I don't know if this was mentioned before but, I can't help but think that Shelby and Jackson had problems in their marriage. When Shelby told M'Lynn, she was pregnant, Shelby said, "I think this will help..." A lot of times, women will become pregnant because they feel having a baby will strengthen their marriage. Do you think that's what Shelby was doing? Any thoughts?
There does seem to be at least a small problem.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
I also thought part of what was causing some of the marital discord was not having a biological child.
All that high-falutin' talk of Jackson about buying one didn't mean much once they were married, now did it.
Granted Shelby was in agreement but still.
They had a baby to help the marriage, but sadly that doesn't do it.
And she was so at risk too.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."
They might have become discouraged at all the red tape involved in adopting a child. Shelby said no judge would give someone with her medical record a baby. As for Jackson's assurance that they would "buy" a baby if they had to, he as a lawyer would know it was illegal. Since Shelby no longer lived in her hometown, she could have found a doctor who supported her decision to become pregnant. Away from M'Lynn's interference, she must have decided to take the chance on having a child.
shareThis part of the movie always pi$$es me off. Jackson assures Shelby that it won't make a bit of difference BEFORE they are married. But afterwards,he seems to change his tune. Why would he want to put Shelby's life in danger and why would she allow it? Basically, he killed his wife so he could have a son. JMO.
shareI agree, and I understand Shelby wanting to have a baby but risking her life was stupid. Now, she's left this baby without a mother.
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Yes, Shelby and Jackson were having problems in their marriage with their struggle to have a child. It is stated in the play and indicated in the movie with the line "I think it'll help things a lot".
But ultimately, it was Shelby's decision to have the baby. She clearly states this when she says "I rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special"
She knew there was risk involved "that's true for anybody". She was willing to risk it all just to experience motherhood, even if it was short-lived. It was her own personal choice. All her lifetime struggles and limitations due to her illness, this was one thing she was not willing to give up.
All her lifetime struggles and limitations due to her illness, this was one thing she was not willing to give up.
Hi fiatlux-1,
I guess Shelby didn't see it that way...to leave her child without a mother. What she wanted was to leave a piece of her to her husband and her family if she did pass away. Remember the line "in the end, there will be a piece of immortality with Jackson's good looks and my sense of style, I hope".
Of course, there are some people who wouldn't do that. Everybody's circumstances are different. But in Shelby's case, she had an illness that wouldn't let her live a normal life, including having a child. So she made her choice: I may die, but at least I'll leave a piece of me to my loved ones"
I was thinking something while watching the movie: Why didn't they have a surrogate? I know it was the 80s,but surrogacy was around. They could've asked somebody to carry the baby while it would still be Shelby's biologically,and she'd still be alive. Problem solved. Jackson's family was rich,and I'm sure M'Lynn and Drum would've helped out too,so they could've afforded it.
shareBecause Shelby wanted to CARRY her own child. People can feel free to disagree with that desire all they want. Personally I'm on team Shelby. I want to have MY child. Hubby's sperm, my egg, my body. Nothing else will be MY child.
shareYour egg, hubby's sperm, another body is still your baby.
At least your child could have a mom.
Shelby was impulsive and immature in her thinking.
As to the OP: I don't think they had any problems outside of the baby and the norm.
Define "opinion" then get back to me.
Agree re above
shareShelby was also a LOT younger in the book if memory serves so as a young teenager, she wouldn't have had the knowledge an older person - especially a nurse - would have.
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That is a foolish, naive way of thinking. So by your standard then, orphans can never be loved as much as "real" children. People like you make me sick.
Your choice but I don't have to like it.
