Hidden Truths: Uncovering Herbert Spencer's Secret Through Literary Friends
"Explore how George Eliot, G.H. Lewes, and John Hughlings-Jackson may have encoded Herbert Spencer's deepest secret in their works."
The Victorian era was a time of great intellectual ferment, with thinkers like Herbert Spencer shaping ideas about society, evolution, and the individual. Spencer, a renowned philosopher, rubbed shoulders with some of the brightest minds of his time, including the novelist George Eliot and the neurologist John Hughlings-Jackson.
However, beneath the veneer of intellectual brilliance, there may have been a hidden struggle. A recent theory suggests that Spencer battled a health condition he kept secret from the public. The question arises: did those closest to him, particularly George Eliot, G.H. Lewes, and John Hughlings-Jackson, know about this secret and, more intriguingly, did they encode it into their literary and scientific works?
This article delves into the intriguing idea presented by Martin N. Raitiere, who proposes that Herbert Spencer's 'secret' was epilepsy, a condition carrying significant stigma in Victorian society. We will explore the relationships between these prominent figures, analyze the arguments for encoded messages within their works, and examine the historical context surrounding epilepsy in the 19th century.
The Complicity of Friends: Unmasking Spencer's Secret
Martin N. Raitiere's book, "The Complicity of Friends: How George Eliot, G.H. Lewes, and John Hughlings-Jackson Encoded Herbert Spencer's Secret," embarks on a quest to uncover whether these intellectual giants discreetly alluded to Herbert Spencer's supposed epilepsy within their writings. Raitiere posits that Spencer, deeply concerned about the social implications of his condition, confided in his close circle, who then subtly integrated elements related to his health into their respective works.
- The Unconsummated Affair: George Eliot and Herbert Spencer shared a close relationship in 1852, which Raitiere suggests was a romantic affair. Spencer's later admission that he did not find her physically attractive has been interpreted as a sign of impotence or a deeper, hidden issue. Raitiere suggests that Eliot, feeling scorned, might have sought to subtly reveal Spencer's secret through her characters.
- Spencer's Disturbing Mental Episodes: Throughout his life, Spencer experienced mental episodes, which Raitiere argues were epileptic in nature. The author emphasizes the social stigma attached to epilepsy in Victorian times, leading Spencer to conceal his condition and Raitiere theorizes that Eliot was aware of these episodes and hinted at them through characters in her novels. The character of Latimer in "The Lifted Veil" is cited as a potential example. It's important to note, however, that the understanding of epileptic seizures at the time was primarily limited to grand mal seizures, creating a challenge in identifying more subtle forms of the condition.
- John Hughlings-Jackson's Involvement: As a leading neurologist, John Hughlings-Jackson's work focused on epilepsy's semiology and pathogenesis. Raitiere proposes that Spencer secretly consulted Jackson in the 1870s, seeking his expertise on the condition. The theory connects Lewes's acquaintance with Jackson to suggest Spencer's possible consultation, with elements of Spencer's condition potentially informing Jackson's research and being subtly reflected in the works of Eliot and Lewes.
A Skeptical Historian's Perspective
While Raitiere's theory is intriguing, it faces challenges from a historical perspective. As Samuel H. Greenblatt notes in his review of the book, the methodology employed leans heavily on literary analysis, which often involves postulating motivations and relationships beyond what is explicitly stated. This approach differs from historical analysis, which prioritizes verifiable evidence and seeks to reconstruct events as they actually happened. Despite the extensive research and intriguing connections presented by Raitiere, the lack of concrete evidence makes it difficult to definitively conclude that Spencer's secret was intentionally encoded in the works of his friends.