MovieChat Forums > The Thorn Birds (1983) Discussion > Ralph's knowledge of contraceptives?

Ralph's knowledge of contraceptives?

posted 17 years ago by kootiecat
24 replies | jump to latest

Ok, So Meggie and Ralph FINALLY do the deed, but whether Ralph was a virgin or not, he would have known what contraceptives are wouldn't he??
I am sure of it, so how could he not realise Meggie would become pregnant if they slept together!

I am going by the fact that a) Ralph's intentions were not to sleep with Meggie but to just see her and sort things out between them and as the book said 'sleep on the couch'. So this means he would not have gone out and bought condoms or anything as you would do if you were a guy, and well Meggie may or may not have been on the pill I don't know, but it just seems so hard to believe Ralph could not think of the possibility that sleeping with Meggie would not get her pregnant. And then when Dane shows up, I know he said that he couldnt believe she could go back to Luke but what did he honestly think sleeping with her unprotected most likely would do!

I wonder why this was not mentioned in the book or the series...

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tamarajessica 8 years ago

You are completely right... I think that Ralph telling Meggie that he can't believe she went back to like and gave him a son is almost unforgivable.
The show makes it out that he was a virgin before but he knew what he did and where babies come from and he never discussed the possibility of Dane being his son.
He never heard of Meggie going back to Luke. He made up a convenient story to tell himself so that he could let himself off the hook. He wanted nothing to trip him on the way to being cardinal. That's why at the end he said deep down he must have known... he did know, just didn't want to admit.

[–] Popcorngal (4937) 5 years ago

It's too bad Dane did not know. If he did,that would have been interesting. But you have to wonder if Fr. Ralph remained celibate for 19 years? He could have had flings on the sly. Considering what a jerk he was, it's highly likely..Poor Meggie, fate gave her 2 jackass baby daddies.