Developing and Applying Different Definitions of Insanity

The Cambridge English Dictionary (CED) offers three definitions for the noun "insanity." The first defines the term as if it is an object or a thing: it states that insanity is "mental illness." The second definition defines insanity as a state of being; that is, the "condition of being serious mentally ill." The third definition indicates that insanity may also be an action. The dictionary uses the example, "It would be insanity to expand the business now" to clarify this less common characterization of the term.

The CED's definition of insanity as mental illness is very general, which has problematic cultural implications. The characterization of people with mental illnesses as insane might be true in certain cases; for example, a person who has severe schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or homicidal ideation might reasonably be called insane. This is because they cannot recognize that their behaviors resulting from their mental illness are considered morally or socially wrong. However, mental disorders manifest in a spectrum, meaning that some might experience severe symptoms of mental illness while others might have the same illness, but relatively minor symptoms. For example, our current culture would likely not dub a high-functioning person with OCD as insane. This might be because the person is capable of recognizing their "abnormal" behaviors and choosing to act in a socially acceptable way instead. Even so, calling them "insane" would be true under the CED's definition. From this discrepancy, one might argue that the CED considers the topics of mental illness and insanity to be very black and white, meaning that being mentally ill indicates insanity. This dictionary seems to argue that there is no spectrum or gray area in which one might have a mental illness but is not insane.

In a similar vein, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's (MWD) definitions of "insanity" are more expansive and less clear-cut. Two of its definitions of the term imply that insanity is a "state of the mind," which is similar to the CED definitions' emphases on mental illness. However, the MWD also defines insanity as "extreme folly" or something "utterly foolish or unreasonable." It reads as less of a medical diagnosis and more of an emotional judgement.

This definition most closely resembles the casual understanding of insanity that is referenced in popular culture and everyday life. For example, one might describe a particularly daring or intimidating action as "insane." A mind-boggling or extremely complicated object might also be deemed insane. These uses of the term do not reference mental illness, and they are not included in the Cambridge English Dictionary's definition of the term. Due to this discrepancy, I believe that the definition of "insanity" has expanded over time to include less scientific and more colloquial instances of the insane.

This expanded definition of insanity argues that those with severe mental illnesses might reasonably be dubbed insane while those with high-functioning illnesses should not be called insane. It also notes that extremely incredible or unreasonable actions can also be dubbed insane.  One could apply this definition of insanity to Vladimir and Estragon of playwright Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot." It is clear that Vladimir and Estragon suffer from some kind of mental illness. This judgement is largely based on the fact that they cannot remember any events ranging from the previous day to the previous minute. This severe forgetfulness is reminiscent of dementia, a scientifically observed mental illness. However, according to the expanded definition of insanity, one should be cautious of immediately deeming those with mental illnesses insane.

The characterization of Vladimir and Estragon as insane is supported by their interactions with Pozzo. The two entertain the abnormal antics of Pozzo, whose name is a clear allusion to the word "pazzo," which means "insane" in Italian. Pozzo's actions are not slightly abnormal, but clearly insane: he is incapable of coherent thought, as evidenced by his failed effort to "think" for Lucky, Estragon, and Vladimir, and he cannot control his emotions in the slightest. That Vladimir and Estragon pay no attention to these characteristics hints that the two have normalized the insane.

Vladimir and Estragon's inability to remember basic details and events is a clear indicator that the two suffer from dementia or another mental illness. Using the Oxford English Dictionary's characterization of insanity, this would be enough to deem them insane. But in accordance with the Cambridge English Dictionary's definition as well as the current cultural characterization of insanity, one cannot assume that the presence of a mental illness warrants the descriptor of insane. Vladimir and Estragon's normalization of insanity, which is indicated by their inability to recognize extreme foolishness as well as mental illness in people, is the final piece of evidence required to deem them insane.