What is madness in literature?

Answer 1

Madness in literature refers to the portrayal or exploration of mental illness, instability, or irrationality in literary works. It can involve characters who exhibit delusions, hallucinations, or extreme behavioral patterns, often leading to their emotional or psychological breakdown. Madness in literature is often used to explore themes such as the fragility of the human mind, the blurred boundaries between reality and imagination, or the societal pressures that push individuals towards insanity. Some famous examples include Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with the character of Ophelia, Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" with Raskolnikov's descent into madness, or Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" depicting a woman's descent into insanity.