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** To put it extremely bluntly, a pregnancy could be got rid of and no one would necessarily have to know. A forced marriage to a boy who, as far as pretty much everyone in the community was concerned, was a deviant, a dangerous rebel and, as stated above, is believed to be responsible for the death of his best friend would be the end of the Bergmans' (all of them) reputations.
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
** Everyone's probably figured out ''something'' about sexuality on their own, given how rampant it is in the songs and how Wendla starts asking her mother about it at the start of the play. It's pretty likely that Wendla's been having odd feelings/dreams/thoughts (especially about Melchior), and that made her realize that the DeliveryStork isn't a viable means of conception.
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** Everyone's probably figured out ''something'' about sexuality on their own, given how rampant it is in the songs and how Wendla starts asking her mother about it at the start of the play. It's pretty likely that Wendla's been having odd feelings/dreams/thoughts (especially about Melchior), and that made her realize that the DeliveryStork isn't a viable means of conception.conception.
** The original play was written almost specifically for the purpose of pointing out that the tradition of keeping the [[AccidentalPun ins and outs of sexuality]] hidden from teenagers and still treating them as little children does nothing to stop them from finding out about these things, and if the adults refuse to educate them, they'll simply either try to figure it out for themselves, or else be so repressed that they're left unable to function as healthy young adults. Basically, the play was written specifically to endorse a message of "if your child asks you about these things, it's far better to just tell them the truth because one way or another they're going to find out anyway and it won't end well". This is essentially carried over into the musical (but toned down quite a bit, especially with regards to Melchior). So part of the entire point is that while the teenagers may not know the ''exact details'' of everything that they're doing or that's being done to them, they're definitely aware ''enough'' thanks to simple teenage curiosity about the changes in both their own bodies and the bodies of those around them to start experimenting and put the pieces together for themselves to work out what it is that's going on and, thanks to the adults' skittishness on the subject, they're all also aware that they're not meant to be doing or talking about these things which only exacerbates the negative consequences.
** The original play was written almost specifically for the purpose of pointing out that the tradition of keeping the [[AccidentalPun ins and outs of sexuality]] hidden from teenagers and still treating them as little children does nothing to stop them from finding out about these things, and if the adults refuse to educate them, they'll simply either try to figure it out for themselves, or else be so repressed that they're left unable to function as healthy young adults. Basically, the play was written specifically to endorse a message of "if your child asks you about these things, it's far better to just tell them the truth because one way or another they're going to find out anyway and it won't end well". This is essentially carried over into the musical (but toned down quite a bit, especially with regards to Melchior). So part of the entire point is that while the teenagers may not know the ''exact details'' of everything that they're doing or that's being done to them, they're definitely aware ''enough'' thanks to simple teenage curiosity about the changes in both their own bodies and the bodies of those around them to start experimenting and put the pieces together for themselves to work out what it is that's going on and, thanks to the adults' skittishness on the subject, they're all also aware that they're not meant to be doing or talking about these things which only exacerbates the negative consequences.
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Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" disapproval. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
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** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this ''then'' they find out Wendla is pregnant by him. This (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" disapproval. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
disapproval.
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* If the teenagers don't even know what sexuality is, how do they know they committed a sin? Or is only Wendla that naive?
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* If the teenagers don't even know what sexuality is, how do they know they committed a sin? Or is only Wendla that naive?naive?
** Everyone's probably figured out ''something'' about sexuality on their own, given how rampant it is in the songs and how Wendla starts asking her mother about it at the start of the play. It's pretty likely that Wendla's been having odd feelings/dreams/thoughts (especially about Melchior), and that made her realize that the DeliveryStork isn't a viable means of conception.
** Everyone's probably figured out ''something'' about sexuality on their own, given how rampant it is in the songs and how Wendla starts asking her mother about it at the start of the play. It's pretty likely that Wendla's been having odd feelings/dreams/thoughts (especially about Melchior), and that made her realize that the DeliveryStork isn't a viable means of conception.
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** Eventually, either World War One or World War Two.
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** Eventually, either World War One or World War Two.Two.
* If the teenagers don't even know what sexuality is, how do they know they committed a sin? Or is only Wendla that naive?
* If the teenagers don't even know what sexuality is, how do they know they committed a sin? Or is only Wendla that naive?
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Changed line(s) 4 (click to see context) from:
* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Hanschen and Ernst?]]
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* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Hanschen and Ernst?]]Ernst?]]
