History of 19th Century Insane Asylums
During the 19th century there were no governmentally
established institutions for the mentally ill. These individuals
were either regulated within the general population of the prisons and
workhouses, or taken care of by family members. The causes for insanity
were not clear at this point in hisory, but with the rise in the acceptance
in Social Darwinism, the main belief was an abnormality of the brain.
This theory then took the place of the once popular demonic possession
concept for the mentally ill. In the late 1800’s, a new code of “moral
treatment” of the insane was established with the help of a nurse by
the name of Dorothea Dix. She fought for the 
insane
and established the first mental hospital in Ameica. Her proposed
treatment was to improve the environment of the inflicted in hopes to regain
their sanity. This practice of removing the ill from their homes
and into an institution where they could receive exercise, work, and a
chance to receive some education spread across the Atlantic and into English
society. “Moral treatment” was not available for all mentally ill
persons. The people who qualified were those who had a slight abnormality
of the brain thus creating a possiblity to become rehabilitated.
The reclusive Miss Havisham would have been
placed into this category of rehabilitation because of her
lack of danger to society. She is not violent, but only manipulative
and bitter, which is a possible cause of her madness. The fact that
her family has not considered putting her in an institution for possible
treatment is an interesting twist in the story. She has but
a few servants helping her, and remains isolated by her own wishes.
Because of Miss Havisham’s considerable wealth, and her adamancy in being
left alone, could be why the Pocket Family decides to leave her at Satis
House. This would not be a typical case during this time in England.
Because of Miss Havisham’s possibility for rehabilitation she would have
been removed from her home and placed in an institution where she could
receive treatment and hopefully return to Satis House upon the return of
her sanity.
The mentally ill who could not be rehabilitated were
treated much differently than those who had hopes of becoming cured from
their affliction. In the 1800’s the Criminal Lunatics Act was passed
which provided safety for persons charged with capital crimes, but acquitted
because they were insane. These individuals, kept in special units
of hospitals, prisons, and mad houses, were hidden from society because
of their dangerous nature due to a “derangement of the mind”. The
most popular explanations, in additon to brain abnormalities, for the violently
insane were justified in the partaking of immoral behaviors such
as heavy drinking and masturbation. The criminally insane were hidden
so as to keep peace within both the institutions as well as within society.
These mentally ill persons were not allowed to stay at home with their
families or receive “moral treatment” within a mental hospital. They
were dangerous and had to be watched so as to not harm themselves or others.
Orlick is criminally insane. He succeeds in
killing Mrs. Joe and attempts to kill Pip with malicious intent.
Though Orlick is not as evidently insane as Miss Havisham at the beginning
of the novel, he is a more dangerous type of lunatic because he is capable
of planning acts of violence. This is evident in his
luring Pip into a trap in order for him to kill the young man.
Orlick is not a recluse, he works for both Joe and Miss Havisham, but his
inclination for violence demonstrates his madness. This type of madness
that afflicts Orlick would be explained at this time from his crude manner
and heavy drinking that is expressed throughout the story. The treatment
for this man would unquestionably be to place him in a mental hospital
under strict supervision, possibly with shackles. There is no doubt
that Orlick is unstable and capable of murder, which in of itself is enough
to keep him locked up for the safety of society.
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