The Body, Pain and Violence

A personal reflection on health: 20 years on

“…The miner Walter Morel falls ill and his wife, Mrs Morel, 'had him to nurse'. Coupled with the knowledge that Walter is prone to shamming illness, and the phrase that he 'was sickening for an attack of inflammation', Fifield (2015) argues that 'the scenario is grounded in resentment rather than a profound sense of care ' (p. 122) This analysis is reminiscent of the work of David Robinson (1971), who used health diaries to show how bargaining and gift-giving are employed by husbands and wives (and partners) to negotiate entry into the sick role. Becoming ill takes place in the context of ongoing relationships, about which there is 'knowingness', we might say, on the part of the individuals involved.…”

“…The miner Walter Morel falls ill and his wife, Mrs Morel, ‘had him to nurse’. Coupled with the knowledge that Walter is prone to shamming illness, and the phrase that he ‘was sickening for an attack of inflammation’, Fifield (2015) argues that ‘the scenario is grounded in resentment rather than a profound sense of care’ (p. 122)…”

“…‘There was a state of peace in the house for some time. Mrs Morel was more tolerant of him …’ but that ‘Neither knew she was more tolerant of him because she loved him less’ (Fifield, 2015: 122), Fifield concludes that ‘Walter’s illness is not the cause of the coolness, rather the occasion for deceptiveness and scepticism …’. The relationship of the Morels is the medium through which Walter’s illness makes its appearance, to be for them ‘what it is’, making it just such an occasion.…”