![]() Regardless what the ‘people’ in your story see with their own eyes, the propaganda machine is there to say it isn’t real and, therefore, something must be wrong with anyone who dares disagree. ![]() Thus, if one is writing a political thriller, a dystopian, a science fiction, then a system/structure doing the gaslighting is a mainstay. In the classic dystopian novel 1984, the government is gaslighting the public. Used this way, the ‘narcissistic force’ believes the ends justify the means and is willing to fabricate the facts and ruthlessly enforce a false narrative to achieve certain goal(s). ![]() First, the narcissist can be represented by proxy. Just like last week, the way we might use gaslighting in a story can vary by genre. Suffice to say, Husband is waging a psychological warfare campaign to persuade his wife (and witnesses) that she’s losing her mind and, thus, needs to be sent away for professional care. Not only does this make it hard for her to see, but she’s also hearing noises/footsteps from their third floor (which has been closed off and supposedly has no outside access). The coups de gras, however, is with the gas lamps.Įvery evening, when he leaves for his ‘walk’ the gas lamps noticeably dim. Husband continues to move/hide paintings, furniture, jewelry, common household items and all along acts as if his wife is losing touch with reality. “Are you feeling well?” “You know how you’ve not been yourself.” “Why don’t you go lie down?” He’d follow these stunts with lots of comments to express his care. Once she was good and hysterical tearing the house apart, he’d berate her for being so absent-minded, then smugly go to the vanity and-VOILA! Later, he’d manufacture a reason for her to wear the necklace, but of course it’s missing. She’d tuck it away in her vanity then, without her knowing, he’d move/hide it. To do this, he would, say, give her a really expensive necklace. In the story, the husband-for reasons I won’t go into here-is actively laying the groundwork to have his wife committed. If someone labels you crazy, the more you try to prove you’re sane, well, the crazier you look, right? The burden of proof for ‘insanity’ was extremely low, especially for the wealthy who could afford ‘care.’īesides, good luck disproving a negative. Since this is Victorian England, gas lamps light most streets and homes.īefore roughly the 1950s or maybe a little later, it was not uncommon for male family members to commit female relations (wife, mother, sister, daughter, etc.) into insane asylums for any number of reasons that had NOTHING to do with mental health. The aunt is recently deceased and has willed the apartment to the MC. In the story, Gas Light, the female MC is newly married and her husband insists they move into her aunt’s London apartment. The mental health community, as well as popular culture, appropriated the term ‘gaslighting’ from the classic play/movie. is a form of intimidation or psychological abuse, where false information is presented to the victim, making them doubt their own memory, perception and quite often, their sanity. Mental health professionals also refer to gaslighting as ambient abuse. So let’s spice things up, shall we? Gaslighting: What IS It? Psychologically healthy, stable people, who always make rational, responsible decisions make for boring stories. Writers are the blade plucking along the neat threads of our character’s reality just to see how much pressure’s required to make them bleed. Really GREAT storytellers are masters at noticing and unpacking the human condition. Remember, I am not a psychiatrist, I just play one on the internet □. Today, we’re going to talk about a staple character in fiction-the narcissist-and one of the most powerful weapons they wield to get what they want. How does our story/character(s) change if we introduce a profound mother wound? And NOT to say I won’t write on these topics again.īut, what I am striving for here, is a truly MEATY blog that digs deeper, plumbs the depths of our psychology, and simply offers more. My archives are bursting at the seams with posts on plotting, scenes and sequels, themes, setting, etc. I would have to explain about the movie from the 1940s, based off a 1938 play Gas Light.Īnyway, it would just turn into a rambling conversation almost as awkward as when I pitched my first ‘novel.’įor those who’ve not seen the movie or the play, I strongly recommend it because it dovetails into what I’d like us to discuss today. ![]() Oddly, however, until recently, almost nobody knew what the heck I was talking about. ‘Gaslighting’ is a term I’ve used for YEARS.
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