Hysteria

centuries. Hysteria is defined as “ a psychoneurotic disorder characterized by violent emotional outbreaks, disturbances of sensory and motor functions, and various abnormal effects due to autosuggestion.” Hysteria is not a condition that is specific to only females (Hysteria). Although it is more common among women, men can also become “hysterical” in their lifetime. This idea was proposed in the 1800s by a French neurologists named Jean- Martin Charcot. Charcot believed that hysteria was not a sexual

Everyone has moments in their lives where they might just go crazy. Mass hysteria is “a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness” (Dictionary.com). There have been multiple instances where large amounts of people have identical symptoms that alienate them from others in society. Many factors play into the incline of mass hysteria in students over others: similar social problems, challenges, or traumatic

Brontë included her in Jane Eyre in 1847. As discussed in chapter one, there was a social correlation between women and hysteria, and a great fear by women of false committals or home imprisonment by their husbands. Jane Eyre is a novel that plays upon that fear and brings these frightening scenarios to life. Brontë's depiction of Bertha Mason also reveals society’s views of hysteria. This is an illness that is difficult to understand, and Jane’s descriptions of the hysterical woman have a visceral

The first manifestation that will be examined in this chapter is hysteria. While there existed different forms of hysteria, this section of the chapter will focus on the aspect that it was considered a disease that affected women more than men due to their weakness and susceptibility to emotions. Several publications were written about women and hysteria, or they were written geared toward women about dealing with hysteria. Women were viewed as unable to control their bodies, being described as the

the story, things got complicated and when everyone noticed, it was too late. A lot of people died and no one could stop it anymore. Even after everyone noticed, they couldn’t do anything against the judges. The Crucible is an good example of mass hysteria along with the events in The Halifax Slasher. They both show similar events but are different because of their setting in history. In the events of The Halifax Slasher, there was a mysterious killer roaming the streets of Halifax, England. A few

accused of witchcraft and some hanged. In Arthur Miller’s famous play The Crucible, mass hysteria leads to the wrongful accusation and hanging of dozens of Salem citizens for witchcraft. It also happened in 1962 when 62 textile workers came down with a disease that was blamed on the bite of a Junebug. When fear becomes widespread and delusional as it has in Salem, it is not fear anymore; it is mass hysteria, a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational

about the science. This alongside a predominantly male medical discourse led to a medical diagnosis in many women called hysteria. Female hysteria was a medical diagnosis given to specifically women as far back as the ancient Greek civilization. Hysteria started as a supernatural phenomena, but as medicine evolved it would be described as a mental disorder, (Tasca). Hysteria. in actuality, is an absurd and fabricated diagnosis that institutionalized and discriminated countless women. The way it

In today's world, there are multiple examples of mass hysteria. For example, ISIS is a popular mass hysteria in today's world. They give the world fear with terrorism, similarly to witchcraft in "The Crucible". ISIS's major begining was at a tragic event known as 9/11. This is an event where many planes were hijacked and crashed into the twin towers. 9/11 created a fear among the United States. Soon many Americans started to easily suspect terroism. This connects to "The Crucible" due to the fact

Eyre in 1847. As discussed in chapter one, there was a social correlation between women and hysteria. While the raw facts show otherwise, there was a great fear that a woman could be falsely committed or locked away in her home by her husband. Jane Eyre is a novel that plays upon that fear and brings these frightening scenarios to life. Brontë's depiction of Bertha Mason also reveals how a woman with hysteria was viewed. It is not an understandable portrayal, and Jane is visceral with her descriptions

Male View of Hysteria Presented in The Yellow Wallpaper          Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" has been viewed as either a work of supernatural horror or as a feminist treatise regarding the role of women in society. A close analysis of Gilman's use of symbols reveals "The Yellow Wallpaper" as her response to the male view of hysteria from ancient times through the nineteenth century. " In "The Yellow Wallpaper" Gilman questions the validity of Hippocrates's