"An unexpected inspiration." The Herald
Why were the philosophers all such pessimists? Such a bunch of grumpy old men. Only three of the top one hundred philosophers ever married, never mind changed a nappy. What did they know of life?! There are also only three women ever to be found in any top 100 lists: Simone de Beauvoir (common-law marriage with Jean Paul Satre, no children), St Juliana of Norwich (a nun), and Mary Woolenscroft who had two children.
At last a parent! A mother, even. Unfortunately she died days after giving birth to her second child, which does sound like some sort of cosmic penance for a woman with views. That daughter, Mary Shelley, went on to create Frankenstein, which one could say is an interesting take on the meaning of life and parenthood, but not a very happy ending.
Why should happy endings be so uncool? Shakespeare only got away with it by calling those plays comedies. Are tragedies so much more realistic? Perhaps. I was a born optimist, but it's easy to be an optimist when all is going well. I feel myself getting grumpier with each little set back. But life is a series of accidents - things aren't meant to go to plan...
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Juliana of Norwich.
But then again, Juliana was a saint. And she didn't have children....
At last a parent! A mother, even. Unfortunately she died days after giving birth to her second child, which does sound like some sort of cosmic penance for a woman with views. That daughter, Mary Shelley, went on to create Frankenstein, which one could say is an interesting take on the meaning of life and parenthood, but not a very happy ending.
Why should happy endings be so uncool? Shakespeare only got away with it by calling those plays comedies. Are tragedies so much more realistic? Perhaps. I was a born optimist, but it's easy to be an optimist when all is going well. I feel myself getting grumpier with each little set back. But life is a series of accidents - things aren't meant to go to plan...
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Juliana of Norwich.
But then again, Juliana was a saint. And she didn't have children....