The role of madness in "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

What do you think is the role of Anne Catherick in the novel? What is her purpose?

I mean I think that the whole plot is formed around her being insane and escaping from a mental institution, so her character was used in order to create a "problem" around which the plot would form.

Do you have any ideas? Any social points Collins was trying to make?

Reply 1

MSB

17

Madness in women in the period is an interesting enough topic, and critically trendy after Gilbert and Gubar's book. It is a lot to do with how feminity was portrayed.

Your point is a good one, as I think that Collins very much wanted the opening scene (with Hartright encountering the ghostly figure before she is re-captured) and wrote the novel around that. Also, Anne Catherick as a double for Laura Fairlie is an interesting way to think about it.

Reply 2

Glitzey

OP

6

MSB

Madness in women in the period is an interesting enough topic, and critically trendy after Gilbert and Gubar's book. It is a lot to do with how feminity was portrayed.

Your point is a good one, as I think that Collins very much wanted the opening scene (with Hartright encountering the ghostly figure before she is re-captured) and wrote the novel around that. Also, Anne Catherick as a double for Laura Fairlie is an interesting way to think about it.

Thank you for your help :smile:

I ordered the book written by Gilbert and Gubar so I hope to get some more ideas

The role of madness in "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

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