If you see the Doctor's regenerations as healing the thing that killed him, it might actually have led to a more stable Doctor. Idk. But it'd have healed him of Rose Angst in one go, I suppose.
Much as I dislike the Dying For Love notion I do admit to interest in the fanonical notion that Five is "vulnerable" because Four died heartsbroken over Romana and he wanted to keep himself safe from further pain by being a man people would treat a bit more tenderly.
Do you think Ten's regeneration into Eleven completely healed him emotionally? Eleven still seems pretty broken to me
I think it helped a fair bit, he seems more self-aware about the sorts of issues Ten had, and if nothing else he picked up Amy after a year (or more?) of avoiding all emotional investment post-Donna.
He hasn't forgotten her or any of his companions - "guilt, more guilt, even more guilt.")
I like Eleven's mentions of his old companions, they feel natural. And re: self-awareness I can't quite see Ten admitting to guilt over Rose. Martha probably, Donna for sure, though.
Oh joy, what a happy thought for this Tuesday morning! :p
XD
I'm of the school of thought that each Doctor is to an extent a reaction to the previous one (like Six? Is totally who he'd be after being Five and having nobody ever listen to him and then letting himself die to save Peri).
Do you think Ten's regeneration into Eleven completely healed him emotionally? Eleven still seems pretty broken to me (and while I'm a Rose x Doctor shipper, I don't think for a moment that he is carrying a torch for Rose as Eleven. He hasn't forgotten her or any of his companions - "guilt, more guilt, even more guilt.").
Yeah as much as I'd like to think Eleven's completely okay he's not. I also as much as I am a Doctor/Rose shipper and while I believe the Doctor will always love Rose, he's not carrying a torch for her.... not as Ten did afte he lost her. I suppose that is a good thing given his recent loss of Amy and Rory (gosh it's going to take me awhile to get over that myself as I loved Rory so much)....
I don't know that regeneration is emotionally all-healing. It heals the body, but not the mind or memories. He carries those with him, compounding the pain.Yeah regeneration does not take the memories of the companions he's had over the years and I'm glad it does not because that means so as long as the Doctor lives, they are
( ... )
No, it's not a euphemism. In older folks you commonly see married couples die within a year of each other. In younger folks, there is a medical condition called "broken heart syndrome" where grief literally affects the heart and can sometimes be fatal.
It's also important to note that in stages of dying, sometimes a person will stop eating and drinking in order to die. It's not something we can easily accept in our culture but it's not the same as suicide. In old folk stories I see that referred to as "turning the face toward the wall."
You are correct fannishliss. I work in the legal industry and have seen spouses die within months of each other and not due to some ongoing illness. It just seems like when their partner dies, they sort of decide they're ready and deteriorate. You can effectively think yourself sick.
It is also quite common when someone has a terminal illness for them to cease taking food and water. It's a natural part of the dying process and is a rather hot topic in the U.S. as it relates to what is termed "Living Wills" or Declarations Regarding Life Prolonging Procedures. Some families want to force fluids and food on an elderly family member out of a sense that it is their duty to preserve life while others feel this is a natural process and should not be interfered with.
It's an interesting comparison as it relates to this question. Could he sink into a depression and basically let himself die?
I was just listening to a very fascinating piece on NPR (I can't remember but I think it was Fresh Air) about this topic.
I wrote a story once ( it's EPIC Rose/Nine so not for those who don't ship it) where Nine is in a really bad way after the War. I felt sure as I wrote that story that he had burned through at least one regeneration in the aftermath of the War. Here is what he looked like in the beginning: "...the Doctor huddled, folded small into a secret corner, shivering, rocking. Breath after shuddering breath howled implacably into his lungs, and he howled them out again. Agony, madness, horror - why couldn't he just let go? why couldn't he fade quietly away? why couldn't the hearts stop beating, the breath cease at last? ... His arms ached, so tightly was he holding himself in, fingers clawing into his own sides." And, as he began to make a recovery: "... Trembling, he unfolded. On legs kitten weak, he stood, propping himself against the wall. He was filthy, hair matted in tangles around his eyes, emaciated,
( ... )
It's not something we can easily accept in our culture but it's not the same as suicide.
