There seem to be a spate of articles around about the menopause. At the moment I seem to be hearing or reading about things that have connections with 'Meeting Coty' as this does.
When I was writing the book I never consciously thought about certain things but amazingly they are there. Take Tessa's mother, Ann Laughlin.
She shows classic signs of the menopause that I didn't know I'd put in never mind that they are symptoms.
She hides herself away from the children.
I didn't realise that when oestrogen levels go down and women stop menstruating, then the 'caring gene' goes because, not having young children (though many women may) it is not deemed necessary. Now this is going back in time because many women now do have their children later in life. So, it's unfortunate.
Are our genes taking care of us through the stages in our lives?
We need to be caring to bring up children.
In general at the stage of the menopause, children have become adults and can take care of themselves, so the mother is now free to do what she wants. By taking the 'caring gene' away, she can concentrate, without forcing herself, on herself.
On the other hand, women of this age now often find that an elderly relative needs caring for so this 'caring gene' would be very handy to retain, but nature takes it away. Bit of a dilemma there then. Forced to care.
But, going back to 'Meeting Coty' Ann shows all the signs of the Menopause, even more in 'Sweet Scent of Success.' Yes, this is the new title. Think I'll stick with this, though must google it to see if it's been used before. Next job.
Back to Ann and the menopause. I keep digressing. Is this a sign? In 'Meeting Coty' she hates being with the children, has no time for them, yearns to be back in Jerez, free to do what she wants: sing. In Sweet Scent of Success that is exactly what she's doing. So, when Tessa turns up for a visit, she is not exactly happy.
Terribly sorry, but I believe that "difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion" are symptoms of menopause. They are also symptoms of many other things, so there we are.
ReplyDeleteYour writing point is fascinating - you can invest a character or an episode with meaning that you had not intended or recognised. This is what I believe they call a character coming alive - there's no need to scheme and plot and specify if it just flows.
On caring, the biological point may well be a real one, but many of us - men and menopausal women among us - manage to provide long-term care into our later years. It's our own fault for having big brains.
Thanks Ed. I'm concentrating specifically on Ann and her symptoms and for her, these are about the menopause. Yes, difficulty concentrating, disorientation and mental confusion can be caused by other things, but not for Ann.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have blinkers on because I'm stunned that it all came together like that. Finding out about a character helps understanding of real people. And it does all merge as characters become real people.
The caring issue: of course men and women care for others as they get older. As always, getting hold of a fact and using it to cover everyone is not how it works, but for Ann, this is specifically how it does work so she is a text book case. Inadvertently so.
Thankfully many many, maybe most people are not text book cases.
Menopause is always be a part of woman's life, by knowing some Symptoms of Menopause you will have the advantage.
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