Mental Disorders in Anglo-Saxon Hagiographies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/theol.cath.latina.2024.LXIX.1.04Keywords:
madness, mental disorder, Anglo-Saxon, medicine, Old English, demon possessionAbstract
This article examines the representation of mental disorders in Anglo-Saxon hagiographies, analyzing perceptions, symptoms, cultural contexts, and narrative purposes. Anglo-Saxon views on the mind and soul, influenced by both vernacular and classical traditions, shape understandings of madness. Old English terminology for madness reflects diverse cultural influences, ranging from naturalistic-organic to supernatural etiologies. Analysis of the hagiographies show that there was a tendency to depict demon possession as madness, which could partly be attributed to the Anglo-Saxon way of perceiving the soul and mind, partly to the narrative purpose, and partly to the influential sources.
Article history: Received 03.05.2024; Revised 05.05.2024; Accepted 15.05.2024
Available online: 07.06.2024. Available print: 30.06.2024
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