John: Exactly; about its real possibilities, and its real dangers, she knew nothing; and along comes this man; and over she goes!... If she’d belonged to us, she’d have known what she was doing; either she wouldn’t have had an affair with this man at all—he’s apparently left her in the lurch—or, if it was a thing of real value in their lives, she wouldn’t have had a child; unless she wanted it; and was prepared to face up to the whole business.
Gwen: Yes.
John: And in the third place, now that it has happened, half her trouble is her fear; the disgrace of it. If instead of cursing her, and blaming her, and pushing her away, people would help her, it wouldn’t be so very terrible.
Gwen: There’s her baby....
John: Gwen; an epileptic woman in a slum can have twelve children by a confirmed drunkard. Which is worse? That; or this baby of Rosie’s? But as long as it’s in “holy matrimony,” people can have dozens of children with no earthly chance of looking after them—and your moralists make no objection; but they’ll torture young Rosie till she thinks of suicide.... The whole question of children—I’m sure it’s a matter of clear thinking. It’s so damned important we should think clearly.... Love between two people is a personal relationship.
Gwen: Yes.
John: I can’t see that anybody has a right to interfere.
Gwen: No.
John: But as soon as you have a child, it’s more than personal; it’s a social relationship.
Gwen: Yes.