Heroines and Thyroid Problems

I have a theory.

Recently, I read Kate Jacobs' novel Comfort Food. I found it truly satisfying - like the literary equivalent of a great broccoli and rice casserole or chicken pot pie, complimented by just the right wine. The plot of the book revolves around a cooking show headlined by Augusta "Gus" Simpson, whose livelihood is rapidly, erm, un-living. Her producer is desperate to bring her ratings back up, and one of his many shenanigans involves a contest to allow viewers - well, one lucky viewer - the eopportunity to win a chance to meet Gus. Enter Lucky Contestant: stay at home mom who still loves her family but sees happiness with life only in the past tense - along with her waistline and her hair's luster. I was all set up for another Awakening or Mermaid Chair experience, when I got a shock: The very day Lucky Contestant met her TV cooking hero, she also met Gus's best friend, who connected Lucky Contestant's moodiness, hair loss, and weight gain to a thyroid condition. Badabing, Badaboom, she's a happy camper again.

Dude.

What if Edna Pontellier had an overly active thyroid, and that was the cause of her unrest and drowning. I'm sure that ocean water was pretty cool to a woman having hot flashes? Anybody mind if we exhume Chopin so I can ask her face to face my burning question - get it - burning?

But seriously, isn't it possible that our beloved, discontent heroines of classic literature just had health issues that made them grumpily project and misplace their anger? Isn't it?

Dude.