a good portion of the women in the Asylum were no madder than the Queen of England. Many were sane enough when sober, as their madness came out of a bottle, which is a kind I knew very well. One of them was in there to get away from her husband, who beat her black and blue, he was the mad one but nobody would lock him up; and another said she went mad in the autumns, as she had no house and it was warm in the Asylum, and if she didn't do a fair job of running mad she would freeze to death; but then in the spring she would become sane again because it was good weather and she could go off and tramp in the woods and fish
The passage reflects on the nature of sanity among women in an asylum, suggesting that many of them were not truly mad but rather affected by external circumstances, such as alcohol or abusive relationships. The narrator points out the irony of a woman being committed while her violent husband remains free, highlighting societal injustices towards women’s mental health and domestic abuse. This raises questions about what constitutes madness and who gets to decide.
Additionally, the text illustrates the cyclical nature of the women’s experiences. One woman finds solace in the asylum during the harsh autumns, indicating that her choice to appear mad is a survival mechanism in a cold, unwelcoming world. As the seasons change and she can enjoy nature in spring, her sanity returns, emphasizing the impact of environment on mental health. This perspective invites readers to reconsider traditional views of madness and sanity.
