South Riding

[Francis Asis]

Just watched Sunday's episode on 4OD. Can anyone explain why having a baby made that woman mad? And how did they know beforehand to warn her not to have children?
I think her name's Muriel, David Morrissey's character's wife.

[ljdksa]

Haven't seen it, but Postnatal psychosis?

[JDOvengloves]

In the first episode, it showed she was unhinged when the couple were younger - she almost tipped herself off the top of a turret in a castle,during a party. David Morrissey only just caught her.

[Francis Asis]

So are you saying she was already nuts so they knew having a baby would drive her over the edge? In the 30s?
Mind you I've got a teenager so I sympathise.

[mata hati]

I think she was always a bit mad, as DJOvengloves says - so didnt want any children. But once after some really weird behavior, in the heat of the moment he forced himself on her ending with the pregnancy which then sent her really over the top.Thats why he seems so caring about her now. ( I think!)

[beejaybee]

He came back unexpectly on leave & found his wife entertaining 3 young men. She taunted him a bit & he had sex with her without her having prepared her self.

[Dodger666]

Do they re-run BBC programmes on 4oD?

[tiggerblue10]

You can view the BBC ones on BBC iPlayer Dodger.

[Francis Asis]

I know he raped her. She kept saying "I mustn't have a baby" so she knew there was a medical problem. What I'm asking is what that problem was and how she and her doctors knew, beforehand that having a child would affect her like that. Bearing in mind this was the 1930s.

[ethandron]

i think a bit of artistic licence has been used, although when you read some reviews about the book it does say about her being afraid her mental condition is hereditary. she's a very fragile person too, isn't she, so i'm guessing that neither she nor her husband wanted her to go through a pregnancy either. it doesn't make it very clear though.

[Dodger666]

"You can view the BBC ones on BBC iPlayer Dodger"

I know that Tiggerblue.. The OP says he watched it on 4oD

[Francis Asis]

Thanks ethandron

[Francis Asis]

Sorry, yes BBC iplayer. It was Deal or No Deal I watched on 4OD.