The first part of the essay traces the history of internment in Victorian England. The reconstruction is undoubtedly cultured and detailed starting from the examination of the Madhouses Act of 1774 and its consequences on the care of the mentally ill.The study is dedicated in particular to Louise Lowe, interned for the first time in 1870. The case study is appropriate with respect to the purpose that the author of the essay proposes: to analyze how Lowe derived from the experience of her “incarcerations” some denunciatory writings and how Lowe contributed with the foundation of the Lunacy Law Reform Association (LLRA) to the improvement of the living conditions of the mentally ill. Lowe’s writing cited in the title is in fact accurately described through the metaphor of prison, the stigma on health and the trade that came from it.
WRITING OUT (OF) DARKNESS: THE BASTILLES OF ENGLAND; OR, THE LUNACY LAW AT WORK BY LOUISA LOWE (1883) / Salis, Loredana. - In: LINGUE E LINGUAGGI. - ISSN 2239-0359. - 67:(2024).
WRITING OUT (OF) DARKNESS: THE BASTILLES OF ENGLAND; OR, THE LUNACY LAW AT WORK BY LOUISA LOWE (1883)
Loredana Salis
2024-01-01
Abstract
The first part of the essay traces the history of internment in Victorian England. The reconstruction is undoubtedly cultured and detailed starting from the examination of the Madhouses Act of 1774 and its consequences on the care of the mentally ill.The study is dedicated in particular to Louise Lowe, interned for the first time in 1870. The case study is appropriate with respect to the purpose that the author of the essay proposes: to analyze how Lowe derived from the experience of her “incarcerations” some denunciatory writings and how Lowe contributed with the foundation of the Lunacy Law Reform Association (LLRA) to the improvement of the living conditions of the mentally ill. Lowe’s writing cited in the title is in fact accurately described through the metaphor of prison, the stigma on health and the trade that came from it.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
