Different is not Insane

Insanity is a frequent concept that we encounter in modern culture.  It is the focus of literature, crime TV shows and movies, and has integrated itself into colloquial expressions. With its recurrent use, insanity can get molded into different meanings resulting in an unclear universal definition.  This post analyzes the standard definition of insanity, extends this definition to include things the standard definition overlooks, and dissects cultural ideas of sanity that are insane. The blog will also argue for why literary figures Vladimir and Estrogen are not insane, despite their “insane behavior” in Waiting for Godot.

The Merriam- Webster dictionary defines insanity as “a severely disordered state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder.” Psychological concepts like foolishness and madness are rooted within this standard definition yet these connections are now seen as dated. According to an article in Psychology Today, insanity is no longer applied within psychological contexts but rather within legal settings, “it's informed by mental health professionals, but the term today is primarily legal, not psychological”.  It is now defined by the Merriam- Webster dictionary as “unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil.”  Insanity is being primarily discussed in courtrooms settings instead of psychiatric facilities.

Despite insanity’s formal legal definition, the word’s psychological roots have allowed its meaning to extend among society. Going against the norm, engaging in irrational, weird behavior, not being able to distinguish reality from fiction are ideals that have been used to explain the concept. There is also a colloquial saying that people use to further describe insanity, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." However, the Psychology Today article comments on the issue surrounding this phrase; the phrase does not explain insanity but rather perseveration and perseverance. Preservation is the pathological persistence of a word, gesture or act while perseverance is the persistence of an action despite difficulties (Howes).  Repeating actions in order to get different outcomes can arise from a compulsive need that makes the action difficult to stop or it can occur from a determination to overcome past failures; despite one route arising from a psychological condition and the other from simple determination, neither route makes the person automatically insane.

People dictate what is insane by contrasting it to their ideas of sanity, yet the ideals attached to sanity are flawed. Sanity is being able to think and behave in a normal, rational manner. A key element that is absent in the definition of these concepts and plays a vital role in determining whether a person is sane or insane is their ability to conform to popular cultural values. When someone shares similar beliefs as you, their behavior is rational to you. However, if you encounter someone whose beliefs are radically distinct, then you could consider them insane because their ideas do not conform to our own.  There is a fine line between sanity and insanity and the only barrier between these two is conformity and similarity; we accept and deem sane people that are similar to ourselves and place an insane label on individuals that are radically different, however, they are not insane on the simple basis of having opposing beliefs.  

Taking this argument into consideration, the characters in Waiting for Godot are not insane but simply express different behaviors that what society deems sane. Looking back at its definition, insanity centers on the idea of the “unsoundness of mind” that prevents someone from entering into relationships or transactions. Examining Vladimir and Estragon’s actions, we are able to see that they do not coincide with this definition. To begin with, Estragon and Vladimir enter into a friendship with one another which, according to its definition, an insane person would not be able to do. They are supportive of each other; Estragon continues to wait with Vladimir for Godot despite his impatience, ““ESTRAGON :( having tried in vain to work it out). I'm tired! (Pause.) Let's go. VLADIMIR: We can't. ESTRAGON: Why not? VLADIMIR: We're waiting for Godot. ESTRAGON: Ah! (Pause. Despairing.) What'll we do, what'll we do!”( Beckett, Act 2).  Estragon makes a rational choice to stay with Vladimir because he knows how much meeting Godot means to Vladimir. Likewise, Vladimir is protective of Estragon and helps Estragon with his problems; for example, after Estragon is beaten by men, Vladimir tells him that if he would have been there, he would have defended Estragon, “VLADIMIR :( vexed). Then why do you always come crawling back? ESTRAGON:I don't know. VLADIMIR: No, but I do. It's because you don't know how to defend yourself. I wouldn't have let them beat you”(Beckett, Act 2).  Another example of these characters demonstrating their sanity is Vladimir’s rationality in noticing the strange behavior within his environment; he questions why the child and Pozzo fail to recognize him and Estragon despite meeting the men the previous day, ““VLADIMIR: We met yesterday. (Silence.) Do you not remember? POZZO:I don't remember having met anyone yesterday ”(Beckett, Act 2).  Referencing the definition again, insanity prevents an individual from entering or understanding a transaction yet Vladimir is aware of his encounters with Pozzo and the boy and questions why they do not remember him. These characters display sane behavior yet it is their distinct actions that make the reader question their sanities.

Vladimir and Estragon continue to wait for Godot despite the failed attempts; this behavior coincides with the colloquial saying yet as the Psychology Today article demonstrates, this repeated behavior does not signify insanity. Vladimir and Estragon state multiple times their wishes to leave, which signifies that they are not bound to their actions by a compulsive need, yet they chose to stay which shows determination as the cause of their actions.  These men are determined to meet Godot and it is their desire that propels them to wait in the same place every day despite their past failed attempts. To the reader, this choice can be seen as ridiculous but as the definition and the article state, it is not insanity. Similarly, Estragon and Vladimir engage in strange conversations that could again propel their “insane” persona. However resurfacing that element of conformity, these conversations only seem insane to the reader because they are distinct to the conversations that are “normal” within society;   Vladimir and Estragon are different yet that difference does not mean that these characters are insane.

Vladimir and Estragon partake in behavior and actions that do not conform to the standards within society, which immediately pushes the reader to label them insane yet based on the definitions and psychological statements within this blog we realize that they are not insane but simply different from the normal.