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The darkness of Asylums was well known, but they were worse than one could even imagine at the time. The treatment people had to endure was horrific. Once someone was deemed mad, they did not simply leave them to rot, doctors did infact attempt to treat them. Because of the lack of knowledge about mental illness at the time however, the treatments available were unimaginable by today’s standards ("The Victorian Asylum"). Doctors of the time used treatments such as submerging patients in freezing cold water in the hopes that the madness would be shocked out of the patients. They also put patients in spinning chairs that were suspended in the air, in the hopes that the madness will be expelled. Often times through vomit or defecation if they were spinning long enough. Patients came out of the chairs so incredibly sick that they wouldn’t make any more noise, so it became a way to silence patients as well ("Back to Bedlam – London’s Original Asylum."). The doctors also came to use these treatment forms as a form of punishment or intimidation ("The History of the Asylum"). In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester pleas to everyone to “look at the difference” he has made on Bertha by keeping her in the attic (p. 317). Considering the harsh mistreatment of patients in asylums, maybe he was in fact being compassionate towards Bertha, by allowing her to stay in the attic rather than an asylum.

While the conditions of asylums were atrocious, it is also undeniable that the attic Bertha was kept in was terrible also. Jane described the attic as a “room without a window” with a single lamp suspended from a chain. Bertha was left alone without human interaction except from the occasional visit from her caretaker, Grace Poole. Bertha was described as large and very unkempt (p. 316). Not only was Bertha left alone most of the time, Rochester also felt at liberty to tie her up in order to “shut up [his] prize” (p. 317). By this time, Asylums were no longer segregated by gender, and Bertha would have at least had the comfort of other people around her ("The History of the Asylum."). While Asylums were awful places, many described them as somewhat liberating because they were the one place where you could speak your mind completely freely because you had nothing to lose ("Back to Bedlam – London’s Original Asylum."). The ability to speak her mind would have at least liberated Bertha form the monotony of a single room without a window to look out.

One major controversy when people review Victorian Era literature and writing, is often the lack of complete understandings that the doctors, caretakers, husbands and educator had. While it was unclear as to if Bertha truly had a mental illness, was “mad” from birth, “mad” from circumstances, or had a disease that altered her brain function, there was in fact something major going on in Bertha’s head that affected her actions. If Bertha did have Syphilis, gone untreated, it can cause brain, nerve, and joint damage. It also has been known to cause hallucinations, delusions, manic symptoms and paranoia. In the novel Jane Eyre, Bertha Mason, or Rochester’s first wife, was considered “mad” and showed all of these symptoms: biting, stabbing, walking on all fours, grunting, etc. “whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight: it growled like some strange wild animal.” (Bronte, page 316) The more plausible explanation would be the fact that she was suffering from a mental illness that was affecting her brain, Syphilis. it can be assumed, if she did in fact that this disease that she would have progressed into the tertiary stages, which have symptoms like the ones stated above. although we will never know the whole truth of Bertha, the madwoman in the closet, we do know, that her treatment and the way she was forced to live her life was inhumane, and was deeply rooted in the ignorance of the professionals or caretakers that were in charge during this time period.

The controversial line between mental illness and regular illnesses was blurred in many circumstances during the Victorian era in England. in the novel, Jane Eyre, Rochester's first wife, Bertha was locked away and isolated from civilization. Mr. Rochester explained that his first wife was “mad; and came from of a mad family, idiots and maniacs through three generations.” (Bronte, page 315) Although the actions of Bertha in fact led the other characters to the conclusion that she was mad, in reality, there are many explanations as to why she was “mad”. During the Victorian era in England, solutions for curing or helping “mad” people ranged from complete isolation in insane asylums to living in a home, with limited access to only a few other people. Jane Eyre ties a direct relation to the solutions for these illnesses. Just as many other “mad” people were locked up, Rochester, in the novel, locked up his wife for a little less than 15 years, and the majority of their marriage. the Victorian Era and other time periods before this dealt with unfamiliar situations and abnormal behaviors in ways that were anything but human. Charlotte Bronte connected the common Victorian social issue of mental illness with her novel when she introduced “Crazy Bertha”.

Schizophrenia during the Victorian era had little to no scientific knowledge on the mental illness. People often believed that it involved the devil and other evil spirits that took over the body.The actual term “schizophrenia” has only been used since 1911 (Dryden-Edwards). During the Victorian Era, it was considered a separate illness. This would be the reason why Bertha could have gone undiagnosed with the mental illness. It’s less common in children, another reason as to why Bertha could have gone undiagnosed. There are six different types of schizophrenia and disorganized schizophrenia is one of them. It often is described as the person not speaking normally (speech of Bertha) and their actions to not tend to match what they are doing. Catatonic is another; the movement of the person can be very quick and erratic, similar to Bertha’s movement and actions (Dryden-Edwards). Because Bertha seems to fit in different types of schizophrenia, she would be considered undifferentiated. There are genetic and environmental factors to schizophrenia, which could be the cause of Bertha possibly having the illness, but going undiagnosed. The environmental cause would be the attic that she is stuck in, and because he mother had gone mentally insane, she too could have had schizophrenia and that is where the genetic piece comes into play.

