The Absence of Children

It seems I have read more then one story which will involve a couple, either married, or simply in a relationship, in which they will be intimately involved with each other for a period of time, and yet there will be no mention of children. Because it is not part of the story, and not related to what the author wants to convey he will simply ignore the idea of childbirth all together without even offering an explanation for why there are no children, they are just written off completely.

And for the most part these are stories that were written in a time in which birth control was not exactly convenient or effective and so it would be highly improbable for a couple having regular relations to go without children.

While on the one hand I know it is fiction on the other hand, if an author is writing a realistic story, set in a real time and place, involving people that could very well be real, and in real life situations, can an author just choose which parts of reality to ignore if such is not convenient for him to address.

I know I am just nit-picking here and this issue will not make or break a story for me, and I can understand why it is easy to just skip over for the sake of the greater importance behind what the story is trying to convey. But there has just been more then one instance when I have been left wondering "Where all the children? And why has such not been mentioned or addressed at all?"

And for that matter, where is the mother in King Lear?!

Hehe, which novels were you thinking about?

Well it has happend a few times here and there, but the ones that most come to mind was it bothered me in the short story Two Bluebirds by D.H. Lawrence, that we discussed, the married couple without a child in sight when they had seemingly been together for sometime.

And in the book Thier Eyes Were Watching God, the woman has had like three different husbands, and never had any children, and it is not as if she was suppose to be baron, that was not part of the story, the idea or possiblity of children was just excluded completely.

Why should children be involved?

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Originally Posted by limajean

Why should children be involved?

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Why shouldn't they? :p

Personally, I like children in literature because I like children in general. But I was never concerned if there was an absence of children.

No but i mean, it seems as though the question of " why are there no children? " is a stand in for " there should be children "
And i'm asking why there should be.

Maybe there simply is no requirement for children. If the story doesn't require them then perhaps it was to the authors preference that they exclude them.

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Originally Posted by limajean

Why should children be involved?

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I don't think she's thinking whether the children have a choice. I think she's talking about the birds and the bees. :D Do you know about the birds and the bees, Lima? :p

Birds and the Bees Virgil, hah, you would hope that by my age i'd have an idea ;)

No I know what she's talking about. And i'm not talking about choice.
I'm talking about the author, why should the characters have children? If there is no requirement for them in the story.


There are many books where the characters have children, there are many where they don't. If there is no need for them, why should the characters have them?

Though I do agree with the point she makes about birth control.

Also the comment about the story being realistic, by Muse. How is it not realistic for a couple to NOT have children? And that's part of my point. On top of the fact it may add a completely knew dimension to the story, would mean writing in another set of characters and might overthrow an author's intentions. Why must they have children?

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Originally Posted by limajean

Birds and the Bees Virgil, hah, you would hope that by my age i'd have an idea ;)

No I know what she's talking about. And i'm not talking about choice.
I'm talking about the author, why should the characters have children? If there is no requirement for them in the story.

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I see your point. She would argue that it violates realism.

Does it? why?

If an author is writing a 'realistic' story and chooses to not give the couples any children, is that really violating realism? I ask that because if you're going to say that about a novel which has tried to be written in a realistic way, with realistic people and realistic happenings - wouldn't that also mean that people who choose to not have children, in real life, are also violating realism? If realistic couples who choose not to have children in real life are like those in a 'realistic' novel - I don't see any violation of realism. Unless you believe that it is a violation of realism to not have children. Understand what i'm saying?

Which leads me back to my original point. Why must there be children? especially if you're going to question realism itself in novels which are without children. If you find it unrealistic, a novel that is with couples who are without children, are you also saying that it is "unrealistic" in real life for couples to be without children? I think you are. Whether you realize that or not.

...Why is there a need for children in couples who have been together for years? I plan to get married, but I don't want kids. Is there something wrong with that?

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Originally Posted by limajean

Does it? why?

If an author is writing a 'realistic' story and chooses to not give the couples any children, is that really violating realism? I ask that because if you're going to say that about a novel which has tried to be written in a realistic way, with realistic people and realistic happenings - wouldn't that also mean that people who choose to not have children, in real life, are also violating realism? If realistic couples who choose not to have children in real life are like those in a 'realistic' novel - I don't see any violation of realism. Unless you believe that it is a violation of realism to not have children. Understand what i'm saying?

Which leads me back to my original point. Why must there be children? especially if you're going to question realism itself in novels which are without children. If you find it unrealistic, a novel that is with couples who are without children, are you also saying that it is "unrealistic" in real life for couples to be without children? I think you are. Whether you realize that or not.

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Well, I guess I'm wishy-washy on this. You both made good points and I can't make up my mind. :lol: But you're right, it's up to the author. Not having children may be unlikely but it is not improbable.

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Originally Posted by Infinitefox

...Why is there a need for children in couples who have been together for years? I plan to get married, but I don't want kids. Is there something wrong with that?

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That's my point.