Who was the father? Was it Shelmerdine? It wasn't made clear exactly who. I suppose I just assumed it was him. But there wasn't anything in between him leaving and her appearing pregnant.
Does anyone here know or have any ideas who it might be? Maybe it says in the book but I haven't got that far.
I don't think it could have been Shelmerdine. In the movie, he appeared in her life in the 19th century...and her child was with her in the "present day"...at the end of the movie.
share[deleted]
I disagree. I think it was definitely Shelmerdine's child. I think she was pregant for a long, drawn out time, in conjunction with her not aging much. Remember that they showed her being pregnant during the London Blitz in the 1940s and then she had the kid with her in the 80s. So the kid must have inherited Orlando's slow aging process.
shareI would agree with you, jkm210; the time's technically out of kilter the whole film so a nice 9-month pregnancy's not going to be a high priority. Next, Potter uses the amusingly un-subtle chapter titles (in this case, 'SEX') throughout, so I don't think she would just slip in another affair (and besides, 'BIRTH' follows directly). Thirdly, Orlando suggests having a 'child for love' with him. And besides, he is the father in the book (she actually returns to marry him).
shareI stand corrected! I didn't allow myself to think of warping time for her pregnancy, but it makes complete sense.
share