** Eventually, either World War One or World War Two.
** Eventually, either World War One or World War Two.
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Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" status. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
to:
** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" status.disapproval. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
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Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
* Why, instead of risking her daughter's life and killing her grandchild in a backstreet abortion, did Mrs Bergman not simply allow a shotgun wedding between Melchior and Wendla? Both she and Melchior's parents have complete authority over their children and don't care that much what they want to do, so why not just order them to marry and have done with it? It was hardly that uncommon in the 1890s, and given that Wendla's sister has three children despite being married for two years, Mrs Bergman must have been at the very least *aware* of the possibility. Granted, Melchior's hardly flavour of the month in the town, but surely it's a better option than risking her daughter, killing her unborn grandchild, risking social humilation if the above gets into local gossip, and would enable her to simply wash her hands of the matter. [[PlotInducedStupidity It just seems a simpler option]], and despite her naivity Mrs Bergman is shown to care for and want the best for her daughter; she must have known the risks of backstreet abortions and surely an unsuitably married daughter is better than a possibly-dead one?
* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Henschen and Ernst?]]
* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Henschen and Ernst?]]
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* Why, instead of risking her daughter's life and killing her grandchild in a backstreet abortion, did Mrs Bergman not simply allow a shotgun wedding between Melchior and Wendla? Both she and Melchior's parents have complete authority over their children and don't care that much what they want to do, so why not just order them to marry and have done with it? It was hardly that uncommon in the 1890s, and given that Wendla's sister has three children despite being married for two years, Mrs Bergman must have been at the very least *aware* of the possibility. Granted, Melchior's hardly flavour of the month in the town, but surely it's a better option than risking her daughter, killing her unborn grandchild, risking social humilation humiliation if the above gets into local gossip, and would enable her to simply wash her hands of the matter. [[PlotInducedStupidity It just seems a simpler option]], and despite her naivity naivety Mrs Bergman is shown to care for and want the best for her daughter; she must have known the risks of backstreet abortions and surely an unsuitably married daughter is better than a possibly-dead one?
one?
** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" status. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndromeHenschen Hanschen and Ernst?]]
** It's not PlotInducedStupidity: It's all but stated that the teachers frame Melchior [[spoiler: for Moritz's suicide]] the minute they find out about it, which could be a few days to a few ''hours'' after [[spoiler: someone found Moritz's body.]] Just think: Their kid's best friend [[spoiler: shot himself in the woods]], then the teachers start spreading the word that he caused it (to cover their own asses), and finally it turns out that Melchior ''also'' got someone pregnant. That situation would be chaotic in ''modern times'', let alone a town that's stated to be extremely traditional. It would be difficult if not impossible for ''anyone'' to think logically if that all happened to them. Now for the the Bergmans: They just found out that the poor Stiefel boy killed himself, and didn't Wendla used to play with him? Then they find out that Melchior Gabor was the reason, and this (especially for a heavily Christian town) would catapult him ''far'' beyond the normal "bad boy" status. Considering that nearly every Christian sect views suicide as worse than murder, not least because of the pain someone would have to be in to do it, nobody would want their daughter to marry a boy who was responsible for something like that.
* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome
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* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse what the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Henschen and Ernst?]]
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* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse what What the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Henschen and Ernst?]]
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Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
Why, instead of risking her daughter's life and killing her grandchild in a backstreet abortion, did Mrs Bergman not simply allow a shotgun wedding between Melchior and Wendla? Both she and Melchior's parents have complete authority over their children and don't care that much what they want to do, so why not just order them to marry and have done with it? It was hardly that uncommon in the 1890s, and given that Wendla's sister has three children despite being married for two years, Mrs Bergman must have been at the very least *aware* of the possibility. Granted, Melchior's hardly flavour of the month in the town, but surely it's a better option than risking her daughter, killing her unborn grandchild, risking social humilation if the above gets into local gossip, and would enable her to simply wash her hands of the matter. [[PlotInducedStupidity It just seems a simpler option]], and despite her naivity Mrs Bergman is shown to care for and want the best for her daughter; she must have known the risks of backstreet abortions and surely an unsuitably married daughter is better than a possibly-dead one?
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*[[WhatHappenedToTheMouse what the hell happens]] to [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Henschen and Ernst?]]
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Why, instead of risking her daughter's life and killing her grandchild in a backstreet abortion, did Mrs Bergman not simply allow a shotgun wedding between Melchior and Wendla? Both she and Melchior's parents have complete authority over their children and don't care that much what they want to do, so why not just order them to marry and have done with it? It was hardly that uncommon in the 1890s, and given that Wendla's sister has three children despite being married for two years, Mrs Bergman must have been at the very least *aware* of the possibility. Granted, Melchior's hardly flavour of the month in the town, but surely it's a better option than risking her daughter, killing her unborn grandchild, risking social humilation if the above gets into local gossip, and would enable her to simply wash her hands of the matter. [[PlotInducedStupidity It just seems a simpler option]], and despite her naivity Mrs Bergman is shown to care for and want the best for her daughter; she must have known the risks of backstreet abortions and surely an unsuitably married daughter is better than a possibly-dead one?
