In terms of what society considers to be “sane” arguably there is evidence to support that every individual within society is partially insane. Therefore, Girl, Interrupted is able to shed light on the stigma surrounding mental illness and propels the idea that even “crazy” people can have authoritative narratives. Furthermore, the language used establishes the validity of arguments within a piece of literature. Within the context of a narrative such as an autobiography rhetoric can, and in the case of Kaysen’s work established herself as assertive. Allusions to Rousseau’s “confessional toolbox” within Kaysen’s narrative leads to a better overall understanding of what Kaysen went through over the course of her journey. Also drawing on the toolbox
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One incident of particular importance occurs when Kaysen writes a satirical questionnaire that a potential patient being admitted into the institution would take (Kaysen, 15). By taking this stand against the lucrative standards for which people with mental illness are in a way held to shows that Kaysen was lucid enough to what was happening to her to have a problem with how she and other patients were being treated. In this way, by standing up for herself and others, Kaysen is able to establish her authority. Another important incident to Kaysen’s narrative occurs when she questions whether or not she has bones in her hands and begins to harm herself to find out and eventually says, “What I meant was that now I was safe, now I was really crazy, and nobody could take me out of there,” (Kaysen, 104). This particular incident is important because it establishes Kaysen’s sense of denial towards a more accepting attitude that she needed help. Moreover, this is important because it shows Kaysen’s growth from the time she was admitted to that point in her life, which aides in establishing Kaysen’s authority because it showcases her ability to take her treatment into her own hands. One final incident that aides in establishing Kaysen’s authority occurs when she is describing that sometimes within her life she asks herself “Am I crazy” and she eventually says, “I do not want to cross it again,” (Kaysen, 159). This establishes her authority because it shows that she is being honest with herself, and by being honest and fully recognizing that she doesn’t want to revert to her old ways allows Kaysen to finish her authoritative
One incident of particular importance occurs when Kaysen writes a satirical questionnaire that a potential patient being admitted into the institution would take (Kaysen, 15). By taking this stand against the lucrative standards for which people with mental illness are in a way held to shows that Kaysen was lucid enough to what was happening to her to have a problem with how she and other patients were being treated. In this way, by standing up for herself and others, Kaysen is able to establish her authority. Another important incident to Kaysen’s narrative occurs when she questions whether or not she has bones in her hands and begins to harm herself to find out and eventually says, “What I meant was that now I was safe, now I was really crazy, and nobody could take me out of there,” (Kaysen, 104). This particular incident is important because it establishes Kaysen’s sense of denial towards a more accepting attitude that she needed help. Moreover, this is important because it shows Kaysen’s growth from the time she was admitted to that point in her life, which aides in establishing Kaysen’s authority because it showcases her ability to take her treatment into her own hands. One final incident that aides in establishing Kaysen’s authority occurs when she is describing that sometimes within her life she asks herself “Am I crazy” and she eventually says, “I do not want to cross it again,” (Kaysen, 159). This establishes her authority because it shows that she is being honest with herself, and by being honest and fully recognizing that she doesn’t want to revert to her old ways allows Kaysen to finish her authoritative