"..who is now, with his quivering limbs and white cheeks, showing you what a stout heart men may bear. " (Bronte 317)

Rochester was rushed into his marriage with Bertha because of family encouragement. Because of gender discrimination at the time, men were only sent to mental institutions (asylums) if they had seizures or very large fits. On the other side, women were not treated as fairly. A simple mental breakdown would have them sent away quickly (The Gender Oppression). Because of the gender discrimination, Rochester could have diagnosed Bertha as mentally ill from her just having a bad day. "I had a charming partner—pure, wise, modest: you can fancy I was a happy man. I went through rich scenes! Oh! my experience has been heavenly, if you only knew it! But I owe you no further explanation. " (Bronte 315) Having her locked away in the attic could have had her actually go mentally ill. This would allow him to still technically be married, but he was able to “get rid” of his wife.

There can be many factors for Bertha’s reasoning to go mentally insane, but we cannot exactly be sure. Because of her gender, she was treated unfairly in these circumstances and could have had a small outburst that led her husband to believe she was mentally ill (The Gender Oppression). After being sent to the attic for years, she eventually goes insane possibly due to the environment or she could have had the genetic portion. "Bertha Mason is mad; and she came of a mad family; idiots and maniacs through three generations! Her mother, the Creole, was both a madwoman and a drunkard!—as I found out after I had wed the daughter: for they were silent on family secrets before. Bertha, like a dutiful child, copied her parent in both points. " (Bronte 315) That could have led to the syphilis or schizophrenia. The other option is that she did go mentally insane and Rochester did not want to send her away to an asylum. Either way it seems that Bertha ended up in an unfortunate situation.

During the Victorian Era mental illness was not recognized as a legitimate medical issue. Prior to 1850, mental illness was called the “disease of the soul” so there wasn’t much compassion when it came to those who had any mental weakness. They believed these conditions stemmed from evil inside the person and they were created equivalent to animals("The History of the Asylum"). Patients at this time were kept in cages with little food, no shoes and minimal clothing, and they slept on dirt. The thought during this time was: If they could be put in these horrible conditions and survive they were equal to animals and deserved this kind of abuse. This mindset can be observed in Jane Eyre with the treatment of Bertha and the conditions she was placed in ("The Victorian Asylum").

Bertha Mason is mad . . .she came of a mad family; --idiots and maniacs through three generations! Her mother, the Creole, was both a mad woman and a drunkard!-as I found out after I had wed the daughter: for they were silent on family secrets before. Bertha, like a dutiful child, copied her parent in both points . . .Oh! my experience has been heavenly, if you only knew it! [249]

Bertha was not diagnosed in the novel, but based on her actions, we diagnosed her with hereditary insanity and mental illness. Bertha’s state could have also been a product of Syphilis that she may have contracted from one of the many suitors who courted her. Syphilis can take years to show extreme signs, so this would explain the slow downfall into her wild state ("The Victorian Asylum"). There’s no question that Bertha was mentally ill; based on her actions she was clearly not the Bertha that held herself so properly fifteen years prior. She becomes frightening and violent; growling, acting demonic, and crawling on all fours. The attic could have been a factor of her crazy, looking at the research that has been done about people whom have been solitary confined for so long. A reader’s faith in the goodness of Mr. Rochester is the only way Bertha’s illness can be seen as an inevitable / hereditary occurrence. If Bertha was crazy from the start, then Mr. Rochester would have placed her in the attic, because the treatment she would receive in an insane asylum would have been cruel ("The History of the Asylum"). On the other hand, Mr. Rochester said he thought he loved her but never did, so the reader is led to wonder whether he just took her money and then locked her up thus inciting her mental breakdown into her current state.

“She bit me. She worried me like a tigress, when Rochester got the knife from her...She sucked the blood: she said she'd drain my heart" (209).

Treatments for mental illnesses weren’t very abundant in the Victorian Era. Many women were sent to insane asylums and left in horrible conditions, never to get better. Today we have penicillin which wipes out any factor of mental illness cause by Syphilis, but back then they didn’t have the technology to create a medicine to combat the virus. Women were also extremely targeted at this time because they were thought to be mentally weak compared to mean and more susceptible to be mentally corrupt ("The History of the Asylum"). Treatment in this era was basically nonexistent or just not helpful because the underlying theme was male empowerment. Men were intimidated by intellectual women and that explains why most mental patients were women and they were treated so poorly. Many of the treatments these women were put through, such as: the electric chair, solitary confinement, and the rotary chair only increased patient’s insanity ("The Victorian Asylum").

