Character Analysis: The Savages

It’s difficult to imagine being in this situation, but if I was in Carolyn Savage’s shoes, I hope that I would do the same as she did. Although it would be unbelievably difficult to give birth to the child, I would know that this was someone else’s baby and feel a duty to carry the child safely. Again, the pain of this situation is impossible to imagine, but I do think that the Savages did the right thing. Though I would understand if they had wanted to keep the baby instead, I’m sure the damage would still have been immense for both families. The case would be emotionally exhausting and its outcome would affect the families, especially the child, for long after it ended. Legally, I would imagine the law would side with the Morells, but either way, the case would certainly have long-lasting repercussions on what it means to be a child’s parent.

The ambiguity and uniqueness of their circumstances must have created so much confusion and isolation. With many tragedies, they are devastating but also an event many people have experienced, creating a connection and support group between strangers; without that relatability, it must have felt even more lonesome than all grief does. Outside of that uniqueness, it seems that this event affected the Savages similarly to the loss of a child. According to Olson (2014), a loss of a child “is clearly a catastrophe for families—mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other close relatives and friends” (p. 365), presenting the way this kind of loss affects every invested party. Of course, this isn’t the same situation, but it’s still a huge loss of expectations, hopes, and dreams. To have all of those ideas taken away so suddenly, I’m sure it was a loss that was nearly impossible to address without professional