I did a podcast episode on Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” in which a man tries to convince a pregnant woman to have an abortion. If one can put aside all the seeming anti-feminist baggage affiliated with him, I think the story is in dialogue with many of the ideas you present here. My very short take on the story is that the woman sees the world associatively/non-rationally, as an artist, who views the world as pregnant with meaning, whereas the man can only see the rational dimensions of experience. The podcast is Hemingway Word for Word, if you’re interested. But it strikes me that despite what is often said about him, Hemingway goes beyond just borrowing a female experience to use as a tidy representation of art.
So much good stuff here to think about! I am a former foster mother and was often a mother figure to my younger siblings but I don't have biological birth children and have no children in the home ... so my own relationship with motherhood is already complex and then I bring that to the question of whether I not I see my writing as my "baby." This gives such great historical context for a variety of perspectives. Love it.
In reading what you shared about Wroth, I immediately thought about Frida Kahlo. Her intense self-portraiture of body trauma including miscarriages is so powerful and I'm sure there was catharsis in creating it and claiming her own narrative around it.
Thank you for your interesting and thoughtful comment, Kathryn. It is interesting that you are coming at these ideas from the perspective of being a former foster mother. This isn't something I have considered in my research and writing around mothering and creativity, but gives me pause for thought...
Regarding Kahlo, (my very favourite artist), I have written a post about her previously, but more around representations of female "beauty". I do hope to return to her at some point in regards to her artwork around miscarriage, and you have just prompted that!
I look forward to your writings around that. If you have any interest, I'd be happy to email you a private copy of the chapter from my book on Frida which touches on this a little bit. No pressure but if you want it then just let me know where to email it.
I was very young when I was a foster mother so I almost felt more like a big sister but I have in mind that I might like to foster again in the future. I fostered and worked with primarily tweens and teens and my dream would be to foster/adopt an older sibling group that otherwise might not stay together. But we'll see. It's definitely an important aspect of motherhood and hope you'll find ways to explore that more in the future.
Thoroughly enjoyable read! Also enjoy comments from readers. It’s difficult (for me) to respond without being too ‘wordy’. I feel that it’s a bit like looking through binoculars, from either the near sighted end of the small lens, or from the larger span from the wide angled distant perspective! As an (amateur) artist and lover of both art and literature, should I zoom in on a detail or make a sweeping statement using a wider brush! I shall ruminate (sit on the fence).
So much to consider here, Kate. What a wonderful piece. There isn’t a clear answer but I love the way you trace the metaphor of childbirth here.
What first strikes me is that in “old” literature, one is also dealing with much higher infant and mother death rates in childbirth, so the metaphor is changed (for me at least) into something like a miracle or fragile and also close to death, or a dangerous undertaking.
Then I can see how different articulations of feminism would see this metaphor as good/bad and it’s interesting to see similar intentions with opposing views. I do like Cixous!
Lastly (for now!) although sometimes it does feel problematic to me, the concept of something coming from within you, as a part of you, feels right when talking about writing. It might even be a desire by the male poet to give birth themselves.
Thank you for your insightful thoughts, as always, Kate! I agree, there is so much to unpick with these ideas. I hadn't fully considered the idea that the metaphor might be so closely reltated to mortality, which is a valid point. To your point of creativity, I agree that a piece of art (writing or otherwise) can feel like coming from within the artist.
So good! I have always loved discussing this literary topic. I wonder: how does the device of childbirth intersect with another feminist literary concern, namely, that of women’s writing being persistently deemed as “biographical.” As if women writers can *only* write from a place of their own lived pain and experiences.
In a modernist lit course ago, we read several novels that concern childbirth and specifically post-partum depression. (The Shutter of Snow and Spleen.) I loved them both for the completely different treatments of the metaphor. Spleen is a *bizarre* and experimental grappling with this device because the main character, a mother named Ruth, believes that her artistic desire to bring something new into the world has resulted in her living child’s mental disability. 🤯 have you read that novel? I ended up writing a dissertation chapter on it because it was so fascinating and difficult to piece together.
Thank you so much, Haley! I take that as a huge compliment knowing your own research interests :) oh, I have SO many thoughts on the *biographical* nature of women's writing...as I briefly touched on in this piece, on the few occasions I have written poetry/fiction, I have had assumptions made that these *must* be based on my own experiences! And I know this isn't unusual. In fact, it may yet make it into its own post...
I haven't come across either of the books you mentions, but they sound fascinating! As does your dissertation chapter.
