Hysteria in Literature & Literary Theory

Hysteria: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology and Term:

The term “hysteria” originates from the ancient Greek word “hystera,” meaning uterus. Historically, hysteria was associated with disturbances thought to arise from the uterus, predominantly affecting women.

In the 19th century, it became a prominent diagnosis in psychiatry, characterized by a range of symptoms including emotional excesses, fainting, and physical paralysis. However, the concept evolved over time, and modern understandings of hysteria emphasize its sociocultural construction and critique the historical gender bias inherent in its diagnosis.

Contemporary psychiatric classifications have largely replaced the term with more precise and less gender-biased diagnoses, but the historical legacy of hysteria continues to influence discussions on the intersection of gender, mental health, and cultural perceptions.

Meanings and Concept:

Concept of Hysteria	Examples and Meanings
Historical Medical Notions:	– Ancient Greeks believed it was a condition exclusive to women and linked to the uterus.
Freudian Psychoanalysis:	– Freud viewed it as a manifestation of repressed desires, often attributing it to unresolved psychological conflicts.
Sociocultural Critique:	– Contemporary perspectives critique the gender bias in the historical diagnosis, highlighting how societal norms influenced its conceptualization.
Evolution of Diagnosis:	– Hysteria’s diagnostic evolution is evident in the shift from Freudian psychoanalysis to contemporary psychiatric classifications.
Gender and Mental Health:	– It remains relevant in discussions about gendered perceptions of mental health, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive and unbiased diagnoses.
Modern Psychological Views:	– Modern psychology emphasizes the importance of nuanced and gender-neutral understandings of mental health, moving away from the stigmatized history of it.

The concept of hysteria illustrates the intersection of medical, psychological, and sociocultural perspectives, revealing the historical context and gender bias inherent in its evolution as a diagnostic term.

Hysteria: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Hysteria, historically associated with disturbances believed to arise from the uterus, is a theoretical term encompassing a range of emotional and physical symptoms. In Freudian psychoanalysis, hysteria was considered a manifestation of repressed desires and unresolved conflicts. Contemporary perspectives critique the term’s historical gender bias, emphasizing the need for more nuanced and culturally sensitive understandings of mental health.

Hysteria: Theorists, Works and Argument

Theorists	Key Works	Main Arguments
Sigmund Freud	Studies on Hysteria, The Interpretation of Dreams	Freud argued that it stems from the repression of traumatic experiences and unconscious conflicts, particularly in women, and advocated psychoanalytic techniques for unraveling these repressed memories.
Jean-Martin Charcot	Lectures on the Diseases of the Nervous System	Charcot, a neurologist, influenced Freud’s early work on it. He argued for the organic basis of hysteria and used hypnosis to treat patients, emphasizing the connection between psychological and neurological factors.
Rachel Maines	The Technology of Orga*m: “Hysteria,” the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction	Maines explored the historical medical treatment of female hysteric condition, specifically the use of vibrators as a purported cure. Her work examines the intersection of gender, medicine, and sexuality in the context of hysteria.
Elaine Showalter	Hystories: Hysterical Epidemics and Modern Media	Showalter delves into the cultural and media aspects of hysteria, exploring how it manifests in society through mass psychogenic illnesses and the role of the media in disseminating and perpetuating hysterical narratives.

This table highlights key theorists, their notable works, and the central arguments related to it, encompassing Freud’s psychoanalytic approach, Charcot’s neurological perspective, Rachel Maines’ historical exploration, and Elaine Showalter’s cultural analysis.

Hysteria: Major Characteristics

• Emotional Excess:
  • Example: In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the protagonist‘s descent into madness reflects emotional excess, a hallmark of hysteria, as she grapples with societal constraints and her mental health.
• Somatic Symptoms:
  • Example: Shakespeare’s Ophelia in “Hamlet” exhibits somatic symptoms of it, including fainting and physical distress, contributing to the tragic portrayal of her mental state.
• Gendered Diagnosis:
  • Example: In Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” Nora’s erratic behavior is a response to societal expectations, illustrating the gendered nature of it diagnoses prevalent in the play’s cultural context.
• Freudian Repression:
  • Example: Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” experiences hysteria-like symptoms as a result of repressed desires, aligning with Freudian theories on the manifestation of unresolved conflicts.
• Cultural and Social Influences:
  • Example: In Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” Esther Greenwood’s struggles with identity and societal expectations exemplify how cultural and social factors contribute to its development.
• Medical Interventions:
  • Example: In Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre,” Bertha Mason’s confinement and mistreatment in the attic reflect historical medical interventions used to manage perceived hysteria, highlighting the intersection of gender and mental health.
• Mass Psychogenic Illness:
  • Example: Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” explores mass hysteria in the context of the Salem witch trials, illustrating how fear and societal pressure can lead to collective psychological distress.
• Media Influence:
  • Example: Jeffrey Eugenides’ “The Virgin Suicides” portrays how media coverage and societal obsession contribute to the hysteria surrounding the Lisbon sisters’ suicides, emphasizing the cultural impact of mass narratives.
• Narrative Disruption:
  • Example: In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the protagonist’s descent into madness disrupts traditional narrative structures, serving as a commentary on the restrictive roles of women in society.
• Symbolic Expression:
  • Example: In Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” Laura’s fragility and symbolic expressions through her glass figurines can be interpreted as a manifestation of emotional turmoil akin to hysteria.

