MovieChat Forums > Poldark (1977) Discussion > Who was really to blame for Elizabeth's ...

Who was really to blame for Elizabeth's death?

posted 8 years ago by IveGotASecret
1 reply | jump to latest

Aunt Agatha poured poison in George's ear that was actually the truth [See, George, what you get when you're nasty to the elderly?]. Then Ross suggested she should have another baby and have it be premature, too. Next we had Geoffrey Charles, trying to be cute saying how much Valentine looks like Uncle Ross. There's the doctor that gave her the stuff, but he also warned her if the contractions didn't stop she needed to tell her doctor what she took. Her doctor, Dr. Behenna just let Elizabeth lay there for a week getting worse and smelling worse and did nothing. And finally there was Elizabeth, who when asked by Dwight if she had taken anything lied because George was sitting next to her that she hadn't taken anything.

I think in the end the one to blame for Elizabeth's death is Elizabeth. She was warned of side effects and told to tell her doctor what she took if something went wrong and she didn't do it. If she'd been honest, she might have been saved. Even that quack, Behenna might have done something to save her if she'd just been honest.

[–] Jobimfan (95) 7 years ago

But it goes even deeper than that. Elizabeth is the ultimate victim of her own pride and greed. After Francis died, if she had said the word, Ross would have left Demelza and moved to Trenwith to be with Elizabeth. Since everyone knew that Demelza had been his servant, society would not have been especially scandalized if Ross left her.

However, Elizabeth dithered. She had feelings for Ross, but she was dazzled by the idea of being married not only to George, but also his money and ability to buy a place in society. She wasn't completely stupid, she knew that part of the reason why she was so attractive to George was because of her family connections.

When Valentine is born (either on schedule or a bit early, depending on what you choose to believe) she finds herself in a bind. She enjoys the perks of being Mrs Warleggen, she enjoys the way he fawns over her but she knows that if he has a reason to suspect that Valentine is Ross' sone and not his, all of that can go away very quickly. He might not ever divorce her, but he would certainly cut off the tap in regards to the clothes, jewelry, life in London, etc.

To preserve her status and wealth, she not only has to stay Mrs Warleggen, but she has to make sure that George remains besotted to her. How does she do it? By inducing an early labor to make it look to George as if she just always delivers 8 month babies.

So yes, she is ultimately at fault for her own death but ultimately it's because of her own pride and avarice.