2001: One definition of madness is "mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it." But Emily Dickinson wrote
Much madness is divinest Sense-‐
To a discerning Eye-‐
Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-‐organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Emily Dickinson wrote, “Much madness is divinest sense- to the discerning eye.” This means that while a character or action may seem mad or crazy, their sanity is a question of perspective. The most evident example of seemingly madness found in Jane Eyre is Bertha Mason, Rochester’s wife. Bertha is a woman who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises along with trying to kill her husband by setting fire to his home. While these actions are obviously signs of madness, Bertha may not be as crazy as she seems, especially considering her past and all she has been through.
Bertha is described from a very insensitive and belittling point of view. Jane, and practically everyone feel no sympathy or show no kindness to her. This could be part of the reason for Bertha’s madness or, the reason for Bertha’s madness could be traced back to when she married Rochester without really getting to know him or fall in love with him. Rochester also claims that her family was mad, so it was inevitable for her to inherit it too. It is hard to fully believe all of the negative descriptions of her without hearing her side of the story, especially since they are so insensitive and biased.
The fact that Rochester locked her in an attic also contributes to Bertha’s insanity. With such constraint and denial of contact with the outside world, Bertha may have just been so thirsty for attention, she would do whatever she had to get it, whether it meant making animal noises or setting her husband’s house on fire. Her being locked in the attic could represent Bronte’s feelings about women’s treatment and standards set by society at the time (Bronte felt as if women were constrained or “locked up” and were not given the opportunities they deserved. In turn, they would go crazy. Also, the fact that Bertha is capable of such destruction symbolizes how women are capable of whatever they set their minds to)
Bertha may not be mad, her actions may just be a response to her situation. It cannot be argued that someone who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises, along with attempting murder by arson is not insane. However, her madness, as a response to her situation can be dubbed reasonable. She is rejected by the man who is supposed to love her, kept prisoner in her own house, and the only way she can show her feelings or get any attention is through her crazy actions.
Bertha’s madness contributes to the work as a whole by providing a similar character to Jane Eyre, even though they seem very different. Both get locked up (Bertha in the attic and Jane in the red room). Both are used by Rochester. Jane is just a luckier version of Bertha. Both personify Bronte’s feelings about women’s’ treatment at the time. Since the characters are so similar, it shows that either Jane was secretly crazy the whole time, or Bertha is not as mad as she seems. Bertha’s madness is a question of perspective and while her actions seem mad, they are reasonable responses to her situation.
Much madness is divinest Sense-‐
To a discerning Eye-‐
Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-‐organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
Emily Dickinson wrote, “Much madness is divinest sense- to the discerning eye.” This means that while a character or action may seem mad or crazy, their sanity is a question of perspective. The most evident example of seemingly madness found in Jane Eyre is Bertha Mason, Rochester’s wife. Bertha is a woman who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises along with trying to kill her husband by setting fire to his home. While these actions are obviously signs of madness, Bertha may not be as crazy as she seems, especially considering her past and all she has been through.
Bertha is described from a very insensitive and belittling point of view. Jane, and practically everyone feel no sympathy or show no kindness to her. This could be part of the reason for Bertha’s madness or, the reason for Bertha’s madness could be traced back to when she married Rochester without really getting to know him or fall in love with him. Rochester also claims that her family was mad, so it was inevitable for her to inherit it too. It is hard to fully believe all of the negative descriptions of her without hearing her side of the story, especially since they are so insensitive and biased.
The fact that Rochester locked her in an attic also contributes to Bertha’s insanity. With such constraint and denial of contact with the outside world, Bertha may have just been so thirsty for attention, she would do whatever she had to get it, whether it meant making animal noises or setting her husband’s house on fire. Her being locked in the attic could represent Bronte’s feelings about women’s treatment and standards set by society at the time (Bronte felt as if women were constrained or “locked up” and were not given the opportunities they deserved. In turn, they would go crazy. Also, the fact that Bertha is capable of such destruction symbolizes how women are capable of whatever they set their minds to)
Bertha may not be mad, her actions may just be a response to her situation. It cannot be argued that someone who crawls around on all fours and makes animal noises, along with attempting murder by arson is not insane. However, her madness, as a response to her situation can be dubbed reasonable. She is rejected by the man who is supposed to love her, kept prisoner in her own house, and the only way she can show her feelings or get any attention is through her crazy actions.
Bertha’s madness contributes to the work as a whole by providing a similar character to Jane Eyre, even though they seem very different. Both get locked up (Bertha in the attic and Jane in the red room). Both are used by Rochester. Jane is just a luckier version of Bertha. Both personify Bronte’s feelings about women’s’ treatment at the time. Since the characters are so similar, it shows that either Jane was secretly crazy the whole time, or Bertha is not as mad as she seems. Bertha’s madness is a question of perspective and while her actions seem mad, they are reasonable responses to her situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment