All that madness!

An intriguing theme that ran through all the three literary pieces we have done so far is the presence of a mad woman, who was effectively pushed away from the narrative in one way or the other. The madness too that is steeped in erotic desires, fiery passions, romantic instincts and rebellious motives. It begins with Mary Crawford the woman with bold and liberal sexuality. In terms of the greater national narrative and reinforcing the superior conscience of Great Britain Mary and her brother are associated with the French manners (loose morality). The idea however is not just introducing this woman with an alternate style of life but ensuring that she meets the fate that Britain has decided for her- off she goes out of this divine inspired hub to suffer in the land of degenerate species.

Next we have an encounter with our local obsessive Sarah. Despite her lavish economic class, pre-eminent education, domestic dominance (not answerable as such to her mother, not restricted from her hang outs) she has such overwhelming dictation of her heart that she plots the most pathetic of plans in Ashar, Khirad, Khizr, Fareeda aunty (is anyone left?) lives. She expresses the yearnings of her affectionate heart, does not conceal them from her aunt (I cannot imagine telling my aunt I am obsessed with a guy, let alone her son), puts almost a public show of her sentiments and the drama teaches her a lesson by just taking her life. The minimal attention given to her death shows that this is the end she rightly deserved? That’s what people in this country do anyway…take life for not wearing your religion/morals on your head/sleeve. Killing; a common practice like drinking tea.

Lastly the much infamous Bertha Mason! She too is described in terms of a wild sexuality that was too rough for even our Byronic Rochester to handle. A beastly woman from the West Indies so corrupted that even the purity of England cannot chastise her. And again we witness that controlling her lies only in carving out a diseased Indies for her in the enclosed attic. None of the moral impurity can enter England, which is why Jane has to undergo the most volatile suffering too…only to ensure she is morally upright at all times.

The presence of these lunatic women and their enthralling sexual desires is quite a routine in the novels and dramas that intend to shape national morals. It is amusing that the madness of a consuming and burning longing is always labelled under the title of a ‘must be cured infection’.