Literature Review #3

Citation:

Espí Forcén, Carlos, and Fernando Espí Forcén. “Demonic Possessions and Mental Illness: Discussion of                     

    Selected Cases in Late Medieval Hagiographical Literature.” Early Science and Medicine, vol. 19, no. 

    3, Brill, 2014, pp. 258–79, doi:10.1163/15733823-00193p03.

Summary:

The article talks about several different cases of "possessions" throughout history, and how demonic possession was used as "both an explanation and solution" for unacceptable behavior in society. The article mainly focuses on demonic possessions and exorcisms specifically in the Middle Ages. The article talks about several different cases and how exorcisms helped to alleviate some of the suffering done by those "possessed". The authors study these cases, and compared the symptoms of the affected, to current illnesses and disorders. 

Authors:

Carlos Espí Forcén and Fernando Espí Forcén

Key Terms:

Demonic possession, exorcism, mental illness, psychiatry

Three Quotes:

 "These stories are a bit different to New Testament demonic possessions since in both cases the evil spirits torment the characters, but they don't physically invade their bodies."

"The Franciscan brother presents agitations, seizures and a foaming mouth, common symptoms of demonic possession in the late Middle Ages."

"Even if García Muñoz should not have been possessed, it is clear that the criteria to determine a case of demonic possession were well established by the second half of the thirteenth century."

Value:

This article has a lot of information about how people, who showed signs of disorders and mental illnesses common in modern-day society, were seen and perceived as "possessed" and the symptoms that led to this belief of possession. The comparison to the symptoms seen as symptoms of a "possessed" person and those same symptoms being extremely similar to mental illnesses will be very helpful in emphasizing my comparison of mental illness and possession in my essay. The information on possession in the Middle Ages will be very helpful in providing background on the history of possession.