- Feigned madness
Feigned madness a term used in popular culture to describe the assumption of a mental condition or illness by a person for purposes of evasion or deceit.
Such an act can also be used to divert
suspicion , perhaps in advance of an act ofrevenge .Modern examples
Modern examples are:
* The (probable) feigned insanity was American
Mafia donVincent Gigante , seen wandering the streets ofGreenwich Village ,Manhattan in his bathrobe and slippers, mumbling incoherently to himself, in whatpolice characterized as an elaborate act.
* Americanmuckraker Nellie Bly , who faked insanity to study amental institution from within.Historical examples
*
Lucius Junius Brutus , who feigned madness until the time when he was able to drive the people to insurrection— he more faked stupidity than insanity, causing the Tarquins to underestimate him as a threat.
*Ibn al-Haytham , who was ordered by the sixth Fatimid Caliph, al-Hakim, to regulate theflooding of the Nile ; he later perceived the inanity of what he was attempting to do and, fearing for his life, feigned madness to avoid theCaliph 's wrath, after which he was placed underhouse arrest until the Caliph's death.In fiction and mythology
Examples are
*
Shakespeare 'sHamlet , who feigns madness in order to speak freely and gainrevenge ,— possibly based on a real person; seeHamlet (legend) ,
*David , who feigned madness in order to escape from KingAchish .Footnotes
References
* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2021:13-15;&version=31; David and king Achish]
* [http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/B/LuciusJuniusBrutus.html Lucius Junius Brutus]
* [http://www.utpjournals.com/product/utq/683/683_levy.html Hamlet]
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