These major characteristics, as depicted in literature, provide insights into the multifaceted nature of hysteria and its intersection with cultural, social, and psychological dimensions.

Hysteria: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Hysteria
Psychoanalytic Theory:	Hysteria is central to psychoanalytic interpretations, aligning with Freudian concepts of repressed desires and unresolved conflicts as manifested in characters’ emotional and physical distress.
Feminist Literary Theory:	In feminist theory, the concept of hysteria is relevant for critiquing gendered diagnoses and exploring how societal expectations and constraints contribute to the portrayal of women’s mental health in literature.
Postcolonial Literary Theory:	Hysteria’s portrayal in postcolonial literature can be examined through the lens of the colonial legacy, addressing how cultural and social factors impact the manifestation and diagnosis of mental distress in colonial contexts.
Cultural Studies:	Within cultural studies, hysteria offers a lens to analyze how cultural and societal influences shape literary representations of mental health, providing insights into the broader cultural narratives surrounding mental illness.
Narrative Theory:	Hysteria disrupts traditional narrative structures, making it pertinent in narrative theory discussions. Its portrayal in literature often challenges conventional storytelling, offering a unique perspective on characters’ psychological journeys.
Gender and Sexuality Studies:	Hysteria intersects with gender and sexuality studies by highlighting the gendered nature of historical diagnoses and exploring how literary depictions contribute to the construction of societal norms related to mental health and gender.
Medical Humanities:	The concept of hysteria is relevant in medical humanities for examining the historical and cultural aspects of mental health diagnoses, shedding light on how literature reflects and critiques medical practices and societal perceptions.

Hysteria’s multifaceted nature makes it a valuable subject for various literary theories, offering insights into the intersections of psychology, culture, gender, and societal norms within literary narratives.

Hysteria: Application in Critiques

Literary Work	Application of Hysteria Critique
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:	Hysteria critique in this work explores the protagonist’s mental breakdown within the confines of patriarchal expectations, shedding light on the intersection of gender, mental health, and societal constraints.
The Awakening by Kate Chopin:	The critique of hysteria in “The Awakening” delves into Edna Pontellier’s unconventional behavior as a response to societal norms, examining the consequences of repressed desires and the limitations placed on women in the 19th century.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath:	Hysteria critique applied to “The Bell Jar” analyzes Esther Greenwood’s struggles with identity and mental health, providing insights into the societal pressures and expectations contributing to her psychological turmoil.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller:	The critique of hysteria in “The Crucible” explores the mass psychogenic illness surrounding the Salem witch trials, revealing the impact of fear, societal pressure, and the manipulation of public opinion on individual and collective psychology.

These applications of hysteria critique in literary works illuminate the diverse ways in which authors use the concept to explore and critique societal norms, gender roles, and the psychological complexities of their characters.

Hysteria: Relevant Terms

1. Psychosomatic: Relating to physical symptoms influenced by psychological factors.
2. Mass Hysteria: Collective anxiety or distress spreading rapidly within a group.
3. Conversion Disorder: Physical symptoms without apparent medical explanation, often linked to psychological distress.
4. Neurosis: Mild mental disorder involving anxiety, depression, or obsessive behavior.
5. Somatization: Expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms.
6. Gendered Diagnosis: Diagnostic bias based on gender, evident historically in hysteria.
7. Sociocultural Construction: The idea that mental health concepts are influenced by cultural and societal factors.
8. Medicalization: The process of framing social or behavioral issues as medical problems.
9. Patriarchal Norms: Cultural expectations reinforcing male dominance, impacting perceptions of mental health.
10. Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage and express emotions appropriately.

Hysteria: Suggested Readings

1. Freud, Sigmund. Studies on Hysteria. Penguin, 2004.
2. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories. Dover Publications, 1997.
3. Maines, Rachel P. The Technology of Orga*m: “Hysteria,” the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.
4. Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin, 2003.
5. Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. Herland and Selected Stories. Penguin Classics, 1997.
6. Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005.
7. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Norton Critical Editions, 1992.
8. Showalter, Elaine. Hystories: Hysterical Epidemics and Modern Media. Columbia University Press, 1997.
9. Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. New Directions, 1999.
10. Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1925.