De-lurking with a question for the literary hivemind (especially readers of historical fiction):
I'm editing an article that mentions a comment by Colin Powell about the French ambassador. "[Colin Powell said] Hubert Védrine must have gotten the "vapors," as if comparing France subliminally to a menopausal woman."
Is the “vapors” a menopause reference? I thought it could refer to a woman of any age, but I realize now I’m not sure exactly what this expression means. If it is not a menopause thing, can anyone suggest a quick fix for the sentence?
Thanks in advance as I'll be dark for the next few days.
I was under the impression "getting the vapors" was simply getting dizzy and faint due to some unpleasantness. I think that Victorian women of the middle and upper classes were more prone to the problem due to overly tight corseting. I'm not the world's best at catching menstruation references. But why blame something on bleeding when you can blame it on fashion?
The Vapours just means faintness with overtones of hysteria. Hysterical woman? Victorian woman? weak and feeble woman? neurasthenic woman?
The "vapors" in the 19th century referred to unexplained weakness and sometimes a general malaise. It was usually applied to women and sometimes associated with "womb disease," which could be anything from actual female medical conditions to mental illness. It was sometimes applied to men, but usually with the implication of a female-like weakness.
As the term is used today, it would probably work to say "as if comparing France subliminally to a
hysterical
woman."
Megan Walker! There you are!
I was under the impression "getting the vapors" was simply getting dizzy and faint due to some unpleasantness. I think that Victorian women of the middle and upper classes were more prone to the problem due to overly tight corseting.
Hmmm, it's used differently in the South, where I've always heard it as a more polite euphemism for being flatulent. Though I imagine it would likewise be exacerbated by overly tight corseting.
Though I imagine it would likewise be exacerbated by overly tight corseting.
I have no practical experience, but I expect it would be harder to work up a great...vapour with the corseting on.
Hmmm, dunno if the extra pressure would help or hinder the process.
I'm glad that this past week I had a chance to skim a few pages from Titus Crow at the bookstore, as I'd previously thought about buying it.
This was before I hit the page that was like Melrose Place with the Cthulhu Cyle Deities cast in the principal roles, mind you. Bleargh.
This was before I hit the page that was like Melrose Place with the Cthulhu Cyle Deities cast in the principal roles, mind you. Bleargh.
Hey, if it was good enough for the Greeks...
Hmmm, it's used differently in the South, where I've always heard it as a more polite euphemism for being flatulent. Though I imagine it would likewise be exacerbated by overly tight corseting.
This is how I've always understood it, too.
