Okay, let's talk about Nellie Bly's 10 Days in a Mad-House. I've read it, you've probably read it (or pretended to). Let's get down to brass tacks!
Day 1: Fake It 'Til You Make It...Into the Asylum
Nellie's grand plan? Act crazy enough to get committed to an asylum. It worked! (Shocking, I know.)
Honestly, her acting was Oscar-worthy. I feel like I could do that walk to the reception, and get committed. Maybe I'll try it next week.
Seriously though, it shows you how easy it was to be labeled "insane" back then. Yikes.
Day 2-3: Welcome to Blackwell's Island (AKA Hell)
Blackwell's Island is where the real fun begins. And by "fun," I mean utter horror. They'd be using the same facilities today in a budget horror movie.
Think cold baths, questionable food, and nurses who seem to have a vendetta against smiling. Who needs a therapist when you can have that, right?
My unpopular opinion? I’d rather binge-watch reality TV than experience Blackwell's Island.
Day 4-5: The Sisterhood of the Committed
Nellie meets her fellow inmates. Some are genuinely ill, others are just… misunderstood. The descriptions remind me of some bad high school moments. Everyone's got their issues.
They form a weird kind of sisterhood. Sharing stories, sharing despair, sharing whatever meager rations they could get their hands on.
I think I'd rather be stuck in an elevator with chatty strangers than share a room with those nurses.
Day 6-7: Observing the Absurd
Nellie's basically a journalist on a very, very bad assignment. She's taking notes, observing the staff, documenting the terrible conditions.
She finds that the medical staff would torture the patience. Not so medically anymore, is it?
The boredom must have been unbearable, and she notes people are being "cured" using inhumane methods.
Day 8-9: The Sane Among the Insane (Or Vice Versa?)
Nellie starts to question her own sanity. I mean, who wouldn't after a week in that place? It's like a real life episode of the twilight zone!
Are the doctors crazier than the patients? Are the patients actually sane? These are the questions that keep me up at night.
Sometimes, I'm convinced my cat is running the house and I am her patient.
Day 10: Freedom (Finally!)
Finally, someone remembers Nellie Bly isn't actually crazy! She gets sprung, and the world gets to hear her story.
It's a triumph of investigative journalism. I feel like she was born for this.
Honestly, I'd rather file my taxes than spend another minute on Blackwell's Island, although it would be a good excuse to skip out on the bill.
The Aftermath: Changing the World (One Asylum at a Time)
Nellie's expose leads to real change. Reforms are made, conditions improve. A good thing, right?
I think the book helped improve care, but I doubt that it would happen as fast now.
Nellie Bly is a total legend. She's the reason we're all still talking about this book!
So, there you have it: 10 Days in a Mad-House, in a nutshell. Did I miss anything? Probably. Did I exaggerate for comedic effect? Definitely. But hey, at least you're smiling (hopefully).
And if you're ever feeling a little crazy, just remember Nellie Bly and be grateful you're not stuck on Blackwell's Island. You may be crazy, but you're not *that* crazy.
