i havent watched the series, but i read the first 7 books - fantastic!!!!
but i dont understand the death of elizabeth. why did she die of gangrene? birth complications?
Why has Edward Woodward got four 'd's' in his name?
Because otherwise he'd be Ewar Woowar.
She wanted to convince George once and for all that Valentine was his biological son. She thought if their second child was also born prematurely, that would convince him that Valentine really was premature and not a full term baby. So while she was in London, she visited a doctor who specialized in these sorts of things. He prescribed an "herbal" concoction that he gave her, telling her to take it during her seventh or eighth month, but the 7th would be better (so he said).
After her last big artgument with George, Elizabeth took the drug. She soon went into labor. During Ursula's birth, the contractions were abnormally strong and very close together (according to Dwight, who attended the birth). I'm not sure if the drug she took caused the gangrene, or if it was caused by the trauma of the birth. But anyhow, Elizabeth's death was the result.
Dr. Anselm warned Elizabeth there could be serious risks for her and the baby. He told her she must confide in her doctor if the spasms were particularly intense or long. When Dwight asked Elizabeth if she had taken something, George was sitting on the bed, so she remained silent. In this case, silence really did = death. Elizabeth could be infuriating, but she was just coming into her own. Her death felt truly tragic and senseless.
Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!
Coming into her own....hmmmm....I'm not sure about that. While any death is tragic and senseless, I have to admit that Elizabeth is not one of my favorite characters. I don't like her. Last night I rewatched the episodes in which she pressures Morwenna to marry Whitworth. GAG. And why was ossie the chosen one? Because his mother was related to some powerful lord, to whom George thought it would be beneficial to ingratiate himself. Ugh. I hate what they did to Morwenna.
shareThe drug Elizabeth ingested did cause her gangrene. Amongst the ingredients described in the medicine, was a fungus which grows on rye. This fungus releases toxins which make the blood vessels contract, therefore restricting blood supply.
No I didn't care for Elizabeth either. She was a cold fish. She never truly loved any of the men in her life. All her love was reserved for her children, especially Geoffrey Charles, who was her favourite.
I should have clarified what I meant. I also never liked Elizabeth all that much, but she had finally started to stand up to George. Geoffrey Charles and Valentine needed her protection, so that was where the sadness came in, especially in view of what happened to Valentine later. One wonders if her survival might have helped Valentine live a longer, happier life. You are right about what the Warleggans did to Morwenna being unforgivable. At least Morwenna finally finds contentment and happiness with Drake.
I nearly forgot about the vegetable preparation made by Dr. Anselm. I always imagined the preparation caused the spasms to go on too long, which must somehow have caused a terrible infection. At least one type of gangrene can be caused by an infection spread by bacteria; it's not inconceivable that kind of bacteria could have been in Anselm's mixture. Dwight seemed to recognize the odor of the medicine, as well as the odor in the sickroom, from his time in the prison camp.
Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!
Thanks for clarifying.
shareAnniebel is right. Elizabeth took a preparation containing ergot, a fungal toxin which would cause her to deliver her child, but which is also a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it causes constriction of blood supply, especially to the extremities. Loss of blood supply, unless quickly remedied, leads to gangrene (tissue death), which, certainly in those days, would prove fatal. Its characteristic smell would be readily identifiable to Enys, who would have come across it in whilst in prison if not elsewhere. He will also have known that in her case there was no "natural" explanation for its appearance, which is why he would ask whether she'd taken anything.
The two things to note about Elizabeth's demise are (a) that it was Ross who first suggested to her that it would be convenient if her next child was born prematurely (The Four Swans 1.11) and so planted the idea into her head and (b) even so, how unnecessarily foolish and dangerous the taking of ergot would be. Let's say she became pregnant and expected delivery in early March. All she would need to do then is announce her news and, when asked the due date, say "late April or early May". Nature would then take its course, the baby would arrive in March and so be considered "premature", like Valentine and as per her wish.
Jim
http://winstongraham.yolasite.com
Let's say she became pregnant and expected delivery in early March. All she would need to do then is announce her news and, when asked the due date, say "late April or early May". Nature would then take its course, the baby would arrive in March and so be considered "premature", like Valentine and as per her wish.
Thanks for putting a MASSIVE spoiler into the title.
A *SPOILER* warning would have been nice!!
How inconsiderate.
"Equitare, arcum tendere,veritatem dicere."
Don't be such a big baby Sapere-Aude. Poldark was first broadcast many years ago. It's safe to assume most people on the boards have either seen the video and/or read the books. You are sort of like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents and then is disappointed on Christmas morning. If you don't want to learn about spoilers don't read what is on the message boards. Oh, and the Easter Bunny doesn't leave candy out on Easter either.
shareIt is RUDE AND INCONSIDERATE, no matter how you choose to put it.
It's a matter of basic manners, but from your ill mannered response I can tell, that I am wasting my time with the likes of you.
Nice indeed...
"Equitare, arcum tendere,veritatem dicere."
Heavens above! Get over yourself - Poldark was first televised here in Australia about 32 years ago and the books have obviously been around longer than that. If we can't mention something that happens/happened in case someone gets their knickers in a knot over a 'spoiler', there's hardly any point to this board, is there.
On the subject of 'rude and inconsiderate', typing in all capitals is 'internet shouting' so to speak, so I think we have a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
@Sapere-Aude
You must be responsible for all that health and safety $$$t that's around us too
There is such a thing a personal responsibility.
I have watched many shows, with endless seasons, but I wouldn't dream of coming to Imdb for a read up on plot /actor etc in case of spoilers...how old are you ffgs?