If you are talking to me I never said orphans could not be loved. I just said that you can not fault a person for wanting to have a child of their own. My mother was advised to terminate me. She nearly died bringing me into this world. She had another child that needed a mother too. But she fought for me. Guess what? 32 years later we're both still here. Did Shelby (Susan in real life) have a bad outcome? Yes and that's sad. But she COULD have had the turn out my mother did. I do not fault her for believing that she might. For the record I have 3 teen cousins that I claim as my own. I'd kill anyone if they hurt them. But I want to experience pregnancy and childbirth some day. Guess what else? People in my family don't agree with that. Not because I have poor health but because they think this world is too crappy to bring children into. They are free to disagree. Thankfully though those family members will love and support me in the end just like M'Lynn did Shelby.
share@WhiteClay
I can't relate to your opinion, but I do understand it... People should not berate each other's preference because it's just that - THEIR preference... I am fine with having my own, adopting or surrogacy... As long as I get a child in the end, I am cool with it... I can't relate to "MUST have my own" child, but I can understand why a lot of women feel this way... Just like someone would balk at me for adopting instead of having my own, it is MY choice and I have my reasons... Folks who demand an explanation need to - in the words of Ouiser - "eat s--t and die..."
You people are the disease, but I've got the cure. ~Morgan on "Chuck"
@luckyluv22: the real Shelby died in the 70s. The play and film were much later. Despite the costumes and sets, I am sure the author was referencing his real sister and her problems.
Surrogacy WAS very rare up until the late 80s anyways -- and very costly -- in cases like "Baby M", the baby was the real biological child of the birth mother, not the adoptive mother. They did not have the technology back then to do embryo transfers or IVF.
Surrogacy contracts even today are not legal in some states.
On the other hand, ADOPTION at the time was legal and relatively available, making it odd they did not even explore it. In the timeline of the film, Shelby & Jackson marry just before Easter and she is already pregnant at Christmas -- about 7 months time.
(It's funny how younger people assume surrogacy, IVF, donor eggs, etc. have always been around! In fact, the technologies are really new.)
Even today, surrogacy is pretty rare due to the high costs. And diabetic care is vastly improved. Today, most diabetic women can give birth safely and most of them do.
It wasn’t that they had marital problems, the issue was Shelby’s health issues, and the fact that bearing children in the manner Shelby wanted to was impossible without some great ramifications to her health if not outright death. This is evident in the scene where Shelby cries out that Jackson said “we’ll buy them if we have to.” Jackson, being the good man that he was, didn’t need the traditional family in a sense, but Shelby’s opinion was that she couldn’t have a true family without carrying her own children, which in the end was her demise.
share
I also believe that Jackson was pressuring Shelby to have her own baby.
The statement that she makes to her mother speaks volumes: "I think it would help things a lot."
I always thought for all of Jackson's high-falutin' talk about being understanding & willing to buy a baby was false or became so.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."
It would have been better if they had shown that. I know the focus was on the women of the movie but that part is so vague. It could mean a lot of things really. She could mean her and Jackson are having problems, or her own depression at not being able to have a baby herself or it could mean she wants to 'show the world' she can have her own baby. I always thought she was selfih, myself. Her body is telling her to not do that, so she goes and does it. Jut so it can be her "own" child. That point of view really bothers me. I'm not trying to step on any toes, just stating my opinion in regards to the movie.
A little OT here but I always thought M'Lynn was kind of a beyatch about it. I don't blame her for being upset but what's done is done. Shelby's going to have the baby and there are very real health concerns so instead of trying to make it easier on Shelby she causes her major stress.
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Shelby was simply being young and idealistic! Many young couples think having a child of their own is such a wonderful thing and something to bring them closer. Nothing further from the truth, no matter how optimistic you are! I love kids myself, but I see kids as mere replacement value of ourselves
Yeah, she should have just adopted, but would have probably still died of diabetes related disease in her 30's or 40's.
IN my 20's, I think I would have felt much the same as Shelby. However, I met my husband in my 30's. Before we married, we discussed having children and decided we would try for our own and if we were unsuccessful, we would adopt. As it happened, our first child was born ten months after we married!
I was gonna let you *beep* me, but I got my rag, and I know how you hate a mess