Insanity (was Fetching Harry - A New Theory)

[David <dfrankiswork@netscape.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51996

Cindy wrote:

>A new theme -- insanity, 
> curable only at St. Mungo's.

Insanity - very likely: Elkins has already pointed out how disturbed 
characters are presented sympathetically.

But curable at St Mungo's?  I think not.

I suspect the WW 'currently' takes the conventional view that 
insanity is incurable and (with the possible exception of victims of 
charms such as Obliviate and Confundus) that there is only one type 
of insanity: barking mad, in which case there is no point even 
*looking* for logic or truth in anything the victim says.  Fudge's 
dismissal of Crouch's evidence, and, IMO, Dumbledore and Snape, 
follows this reasoning.

It is plausible that JKR will in due course get her liberal brain in 
gear and give an alternative view, in which the mentally ill are 
treated with respect and can make progress.  I think we may find, 
though, that when it comes to St Mungo's, 'retro' and 'nice' will 
part company rather sharply.

I get the impression the UK is well behind the US in this general 
area: we laugh at the idea of the wealthy American with his or her 
therapist.  There is still the view here, if largely unspoken, that 
if you can't stand on your own two feet mentally than you should be 
out of sight socially.

David