anything but water. The whole neighborhood knew. Luckily she did finally conceive and had a beautiful baby boy.
But back to the movie: I wonder if Honey just pretended to be pregnant to snare Nick into marrying her. The whole storyline is bizarre, imo. She claims she doesn't WANT to have children, a sentiment she then reverses her opinion on after George tells Martha their son is dead. It would have been a challenge for her to stay off the bottle for 9 months; she's a budding alcoholic.
Yes I have heard of these hysterical pregnancies and I do know they occur. However what led me to believe she in fact had an abortion is the scene (gosh darn it! I deleted it from my DVR and wish I hadn't so I could be more concise with the quotes!) between Honey and George where he confronts her about it and makes remarks about perhaps she did abort it to which she responds "I don't want to have children! I don't want to go through the pain of labor! I'm scared I'd be hurt!" or something along those lines as though she was indeed confirming that she did have one because she was scared of the trauma involved with having children. Along with the display of her being fragile and "slim hipped" it went along with her "mousy" persona of not being strong enough to be able to bear children.
Please analyze the scene again and let me know if my imagination is running wild. That's the thing with these older movies. Everything is insinuated so you never know if you are misreading the signs.
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She doesn't deny it when George confronts her about methods of abortion, however.
shareShe doesn't deny it when George confronts her about methods of abortion, however.
Several years later I realize, but here is where it is made clear Honey had an abortion or at least a forced miscarriage. (As taken from the script here:
http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/w/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf-script.html)
"I don't want any children.
I don't want any children, please!
I'm afraid. I don't want to be hurt.
I should have known.
Does that stud you married
know about that?
How do you make your
secret little murders? Pills?
You got a secret supply of pills?
Apple jelly? Willpower?
Going to throw up?
Where is he? I want my husband!
I want a drink!"
Quite clear that it is in fact NOT hysterical pregnancy like she pretended it to be. Hope that helps! =)
Seriously though, how do you abort a fetus with Apple Jelly? That part is so weird.
Every time Miss Voodoo is asleep Shelly walks hard as *beep* and it wakes her up.share
The same way you cure cancer with sugar pills - self delusion.
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The spirit of abysmal despair
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