Cultural constructions of madness in eighteenth -century writing : representing the insane

Cultural Constructions of Madness in the Eighteenth Century deals with the (mis)representation of insanity through a substantial range of literary forms and figures from across the eighteenth century and beyond. Chapters cover the representation, distortion, sentimentalization and elevation of insanity, and such associated issues as gender, personal identity, and performance, in some of the best, as well as some of the least, known writers of the period. A selection of visual material, including works by Hogarth, Rowlandson, and Gillray, is also discussed. While primarily adopting a literary focus, the work is informed throughout by an alertness to significant issues of medical and psychiatric history. This Fascinating Book Deals With The (mis)representation Of Insanity Through A Substantial Range Of Literary Forms And Figures From Across The Eighteenth Century And Beyond. Chapters Cover The Representation, Distortion, Sentimentalisation And Elevation Of Insanity, And Such Associated Issues As Gender, Personal Identity, And Performance, In Some Of The Best, As Well As Some Of The Least, Known Writers Of The Period - Pope, Swift, Fielding, Sterne, Wollstonecraft And Crabbe, As Well As Joseph Warton, Mary Alcock, Mary Robinson And William Belcher. A Selection Of Visual Material, Including Works By Hogarth, Cibber, Rowlandson, Woodward, Newton And Gillray, Is Also Discussed. While Primarily Adopting A Literary Focus, The Work Is Informed Throughout By An Alertness To Significant Issues Of Medical And Psychiatric History. The Debate Is Concluded With The Suggestion That, Ironically, Representation Of Insanity, Albeit As A Self-conscious Misrepresentation, Has The Potential To Come Closer To 'madness Itself' Than The Autobiographical Accounts That Were Also Popular Within The Period. Speaking It Like A Horse: Gulliver's Travels And The Contexts Of Insanity -- Reconstructing The Classical Model: Pope's Homer And Its Influence -- 'th' Unbalanc'd Mind': Poetry, Satire And The Assimilation Of Madness -- 'the Madness Of A Multitude': Insanity, People And Prose -- Acting The Part Of A Madman: Insanity And The Stage -- A Gendered Affliction: Women, Writing, Madness -- 'the Image Of Our Mind': Seeing And Being Seen -- Madness Itself: The Real Story. Allan Ingram With Michelle Faubert. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-239) And Index. "This book deals with the (mis)representation of insanity through a substantial range of literary forms and figures from across the eighteenth century and beyond. Chapters cover the representation, distortion, sentimentalisation and elevation of insanity, and such associated issues as gender, personal identity, and performance, in some of the best, as well as some of the least known writers of the period - Pope, Swift, Fielding, Sterne, Wollstonecraft and Crabbe, as well as Joseph Warton, Mary Alcock, Mary Robinson and William Belcher. A selection of visual material, including works by Hogarth, Cibber, Rowlandson, Woodward, Newton and Gillray, is also discussed."--BOOK JACKET Front Matter....Pages i-x Speaking It Like a Horse: Gulliver’s Travels and the Contexts of Insanity....Pages 1-24 Reconstructing the Classical Model: Pope’s Homer and Its Influence....Pages 25-52 ‘Th’ Unbalanc’d Mind’: Poetry, Satire and the Assimilation of Madness....Pages 53-77 The Madness of a Multitude’: Insanity, People and Prose....Pages 78-105 Acting the Part of a Madman: Insanity and the Stage....Pages 106-135 A Gendered Affliction: Women, Writing, Madness....Pages 136-169 ‘The Image of Our Mind’: Seeing and Being Seen....Pages 170-201 Madness Itself: the Real Story....Pages 202-230 Back Matter....Pages 231-245