Although I would write it out of the drama completely, in The English syphilis is a rampant and ugly theme. Following the raid on the Cheyenne village Melmont and his mates celebrate by going to a whore house where they karmically all become infected with the famously Victorian STI (boo hoo). That they don't do the decent thing and keep it to themselves is a crying shame, as Melmont in particular passes it onto the unwitting and thoroughly victimised Cornelia and their son, condemning them both to social rejection, illness and early death.
It can't be ignored that in Victorian times as with other times in history, men's sexual licence has been hugely unlimited compared with women's. Men expect and are expected to 'sow their wild oats', to be experienced and worldly lovers, yet women to be virgins until they marry. So just who are these men sleeping with? Well prostitutes and loose women of course. Disease then becomes a simmering pot, with men sharing the same 'fallen' women and infecting not just each other but then the innocent women they turn to next, be them girlfriend or wife, or in Cornelia's case victim. Why do the innocent have to literally suffer for the sins of the men? Cornelia and her son did absolutely nothing wrong, yet they suffer horribly and with no glimmer of hope.
Not only is Cornelia facing a progressively worsening condition, and one which most shockingly will rid her of her beauty (what else does she have but this ultimately) but it also steals her of any future with Eli, who also deserves to be happy (all his family and friends are dead). The question I suppose remains, why can't they stay together in a platonic relationship? However, would either of them want to witness her demise? Possibly, is my answer, if I'm honest. If this is love then yes they would stick it out together no matter what. I suppose though that Eli has lost so much he cannot face losing her too. For Cornelia maybe she has to give up the life of adventure because of her ill health. Personally I would have gone out with a bang rather than hung on for 13 more years. Grief is an awful thing, and so is heartbreak, why with such a doomed future ahead, stay alive?
Sex then, as I've mentioned earlier I would have got rid of the syphilis plot and kept it a straight forward revenge/chase story. I would not have backed away from an inter racial relationship between Cornelia and Eli, and put in a sex scene. I can understand why Hugo Blick didn't go down this route, his story was a tragedy written in the stars. It makes for a grand and epic western, but, for people like me with tender hearts and minds I long for a happier outcome to their story. As someone who dabbles in writing I have not the discipline or the coldness to create then torture my characters. They have adventures yes, ordeals even, but there has to be hope.
Would I have watched The English had I known in advance just how sad it would be at the end? In a word no. Don't get me wrong I'm glad I watched it, because it was amazing and touching and important. But, in truth I don't like sad stories, not one bit. That's not to say I expect a trite neatly wrapped chocolate box of a story, no not at all. I just don't want to be traumatised by the things I read and watch, it's not the news for gods sake!
So yes to sex and no to syphilis in my version of The English, let Cornelia and Eli have some fun.
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Rethinking The English (fanfic)
RomanceA short alternative story arc which makes the recent BBC drama The English, less heartbreaking. Followed by a reinterpretation of key scenes.
