46 pages • 1 hour read
Nellie BlyTen Days In A Mad-House
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1887A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 4-7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 4 Summary: “Judge Duffy and the Police”
Bly’s ruse advanced as she was confronted by two police officers at the Temporary Home for Women, summoned by the assistant matron, Mrs. Standard. Bly continued her act, insisting that she needed to find her lost trunks, which confused the officers but persuaded them of her mental illness.
She was escorted to the police station under the guise of searching for her belongings. During questioning by Judge Duffy, Bly evaded questions, adding to her façade of confusion. The judge expressed sympathy for her, convinced that she was a lost “child” with a mysterious backstory. Though briefly fearing exposure by reporters, Bly successfully maintained her act, leading Judge Duffy to order a medical examination rather than releasing her.
Chapter 5 Summary: “Pronounced Insane”
Bly’s strategy succeeded, and she was brought before a doctor for examination, furthering her portrayal as a woman in mental distress. Judge Duffy continued to express sympathy, urging the doctor to treat her kindly and lamenting her supposed misfortune. Bly managed to maintain her act through a series of medical assessments, including tongue and eye examinations, by exaggerating her confusion and reacting minimally.
Despite Bly’s occasional nervousness about sustaining the deception, she was declared unwell and ordered to be taken to the hospital for further care. Bly notes the unsettling experience of being placed in an ambulance and the onlookers who gathered to catch a glimpse of the “crazy girl.”
Chapter 6 Summary: “In Bellevue Hospital”
Bly arrived at Bellevue Hospital, the next step on her journey to Blackwell’s Island. Upon arrival, she was handled roughly by staff, including a man who attempted to drag her from the ambulance, though the ambulance doctor intervened.
As she was led into the asylum’s intake area, Bly underwent another round of questions, to which she refused to respond, allowing the doctor to declare her “too insane” to answer coherently. While waiting, Bly became faint from lack of food but was then escorted to the “insane pavilion,” where she encountered the hospital environment firsthand.
Bly met other women in the ward, including Miss Anne Neville, who recounted being committed to Bellevue despite being mentally sound. She also met an unkind nurse, Miss Scott, who brusquely told her that she was in an asylum, prompting Bly to react as though shocked by her confinement.
During her first night, Bly endured a series of indignities including cold food, constant noise, and nurses keeping her and the other patients awake.
Chapter 7 Summary: “The Goal in Sight”
On Sunday morning, Bly faced further cold, hunger, and demeaning treatment. When she complained, she was told that the institution wouldn’t turn on the heat until October. She underwent another perfunctory mental health examination by a young doctor, who, despite Bly’s rational responses, quickly concluded that she was mentally unwell. Bly observed cursory examinations of other patients, including Miss Tillie Mayard, who realized that she had been mistakenly committed but was denied any chance to defend herself.
Throughout the day, Bly endured scrutiny from doctors, reporters, and curious visitors all eager to see the “crazy girl from Cuba” (45). As her departure time neared, she grew nervous, fearing exposure before reaching Blackwell’s Island. Bly and several other women were escorted by ambulance, drawing a crowd of onlookers as they left Bellevue.
On the boat to Blackwell’s Island, Bly encountered crude attendants and deplorable conditions, including a stifling cabin and filthy surroundings. When they reached the island, she was informed by an attendant that it was “an insane place, where you’ll never get out of” (49).
Chapters 4-7 Analysis
In these chapters, Bly uncovers the bleak reality of the mental health system through firsthand experiences of deception, manipulation, and neglect. The lies that were told to her throughout the events described in these chapters—intended to placate, restrain, or confuse her—highlight The Role of Gender in the Perception and Treatment of Mental Health.
Bly was frequently treated as incapable of rational thought, infantilized, and dismissed as an innocent or unstable “child.” For example, after a cursory examination, one doctor falsely reassured her by stating that he was “going to take [her] home” (32), a lie intended to keep her compliant. The deception points to a larger pattern of dishonesty, where doctors and staff withheld the truth to maintain control over patients, especially women, who were viewed as inherently irrational or untrustworthy. This practice reflects the patriarchal mindset that often underpinned institutional treatment of women, denying them agency in their own care.
While Judge Duffy had sympathy for Bly, his empathy was tainted by a patronizing attitude. He expressed interest in her case, describing her as a “poor girl” who reminded him of his own sister, and insisted that others treat her kindly. However, his language infantilized her, reducing her identity to that of a vulnerable “child” in need of protection rather than an adult capable of self-advocacy. His statement reflects a broader social tendency to infantilize women, particularly those viewed as “unwell” or “distressed.” His sympathy, while well-meaning, also contains undertones of gendered assumptions about women’s mental fragility and need for male guidance. This interaction exemplifies how, even in the rare moments of empathy within the system, women are often stripped of agency and seen as objects of pity rather than individuals with their own perspectives.
Bly’s account of her unsettling realization that she had no control over her situation, compounded by her fear of exposure as a reporter, heightens the narrative’s suspense. Although she initially maintained confidence in her ability to deceive the doctors, she worried that her identity would be discovered: “I got very much frightened at this, for if there is anyone who can ferret out a mystery it is a reporter” (28). This line captures Bly’s anxiety over the possibility of being recognized, which would end her mission and jeopardize her freedom. The suspense created by her underlying fear emphasizes the tension and isolation that she faced. This suspense underscores Bly’s vulnerability within an institution where she was viewed solely as a patient, further illustrating the helplessness of those who were institutionalized.
These chapters also highlight The Societal and Systemic Mistreatment of Mentally Ill Individuals, particularly through Bly’s descriptions of the degrading conditions and treatment within Bellevue. The rough handling that she endured, such as being dragged by staff members, exposes the routine dehumanization of patients. At Bellevue, Bly experienced poor sanitation, inadequate food, and intense cold. She was informed that the heat would not be turned on until a predetermined date, regardless of the low temperatures and the visible suffering of the patients. Such conditions reveal a system more focused on containment than care, where patients were treated as burdens rather than individuals in need of compassion and support.
The atmosphere is further darkened by other patients’ stories, particularly that of Miss Tillie Mayard, who realized she had been committed to the asylum under false pretenses. Her plea to the doctor, asking him to “test” her “sanity,” was swiftly dismissed. “We know all we want to on that score” (45), he responded, effectively sealing her fate. Mayard’s story highlights how easily mentally healthy individuals could be condemned to life in an institution, deprived of their voice and their dignity due to the unchecked authority of medical staff.
Despite the threats to her autonomy and wellness, Bly displayed remarkable resilience, holding firm to her mission despite her fear and discomfort. Her calm responses, ability to endure, and careful choice of words in front of the doctors illustrate her adaptability and determination to maintain control. Bly’s self-control and composure served as acts of resistance against a system designed to suppress individuality and dissent, reinforcing her reliability and strengthening the theme The Power of the Written Word to Effect Social Change. By presenting her experiences with honesty and precision, Bly provides readers with an authentic window into institutional mistreatment, demonstrating the value of investigative journalism in revealing hidden injustices. As Bly describes how she navigated the commitment process and encountered the system’s inhumanity firsthand, her narrative builds a strong case for systemic reform. The fear, suspense, and indignities that she endured emphasize the urgency of addressing abuses in mental health institutions.
