Chris Adrian’s “Stab” explores topics such as violence, mental illness, regret, and mourning. The story focuses on characters that show violent and unusual behavior. Adrian has created a world through these characters that softens the boundary between sanity and madness, causing questions about the definition of insanity and mental health. The question of whether the characters' behavior in "Stab" marks them as insane requires a broad analysis, considering legal, medical, and social criteria. By examining the characters’ experiences and actions, we can better understand Adrian’s view on mental health and the definition and guidelines of insanity. According to the Legal Dictionary, insanity is defined as a “mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy
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In "Stab," the narrator exhibits obsessive-compulsive behavior, while Molly Pitcher displays violent outbursts. These actions, while unusual and potentially harmful, may not quite meet the legal criteria for insanity unless accompanied by a lack of criminal intent or cognitive incapacity. We know that the narrator is autistic, and doesn’t want to hurt the animals, but mentally, he is incapable of stopping Molly. From a medical perspective, insanity can be assessed based on psychiatric evaluations, such as whether a person exhibits symptoms of a recognized mental illness that significantly impairs their ability to function. In the story, the narrator not only has autism, but he used to be a conjoined twin with his now-deceased brother. Due to his brother’s death, the narrator has trouble being alone and accepting the loss. The narrator also doesn’t speak after his twin’s death, making expressing wants and needs even more difficult, as he is already on the spectrum. Molly Pitcher, on the other hand, kills animals because she is angry about her parents’ death and is unable to process her emotions in a positive
In "Stab," the narrator exhibits obsessive-compulsive behavior, while Molly Pitcher displays violent outbursts. These actions, while unusual and potentially harmful, may not quite meet the legal criteria for insanity unless accompanied by a lack of criminal intent or cognitive incapacity. We know that the narrator is autistic, and doesn’t want to hurt the animals, but mentally, he is incapable of stopping Molly. From a medical perspective, insanity can be assessed based on psychiatric evaluations, such as whether a person exhibits symptoms of a recognized mental illness that significantly impairs their ability to function. In the story, the narrator not only has autism, but he used to be a conjoined twin with his now-deceased brother. Due to his brother’s death, the narrator has trouble being alone and accepting the loss. The narrator also doesn’t speak after his twin’s death, making expressing wants and needs even more difficult, as he is already on the spectrum. Molly Pitcher, on the other hand, kills animals because she is angry about her parents’ death and is unable to process her emotions in a positive