It is not violent, but it is very much a refusal to live, therefore slow suicide and loved ones forced to witness this type of self-neglect feel no differently than people who have discovered someone who has taken their lives swiftly. If anything we feel worst. I witnessed two cases and we as family felt frustrated, angry, and completely helpless, as other than taking them somewhere to be force fed, (Yeah we did--Works for only a moment--they can't keep them forever--can't make people take meds, and we can't change their reality), we couldn't stop them from destroying their lives. And yeah, there were people who said these lost souls were better off, because they were so miserable and in pain, but some of us believed there must have been something we could do to help them heal and want to go on.
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Much as I dislike the Dying For Love notion I do admit to interest in the fanonical notion that Five is "vulnerable" because Four died heartsbroken over Romana and he wanted to keep himself safe from further pain by being a man people would treat a bit more tenderly.
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(The comment has been removed)
I think it helped a fair bit, he seems more self-aware about the sorts of issues Ten had, and if nothing else he picked up Amy after a year (or more?) of avoiding all emotional investment post-Donna.
He hasn't forgotten her or any of his companions - "guilt, more guilt, even more guilt.")
I like Eleven's mentions of his old companions, they feel natural. And re: self-awareness I can't quite see Ten admitting to guilt over Rose. Martha probably, Donna for sure, though.
Oh joy, what a happy thought for this Tuesday morning! :p
XD
I'm of the school of thought that each Doctor is to an extent a reaction to the previous one (like Six? Is totally who he'd be after being Five and having nobody ever listen to him and then letting himself die to save Peri).
Reply
Yeah as much as I'd like to think Eleven's completely okay he's not. I also as much as I am a Doctor/Rose shipper and while I believe the Doctor will always love Rose, he's not carrying a torch for her.... not as Ten did afte he lost her. I suppose that is a good thing given his recent loss of Amy and Rory (gosh it's going to take me awhile to get over that myself as I loved Rory so much)....
I don't know that regeneration is emotionally all-healing. It heals the body, but not the mind or memories. He carries those with him, compounding the pain.Yeah regeneration does not take the memories of the companions he's had over the years and I'm glad it does not because that means so as long as the Doctor lives, they are ( ... )
Reply
Not that I think it would trigger regeneration in Time Lords.... fatal carelessness maybe.... :)
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It's also important to note that in stages of dying, sometimes a person will stop eating and drinking in order to die. It's not something we can easily accept in our culture but it's not the same as suicide. In old folk stories I see that referred to as "turning the face toward the wall."
Reply
It is also quite common when someone has a terminal illness for them to cease taking food and water. It's a natural part of the dying process and is a rather hot topic in the U.S. as it relates to what is termed "Living Wills" or Declarations Regarding Life Prolonging Procedures. Some families want to force fluids and food on an elderly family member out of a sense that it is their duty to preserve life while others feel this is a natural process and should not be interfered with.
It's an interesting comparison as it relates to this question. Could he sink into a depression and basically let himself die?
Reply
I wrote a story once ( it's EPIC Rose/Nine so not for those who don't ship it) where Nine is in a really bad way after the War. I felt sure as I wrote that story that he had burned through at least one regeneration in the aftermath of the War. Here is what he looked like in the beginning: "...the Doctor huddled, folded small into a secret corner, shivering, rocking. Breath after shuddering breath howled implacably into his lungs, and he howled them out again. Agony, madness, horror - why couldn't he just let go? why couldn't he fade quietly away? why couldn't the hearts stop beating, the breath cease at last? ... His arms ached, so tightly was he holding himself in, fingers clawing into his own sides." And, as he began to make a recovery: "... Trembling, he unfolded. On legs kitten weak, he stood, propping himself against the wall. He was filthy, hair matted in tangles around his eyes, emaciated, ( ... )
Reply
It is not violent, but it is very much a refusal to live, therefore slow suicide and loved ones forced to witness this type of self-neglect feel no differently than people who have discovered someone who has taken their lives swiftly. If anything we feel worst. I witnessed two cases and we as family felt frustrated, angry, and completely helpless, as other than taking them somewhere to be force fed, (Yeah we did--Works for only a moment--they can't keep them forever--can't make people take meds, and we can't change their reality), we couldn't stop them from destroying their lives. And yeah, there were people who said these lost souls were better off, because they were so miserable and in pain, but some of us believed there must have been something we could do to help them heal and want to go on.
Reply
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