Thursday, October 14, 2010

Clever Rosemary's Baby Title

The first thing that struck me about Rosemary's Baby, other than the plot seems to be taken straight from a death metal song (a woman is raped by Satan and carries his child because witches form a coven want to bring forth the anti-Christ: bring on the metal growls, guitar solos and corpse paint! Devil horns up!), was that the film takes an almost exclusively feminist point-of-view. The film is written and directed by a man, Roman Polanski (might I add the irony in him making a film with the word "baby" in the title, I swear this is my last digression), and shows the abuse a pregnant woman faces by not only her husband but her entire world at that point. I found it fascinating that the audience is being subjected to a woman being exploited in the 60s and it being put into such a negative light. After reading Karyn Valerius' "Rosemary’s Baby,Gothic Pregnancy,and Fetal Subjects" I was given a whole new feminist light that really hadn't occurred to me, which was the issue of abortion.

In class I believe Dr. McRrae mentioned something about the film not necessarily talking about abortion, but I think it takes a pretty clear stance on the issue. The film also obviously deals with certain anxieties coming with pregnancies at the time, i.e., the taking of medicine that gave babies birth defects. Rosemary even looks at her pills at one point and repeats the word "monster" almost as a direct statement to address the issue. But to get back to abortion as my main theme, Polanski shows us a woman trapped into keeping the baby causing so much pain and anxiety. Granted she belts out that she does not want an abortion, and we know she's a willing mother, but she also isn't given a chance to make her own decision about the pregnancy either. She's being made to go to a whole other doctor whom we can't trust. She is being forced fed a drink she doesn't want to take. In fact, her pregnancy was forced on her and the devil's baby was given to her against her will. According to the article, she was under special circumstances at the time to be allowed an abortion: she was raped and it was jeopardizing both her physical and mental health. The article uses a quote from Rosalind Petcheskey which I found to be very useful. "Not only is it not part of a woman’s body, but it contributes nothingto her sustenance. It only draws from her: nutrients, immunologicaldefenses, hormonal secretions, blood, digestive functions, energy. (Petchesky1984, 350)" I know, it's a horrible thought, but it's fascinating because it really is exactly what is happening to Rosemary. The baby is literally sucking the life out of her. She has a deathly look to her throughout the film that deteriorates more and more. Babies are such freeloaders.

Another way to show this as a feminist approach to abortion is the fact that others are choosing what goes on between Rosemary and her fetus, and not her. Who are making these choices dictating her baby's fate? Is it surprising that it's old people of a religious stance (well more like cult, unless you think Satanism is a religion) and not one of them "under 60"? As the article states, the unborn is given rights and individualized before it is even born. Pro-life people are known for sticking their noses in other people's uteri because of their belief that every fetus is a living being and the woman is to carry it term. We are given a demonized, pun intended, look at the pro-life movement through Rosemary's torment and psychological torture.
This is not to say Polanski is saying "abortions for everyone!" but I do believe he has a more cynical view toward those not giving women the choice of whether or not to carry the baby to term.

And oh yeah...HAIL SATAN!

3 comments:

  1. You brought up a lot of interesting points in your post, and some ideas I was also playing with. I think the film stands as the first movie that approaches this idea of feminism during the 60’s. After watching the film I was surprised I didn’t realize the direct symbolism from the start. I really love the contrast between Rosemary as this frail woman who is unable to overcome the oppression of her husband and satanic cult, and on the other hand, a woman who is strong enough to admit defeat and love this satanic creation as her child. I also think there is something to be said for her stance on abortion, regardless of the toll the life sucking monster was taking on her. This idea of feminism is something I really want to explore further. As far as the reading and the points you brought forth, the idea of this gothic pregnancy and abortion issues was really interesting. I like the quote you used, explaining how the fetus essentially sucks the life out of the mother, contributing nothing. This thought puts a really horrible image on such a beautiful thing as pregnancy, and I think that was a really interesting idea brought forth by Polanski.

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  2. It's weird that abortion is so political these days. I suppose it's better that it's out in the open being debated as opposed to happening behind closed doors. I'm pro-choice, which is pretty typical for a woman, I'm sure. The right to choose what happens in my body is one I cherish.

    Rosemary was in a tricky spot. She wanted the baby but the conception wasn't warm or special; she was raped resulting in the devil's seed within her. In 1968 there was a widespread fear regarding having a "normal" pregnancy. People had seen birth defects in footage from after the bomb, and the rise of industry/medicine coincided with their fears. A lot was happening and people just wanted a normal, nuclear family. Rosemary wanted so badly to have a healthy baby that she listened to her elders, showing the audience that she was still trusting of authority. However it failed her. She was being made sicker and growing a demon child inside of her. Her trust in the older figures of her life resulted in her downfall. The end of the movie shows her, pale and stricken, hovering over her eye-less child, dealing with the hell her life has now become. A direct result of her having trusted authority. I interpret this movie as a worst-case scenario for the younger generation to contemplate. It pushes an agenda: a youth revolution in a time of conformity. I think the indirect message is: Don't believe everything you're told, don't depend on authority figures, and do take control over your body and self if possible (including matters of abortion and deserting your "loved ones").

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  3. Good discussion, everyone! Scott, I really liked how you carefully outlined the main points of the reading, including some of the nuances and implications, and incorporated that understanding into your own perceptions. And the following comments are really interesting and strong. Though Michelle, I'd have liked to see you play with what you think is to be said about Rosemary's stance on abortion.

    Well done, everyone!

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