Guardianship of intellectually disabled adult in Regency England

[eilonwy]

(Just stumbled upon this community and omg, how fabulous you all are

Comments

[lolmac]

A family of reasonable means would keep her at home and pretend she was Just Fine, Thank You. Since they're landed gentry, they will absolutely not send her to a madhouse: it would be shameful and scandalous. A mentally defective child casts suspicion on the bloodline, to put it crudely, and will endanger the brother's chance of marrying well. It will then endanger the social status and marital prospects of his children, and their children

[eilonwy]

Hm. I would have thought that putting her in a madhouse/wherever would be a way to hush it up. On the other hand, I want her to stay with her family and for there to be precedent for such, so that's all right then. :)

They aren't likely to make it legal in the manner you describe, because that might let the dangerous secret leak out.
Hm. Good point. But could they make it a legal matter? I know it might be unheard of, but the only male left in the family at this point is her (douchebag) guardian, and the person who wants to be her guardian (I can go into why, but I don't think that's necessary here) has essentially collected all of the brother's debts/ious. So the good guy has power over the brother and wants guardianship to keep the character-in-question safe. If the brother feared the scandal of debt/the dun collector/etc. more than the scandal of having a "half-wit" for a sister, mightn't he agree to such a legal exchange of guardianship? Assuming yes, I just need to know that it would be possible

[lolmac]

She can't be put into a madhouse without it being known, and the potential damage from the scandal is, for anyone with any social status, appalling and permanent. This is why you have the classic Gothic image of the family madwoman locked in the garret, with a Faithful Household Servant keeping the thing hushed up. It isn't just the scandal of the 'idiot' sister: it's the damage to all future generations of the brother's family. Madness was assumed to be hereditary. Keeping a vulnerable female immured was horribly easy, and cheap.

A very good fictional example of the social situation is Georgette Heyer's Cousin Kate, which I enthusiastically recommend

[eilonwy]

A few additional thoughts, if she’s actually an adult (I kept thinking she is, but I'm probably wrong): the big question, for me, would be why Guy doesn't simply marry her. It would be the obvious solution to all parties, unless he's already married or engaged to be married to someone else. (Of course, he might not want to marry her because she’s mentally disabled, but they’re trying to keep that hushed up.) (Or you might be planning on leading up to a marriage: but in that case, you might have them marry for convenience and have the love develop afterwards.)She's an adult, but she's the sister of the main character, with whom "Guy" will eventually fall in love. (Also, she doesn't want to marry anyone. She's not really capable of understanding marriage and sex and such.) I am, in fact, writing a regency romance... (They're my guilty pleasure.) Douchebag brother wanted to give Mentally-Challenged-Sister to Creepy Lord (to whom he owed much monies) but to help out the main female character/Mentally-Challenged-Sister's, uh, Sister (and

[lolmac]

So glad I was able to help! I adore Regency romance and will mainline Heyer if at all possible. A non-Heyer, but quite well-written Regency romance that also touches on mental incapacity is Mary Jo Putney's The Wild Child: http://www.maryjoputney.com/wildchildmore.htm

Um, I already love the sound of your story, and if you'd be inclined to send me a link when it's available, I'd be very happy!

[eilonwy]

Thank you for the book suggestions-- I'll definitely pick those up. :)

And that a non-specific blurb has intrigued you about my story makes me really happy! I have no idea what will happen with it (I mean, when I'll be done, what I'll do with it, etc.) but I'd be delighted to let you know! :D

Unrelated: I love yoru icon. I have no idea if it's in reference to anything, but it's awesome.

[lolmac]

Thank you! The LOLMac journal is actually a fan image gallery, and the captioned icons are all from there. (My writing journal is a comm. I do things backwards.) The Spatula of Doom is from an episode of MacGyver.

Best of luck with your story! It sounds wonderful.

[marycatelli]

Whether she wants to marry anyone is not going to be a major factor in anything.

[eilonwy]

True, but if the person being suggested above she marry is someone who doesn't want to marry *her*, and someone who is, y'know, a decent human being, it is a factor.

[marycatelli]

Though you might expect the brother to suggest it. . . .

[randomstasis]

I agree totally with lolmac here- An institution is out of the question; it would cause talk, and taint the whole family for generations, create problems for anyone else wishing to marry, looking for promotion, etc

[eilonwy]

Well, for Plot Reasons, she shan't marry just to get rid of her, but yes, I see what you're saying about guardianship, etc. And I'm aware of the differing perspective and I'm hoping I'll get it right in the writing itself! Thanks for the key word ideas. :)