I did a podcast episode on Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” in which a man tries to convince a pregnant woman to have an abortion. If one can put aside all the seeming anti-feminist baggage affiliated with him, I think the story is in dialogue with many of the ideas you present here. My very short take on the story is that the woman sees the world associatively/non-rationally, as an artist, who views the world as pregnant with meaning, whereas the man can only see the rational dimensions of experience. The podcast is Hemingway Word for Word, if you’re interested. But it strikes me that despite what is often said about him, Hemingway goes beyond just borrowing a female experience to use as a tidy representation of art.
Thanks, Arnie. Will check it out :)
So much good stuff here to think about! I am a former foster mother and was often a mother figure to my younger siblings but I don't have biological birth children and have no children in the home ... so my own relationship with motherhood is already complex and then I bring that to the question of whether I not I see my writing as my "baby." This gives such great historical context for a variety of perspectives. Love it.
In reading what you shared about Wroth, I immediately thought about Frida Kahlo. Her intense self-portraiture of body trauma including miscarriages is so powerful and I'm sure there was catharsis in creating it and claiming her own narrative around it.
Thank you for your interesting and thoughtful comment, Kathryn. It is interesting that you are coming at these ideas from the perspective of being a former foster mother. This isn't something I have considered in my research and writing around mothering and creativity, but gives me pause for thought...
Regarding Kahlo, (my very favourite artist), I have written a post about her previously, but more around representations of female "beauty". I do hope to return to her at some point in regards to her artwork around miscarriage, and you have just prompted that!
I look forward to your writings around that. If you have any interest, I'd be happy to email you a private copy of the chapter from my book on Frida which touches on this a little bit. No pressure but if you want it then just let me know where to email it.
I was very young when I was a foster mother so I almost felt more like a big sister but I have in mind that I might like to foster again in the future. I fostered and worked with primarily tweens and teens and my dream would be to foster/adopt an older sibling group that otherwise might not stay together. But we'll see. It's definitely an important aspect of motherhood and hope you'll find ways to explore that more in the future.
Thank you, Kathryn, that's very kind. I would love to read your chapter! I will email you my personal email address tomorrow, if that works for you.
I think your possible fostering plans sound amazing 🌟
Sounds great <3
Thoroughly enjoyable read! Also enjoy comments from readers. It’s difficult (for me) to respond without being too ‘wordy’. I feel that it’s a bit like looking through binoculars, from either the near sighted end of the small lens, or from the larger span from the wide angled distant perspective! As an (amateur) artist and lover of both art and literature, should I zoom in on a detail or make a sweeping statement using a wider brush! I shall ruminate (sit on the fence).
Ha! I shall look forward to your ruminations! Comments from readers are the best part of these newsletters :)
So much to consider here, Kate. What a wonderful piece. There isn’t a clear answer but I love the way you trace the metaphor of childbirth here.
What first strikes me is that in “old” literature, one is also dealing with much higher infant and mother death rates in childbirth, so the metaphor is changed (for me at least) into something like a miracle or fragile and also close to death, or a dangerous undertaking.
Then I can see how different articulations of feminism would see this metaphor as good/bad and it’s interesting to see similar intentions with opposing views. I do like Cixous!
Lastly (for now!) although sometimes it does feel problematic to me, the concept of something coming from within you, as a part of you, feels right when talking about writing. It might even be a desire by the male poet to give birth themselves.
Thank you for your insightful thoughts, as always, Kate! I agree, there is so much to unpick with these ideas. I hadn't fully considered the idea that the metaphor might be so closely reltated to mortality, which is a valid point. To your point of creativity, I agree that a piece of art (writing or otherwise) can feel like coming from within the artist.
This is so good. I never really had this on my radar previously but it really opens your (my) eyes. Great piece.
Thank you :) I'm glad you got something new from it.
So good! I have always loved discussing this literary topic. I wonder: how does the device of childbirth intersect with another feminist literary concern, namely, that of women’s writing being persistently deemed as “biographical.” As if women writers can *only* write from a place of their own lived pain and experiences.
In a modernist lit course ago, we read several novels that concern childbirth and specifically post-partum depression. (The Shutter of Snow and Spleen.) I loved them both for the completely different treatments of the metaphor. Spleen is a *bizarre* and experimental grappling with this device because the main character, a mother named Ruth, believes that her artistic desire to bring something new into the world has resulted in her living child’s mental disability. 🤯 have you read that novel? I ended up writing a dissertation chapter on it because it was so fascinating and difficult to piece together.
Loved this week’s essay, as usual!!
Thank you so much, Haley! I take that as a huge compliment knowing your own research interests :) oh, I have SO many thoughts on the *biographical* nature of women's writing...as I briefly touched on in this piece, on the few occasions I have written poetry/fiction, I have had assumptions made that these *must* be based on my own experiences! And I know this isn't unusual. In fact, it may yet make it into its own post...
I haven't come across either of the books you mentions, but they sound fascinating! As does your dissertation chapter.