My thesis focuses on Alison Langdon, a character in Carson McCullers’ novella, Reflections in a Golden Eye. Alison is deemed fragile and crazy for refusing to adhere to the rigorous demands of gendered expectations during the mid-20th century. Examining the staid feminine ideologies of the late 19th to mid-20th century, this paper advocates for Alison’s sanity, offering contemporary literary criticism and alternative viewpoints. Contributing to the argument is an awakening in the female consciousness; literary feminists have become aware that some of the presumed “madwoman” in historic fiction were victims of a patriarchal society. This paper will examine the patholigization of women - by men - who unfairly diagnosed them as suffering from neurasthenia, an emotional and nervous disorder. Similar to Alison, women who employed unconventional measures to rebel against a normative society, were often committed to asylums. While in isolation they had to endure atrocious treatments, lessening their opportunities to penetrate the barriers of a hegemonic society. Because their needs are met with alienation and a deep misunderstanding, their health declines, sometimes resulting in death. Presenting Alison a voice, the central premise to my argument is that Alison is not going mad, she is getting mad. Emotionally traumatized over her husband’s infidelity and the death of her daughter, Alison’s reactions and sadness are met with ambivalence by those in her inner circle, which eventually leads to her demise. Delving into the controversy surrounding Alison, I will add different perceptions of the grotesque in McCullers novella. Some critics view Alison’s behavior as grotesque, while others view those in her inner circle grotesque. Expanding on the grotesque discourse, I will explore theorists who believe McCullers prolific use of the grotesque is a reflection of her life experiences and how she envisions the prejudices of her southern roots.
