Abortion

Something interesting I found out about abortion

For another one of my classes I had to read T.S Eliot's "The Wasteland" and its so confusing to understand with more footnotes than actual poem. However when i read part II. of the poem, A Game of Chess, the last part of it was about a woman who's husband just returned from the army. It talks about how she needs to get new teeth to look better for her husband or he will cheat on her and it will be her fault. But the reason she needs new teeth and looks like she isnt taking care of herself is because she is taking this "pill" from this "chemist" to have an abortion. I thought it was really interesting how this was published in 1922 and Margaret Sanger's "My Fight for Birth Control" wasnt published until about 10 years after this, and then about 10 years after that birth control was legalized. Below is just the part in section II. when they are talking about this.

T.S Eliot's "The Wasteland" II. A Game of Chess
"When Lil's husband got demobbed, I said— I didn't mince my words, I said to her myself, HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME Now Albert's coming back, make yourself a bit smart. He'll want to know what you done with that money he gave you To get yourself some teeth. He did, I was there. You have them all out, Lil, and get a nice set, He said, I swear, I can't bear to look at you. And no more can't I, I said, and think of poor Albert, He's been in the army four years, he wants a good time, And if you don't give it him, there's others will, I said. Oh is there, she said. Something o' that, I said. Then I'll know who to thank, she said, and give me a straight look. HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME If you don't like it you can get on with it, I said, Others can pick and choose if you can't. But if Albert makes off, it won't be for lack of telling. You ought to be ashamed, I said, to look so antique. (And her only thirty-one.) I can't help it, she said, pulling a long face, It's them pills I took, to bring it off, she said. (She's had five already, and nearly died of young George.) The chemist said it would be alright, but I've never been the same. You are a proper fool, I said. Well, if Albert won't leave you alone, there it is, I said, What you get married for if you don't want children? HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME Well, that Sunday Albert was home, they had a hot gammon, And they asked me in to dinner, to get the beauty of it hot— HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME HURRY UP PLEASE ITS TIME Goodnight Bill. Goodnight Lou. Goodnight May. Goodnight. Ta ta. Goodnight. Goodnight. Good night, ladies, good night, sweet ladies, good night, good night."

--What also is really interesting is the last lines with the "goodbyes" is from Hamlet when Ophelia gives her "mad speech" before her drowning. So i guess this could insinuate that Lil maybe wants to kill herself bc of this burden of having an abortion and not being attractive for her husband.