“Bertha Mason is mad . . .she came of a mad family; --idiots and maniacs through three generations! Her mother, the Creole, was both a mad woman and a drunkard!-as I found out after I had wed the daughter: for they were silent on family secrets before. Bertha, like a dutiful child, copied her parent in both points . . .Oh! my experience has been heavenly, if you only knew it!” [249]

Works Cited

Mental Illness in the Victorian Era

"Artwork Bertha (Jane Eyre Series) by Paula Rego | Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne." Artwork Bertha (Jane Eyre Series) by Paula Rego | Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.charlesnodrumgallery.com.au/artwork.asp?id=31689>.

"Artwork The Keeper (Jane Eyre Series) by Paula Rego | Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne." Artwork The Keeper (Jane Eyre Series) by Paula Rego | Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.charlesnodrumgallery.com.au/artwork.asp?id=31688>.

"Back to Bedlam – London’s Original Asylum." The Spooky Isles. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.spookyisles.com/2012/04/back-to-bedlam-londons-original-asylum/>.

"Bertha Mason." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.shmoop.com/jane-eyre/bertha-mason.html>.

"Bertha Mason." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Mason>.

"Historical Analysis: Women as the "the Sex" During TheVictorian Era." Historical Analysis: Women as the "the Sex" During TheVictorian Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://webpage.pace.edu/nreagin/tempmotherhood/fall2003/3/HisPage.html>.

"The History of the Asylum." TheTimeChamber. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://thetimechamber.co.uk/beta/sites/asylums/asylum-history/the-history-of-the-asylum>.

"Patum Peperium." 'Patum Peperium' N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://jacksonville.typepad.com/patum_peperium/2011/09/the-jane-eyre-re-election-strategy.html>.

"Schizophrenia Pictures Slideshow: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment on MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.medicinenet.com/schizophrenia_pictures_slideshow/article.htm>.

"Sent to the Asylum: The Victorian Women Locked up Because They Were Suffering from Stress, Post Natal Depression and Anxiety." Mail Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2141741/Sent-asylum-The-Victorian-women-locked-suffering-stress-post-natal-depression-anxiety.html>.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Dec. 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/syphilis/DS00374>.

"Syphilis." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis>.

"The Victorian Asylum." TheTimeChamber. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://thetimechamber.co.uk/beta/sites/asylums>.

"The "Wide Sargasso Sea" Blog." The "Wide Sargasso Sea" Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://bd1226-thewidesargassoseablog.blogspot.com/>.

Treatment

Acknowledgment

Other Treatments

CQ

Diagnosis and the Attic Factor

Asylums

KT

Asylum Information

Attic?

Asylums were at their height during the victorian era, the majority of them were built between 1811 and 1914. Prior to that time, there were only eight asylums in the British Isles in the early 1800s. During the early 1800s and prior to that, those who were considered mad would be put in either private “madhouses” or poor work houses ("The History of the Asylum."). One of the few asylums that existed prior to and during the Victorian era, was the Bethlem Hospital, also known as “Bedlam.” Bedlam’s conditions were horrific, and even open to the public to see until 1770 ("Back to Bedlam – London’s Original Asylum."). This created a widespread sentiment that all asylums were horrific places, and many assumed Bedlam only got worse after they closed the doors to the public. Asylums were awful places that housed the people that soceity did not know how to treat at the time. Many believed that mental illness was simply a demon ("Back to Bedlam – London’s Original Asylum."). As Mr. Rochester remarks in Jane Eyre, he thinks that Bertha is facing the “gambols of a demon” (p. 317).

or Asylum?

Schizophrenia and Gender Roles

SH

Schizophrenia

Bertha and Gender Roles

Rochester and Gender Roles

Syphilis

JH

The years that fell before the Victorian Era were packed with exploration and the spread of cultures around the world. As these explorations were taking place, and the overflow of cultures was pouring into newly founded nations and countries, also was the spread of disease and infection pouring all over the newly discovered territories. The disease Syphilis, which is most commonly spread through sexual intercourse or other sexual activities, was sweeping its way around the world. Bertha was originally from the island of Jamaica in the Caribbean. When the explorers went across the oceans in search of new worlds and new treasures, they brought along with them deadly treasures, that through non consensual and consensual intercourse, spread disease. Rochester in the novel states “Bertha, like a dutiful child, copied her parents in both points (madwomen and drunkard). (Bronte, Page 315) What Rochester was unaware of was that sexually transmitted disease can be spread through the birth of a child, and if in fact Bertha was ill, and not just “mad”, then she would have inherited the disease from her mother through a congenital (spread by birth) way. The spread of diseases around the world dumbfounded many doctors and caused many unjustified remedies for treatment, and Bertha may have been a victim to their ignorance on the topic.

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