Caul Baby

I had never heard the word "caul," nor did I know exactly what it was, until I read the novel Caul Baby, a recommendation from my daughter, Jasmine. While the term was new to me, the topic of the caul is a long-standing tradition in literature. In Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, the narrator describes his own birth by noting, "I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale at the low price of fifteen guineas." Similarly, in Peter Carey’s Oscar and Lucinda, Theophilus Hopkins gifts his son a box containing a caul to protect him from drowning. 

In medieval times, the appearance of a caul on a newborn was seen as a sign of good luck and a destiny for greatness. Some European traditions even linked a "caul birth" to the supernatural ability to defend against evil forces, such as witches and sorcerers. Myths eventually developed suggesting that possessing a baby's caul would bring the bearer good fortune and protect them from death. Because it was regarded as such a valuable object, medieval women often sold them to sailors—who believed it prevented drowning.

In the recent novel Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins, the caul is reimagined as a powerful organ that allows the carrier to recover quickly from injuries, prevents death, and heals various diseases. Because the caul offers such miraculous protection, it becomes a precious commodity sought after by wealthy customers. In Jerkins’ story, these are primarily white clients who are the only ones capable of affording such high prices.

Reflecting on her inspiration, Jerkins noted that she began thinking about the "disposability" of people during the pandemic. She observed that within a capitalist system, some people are treated as more disposable than others. In Caul Baby, the caul-bearing family attempts to exert their autonomy by turning their gift into a business, choosing who receives the caul based on who can pay the most. The absurdity, Jerkins points out, lies in the power dynamics: who is providing the money, and who is truly in control? Ultimately, the story mirrors the real-world intersection of capitalism and the basic human struggle to survive.