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Books/films/people who mistreat wives and label them insane

36 replies

Fishboneschokus · 02/10/2015 20:50

Am I wrong in thinking that this is a common theme?
I don't think that I have read enough books to give examples.
The only thing that I can up with was the recent docudrama about Lucan, who wanted to divorce his wife so tricked her into going to a 'health spa', which turned out to be a sanatorium.

I have looked up gas lighting but NOY 100 percent if I have it right.

OP posts:
INeedACheeseSlicer · 02/10/2015 22:07

Philippa Gregory's The Favoured Child also has a broadly similar theme, if I recall correctly.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 02/10/2015 21:33

Ooo, The Twits.

Mr Twit made Mrs Twit think she was shrinking.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 02/10/2015 21:06

The Little House/This Little House?

BondGate · 02/10/2015 21:06

Is it ' The Little House', KingJoffrey?

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 02/10/2015 21:05

Oh yes and very obviously Gaslight

I'm sure there's quite a few Hitchcock films on this theme as well - like the Lady Vanishes where the heroine is assured she is imagining things by everyone around her.

Fishboneschokus · 02/10/2015 21:04

Dear God Anthony; I just read the plot! Yes, that is exactly what I am after.

King Joff, thank you; any idea of the title.

OP posts:
clearsommespace · 02/10/2015 21:04

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. It suggests this is the cause of the 'madness' of the first wife in Jane Eyre.

Troubletutmill · 02/10/2015 21:03

The film Gaslight.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 02/10/2015 21:03

Rebecca falls under this - but it is the housekeeper who is tricking the main character not the husband.

Wide Sargasso Sea is a look at Mr. Rochester's first wife (Jane Eyre) from that point of view.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 02/10/2015 20:57

There's a book by Phillipa Gregory which deals with exactly that.

Is mostly the MiL, but the son doesn't help.

AnthonyPandy · 02/10/2015 20:53

Fingersmith although I don't want to explain any more than that because it will spoil the book.