The Great Confinement and How I Am

Reflections on Keats, Foucault, and John Clare

How we respond to mental illness, or if you prefer madness, tells us so much about who we are. More than cooking. More than social media. Far, far more than the shadow plays of politics.

We respond to mental illness through so many personas. We may be society, which conditions the norms and networks that help or hinder those who suffer madness. We may be governments, those distressed republics, which often fail the test of generous, humane care for people with mental illness. We may be the culture, which fills our mind with ideas that can save us from despair, and with poison that drives us over the brink. We may be doctors or carers or families, who seek solutions in a crisis. We may be mad ourselves, and wonder really who I am.

As a result of a series of fortunate events, I have had many encounters with mental illness or madness throughout my life. I have wrestled with its angels and demons, while wearing each of those masks. I have read deeply in its literature, and written widely on its meaning.

Since I am a little ill with a seasonal cold this week, I am interrupting my planned schedule with a reflection on mental illness and madness. So today, in the Burning Archive, I thought I would bring you one essay, from the burning archive, that sought to find some meaning in the madness of that long search for meaning. It comes from my collection of essays, From the Burning Archive: essays and fragments, 2015-2022, which if you enjoy my writing week to week, I do encourage you to buy. Amazon is offering the paperback at a bargain price right now!

The essay is called “The Great Confinement”, which refers to Michel Foucault’s ground-breaking history of madness. I will be doing an audiobook recording of excerpts from this book soon, so watch out for that on the YouTube channel and podcast.

The essay is available for the kind, generous people who have taken out a paid subscription. They will also receive my reading of John Clare’s famous poem, “I am”. Please consider supporting my work by upgrading your subscription now.

But before I disappear below the pay wall, I wanted to let you all know that I have done an interview with historian of Australian Chinese communities, Sophie Loy-Wilson. This wonderful interview about historical generosity, Australia-China relationships and so much more will come out on YouTube on Friday and the podcast on Monday. I will also be writing about its themes in the free weekly issue of the Burning Archive on Saturday. Be sure to check it out.

And now for paid subscribers, here are my reflections on the Great Confinement and how I am: Keats, Foucault, John Clare, and the history of madness.