Mental Illness in 19th century

 

Until the mid-19^th century, mental illness was believed to be a result of a demonic and evil presence in the soul. As result, they were treated as if they were animals; they were locked in cages, often wore little clothing, and were only given small amounts of food. Around 1850, people began to believe that the mentally ill were actually suffering from a disease that could be researched and cured, and not evil possession. Patients began to be treated with much more attention and care, and doctors would visit them. During this era, women were deemed more susceptible than men to mental illness because they did not have as much mental capacity as men. As a result women often hid their feelings, because one breakdown could be considered a mental illness.

The Jane Eyre character Bertha has a mental illness. Because this book was written in 1847, the mentally ill were still being treated as animals. This is evident in the way Bertha is locked up in the attic under the close supervision of Grace Poole. A few quotes that emphasize her animal-like depiction are:

“The lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously, and laid her teeth to his cheek: they struggled.” (293) This quote gives Bertha the attitude of a wild animal. The fact that she physically attacks her husband and bites him portrays her as some vicious wild animal.

“What it was, whether a beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell: it groveled seemingly, on all fours; it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid its head and face.” (292) When Jane refers to Bertha as “it,” it is a perfect example of the comparison of mentally ill humans to animals in the Victorian era. This entire quote, Jane’s first experience with Bertha, is an in depth description that relates perfectly to the perception of the mentally ill in the 1800s.



Song: Mr. Rochester dealing with Jane leaving him and Thornfield