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Psychology and literature intersect in one student’s independent study of the life of a 19th century writer and the doctor who nearly drove her insane.
Matthew Haggerty ’02 (Delran, N.J.) is researching Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who wrote a short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, and her doctor S. Weir Mitchell, also an author. Mitchell’s prescription of a rest cure for Gilman is what sent her near to the brink.
“Basically, these individuals were brought together by a unique circumstance — she was ill and he took her case — but the end result was more problematic to say the least,” says Haggerty, an English major and psychology minor. “Since this is essentially both literary and psychological in nature, I found myself drawn to this project.”
Haggerty’s adviser is Laura Dassow Walls, associate professor of English, whom the student says has a contagious love of American culture and history and an invaluable knowledge of Gilman and Mitchell.
According to Walls, Mitchell was one of the first doctors to take 19th century women’s illnesses seriously and was trying to do good when he put Gilman on a rest cure, removing her from family and banning physical and mental work, including writing, for several months. The “cure” caused her mind to turn in on itself, and she become more sick, says Walls.
“Matt wanted to know about that doctor, who was a very prominent Philadelphian of his day,” says Walls. “Although his intentions were good, he has faced criticism as anti-woman. Matt is looking at their relationship and how gender entered into it. He’s learning a lot about the complexities of this.”
The odd sideline of the story is that Mitchell himself was also a “quite good,” although not brilliant, writer who dramatized his scientific observations in novels. As part of the independent study, Haggerty has read some of his work.
Walls describes Haggerty as “one of those really self-motivated types,” whose enthusiasm keeps the research going strong. “I love interdisciplinary projects,” she comments.
A graduate of Holy Cross High School, Haggerty is a member of the varsity swim team and the Lafayette Wine Society. He also serves as a peer tutor.
Matthew Haggerty ’02 studied writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the doctor who nearly drove her insane under the guidance of Laura Dassow Walls, associate professor of English.