Feigned illness and bodily legibility in eighteenth-century British culture
The simulation of sickness intrigued British writers from the very beginning of the eighteenth century, attracting attention within a wide range of social spheres. Drawing upon texts from the fields of literature, medicine, theology, welfare policy, the military, and the law courts, this interdisciplinary thesis combines close textual analysis with an examination of social and cultural contexts in order to explain why the issue of feigned illness became such a prevalent and enduring source of debate in eighteenth-century Britain. Both the allure and the threat of simulated sickness lay in the ability of ill health to confer power upon the sufferer. On the one hand ill health might operate as a signifier of social or spiritual importance, yet sickness also functioned as a source of practical power, enabling emotional manipulation, exemption from social duties, and access to resources. The perceived benefits of ill health made the identification of simulated illness a matter of importance, yet the subject would not have attracted such attention were it not for prevailing doubts as to the legibility of the body. As this thesis indicates, the varied attitudes towards and representations of simulated sickness provide
Monaghan, Jessica Kate
Eighteenth century ; Britain ; Medicine ; Feigned illness ; Literature ; Malingering
Feigned illness and bodily legibility in eighteenth-century British culture. The simulation of sickness intrigued British writers from the very beginning of the eighteenth century, attracting attention within a wide range of social spheres. Drawing upon texts from the fields of literature, medicine, theology, welfare policy, the military, and the law courts, this interdisciplinary thesis combines close textual analysis with an examination of social and cultural contexts in order to explain why the issue of feigned illness became such a prevalent and enduring source of debate in eighteenth-century Britain. Both the allure and the threat of simulated sickness lay in the ability of ill health to confer power upon the sufferer. On the one hand ill health might operate as a signifier of social or spiritual importance, yet sickness also functioned as a source of practical power, enabling emotional manipulation, exemption from social duties, and access to resources. The perceived benefits of ill health made the identification of simulated illness a matter of importance, yet the subject would not have attracted such attention were it not for prevailing doubts as to the legibility of the body. As this thesis indicates, the varied attitudes towards and representations of simulated sickness provide
illness bodily eighteenth_century british culture simulation sickness intrigue british writer begin attract_attention within_wide range social sphere drawing_upon texts field literature medicine theology welfare policy military law_court interdisciplinary combine close_textual analysis examination social_cultural context order_explain issue illness become prevalent endure source debate eighteenth_century britain threat simulate sickness lay ability ill_health confer power upon sufferer one_hand ill_health might operate signifier social spiritual importance yet sickness also function source practical power enable emotional manipulation social duty access resource perceive_benefit ill_health make identification simulate illness matter importance yet_subject would attract_attention prevail doubt body indicates vary attitude_towards representation simulate sickness provide