Female Quixote and Female Madness

In pondering questions from the list for the last day of Female Quixote, I wish to address question 3, concerning Sir Charles' debate about whether or not to commit Arabella, after her plunging into the Thames episode. Although it is still too early for this to become a concept, nonetheless a literary lens and criticism, the "Madwoman in the Attic', as it relates to medical discourse in the upcoming Victorian Literature era can be incredibly useful. Drawing on the presentations and my own literary work from Dr. Hague's Victorian Lit class last semester, the discourse surrounding female rebellion, free-thinking, desire for independence and a desire for less constrictive attitudes towards sex were seen as a mental instability in women, who were seen as biologically wanting to be in a subservient position. If a woman exhibited these qualities, any male family member, whether it be brother, uncle or father, could commit her to an institution, just on the basis of his word. Although this notion truly first appears in Jane Eyre with Bertha, this concept can help us to understand Sir Charles’ motives and reasoning behind debating this prospect. In addition, in medical and psychological studies, there was much to be desired (Freud, in all of his power and influence, hadn’t even become notable yet, even in the Victorian Era).

            Considering the example of Arabella, it seems that she is a threat to not only her own health and safety but also a threat to those around her, with her seemingly deluded fantasies which others, including Charles, will interpret as mental instability. Allowing her to simply return to the country, rather than commit her to an institution is not feasible for many reasons. First and foremost, although Arabella had been ‘confined’ to the castle, she could easily escape and endanger herself and others, such as the Edward episode. Having the time and efforts to literally and physically contain Arabella would be an expansive and costly endeavor. Secondly, simply confining her, making her the Madwoman in the Attic like Bertha, does not ‘cure’ her ‘condition’ as it were. If Charles believes her to be mentally unstable, then medical help would be the best option for Arabella, which it seems that he does. However, it is not simply that he is thinking of Arabella as mentally unsound and a threat to others, he always claims that she is absurd and an embarrassment to herself. It seems then that the family name, which rests on Arabella as the holder of fortune is at stake, both in the individual and the familial level. Her disconnect comes from her acceptance of fantasy as reality, rather than seeing them as two separate entities. In order to resolve this, Sir Charles enlists the help of a cleric, who clears this divide up for Arabella, “…whether Life is truly described in those Books; the Likeness of a Picture can only be determined by a Knowledge of the Original. You have yet had little Opportunity of knowing the Ways of Mankind, which cannot be learned but from Experience…” (379). Rather than committing Arabella to the fate of Madwoman, Sir Charles takes a route of medical assistance, recognizing the insufficiency of confinement and the necessity of helping Arabella overcome her gaps in education.