Sociopathy in Wilkie Collins' the Moonstone

Sociopathy in Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone

Sociopathy affects many individuals across the globe. As a medically recognized condition, it alters one’s natural state of mind. A sociopath develops patterns of behavior consisting of harassing others, failing to conform to social norms, and lying. People with this condition disregard the rights and feelings of others, resulting in a frequent lack of empathy towards other individuals. Sociopaths frequently show deceitful and manipulative behavior in order to gain personal profit or pleasure. They perform acts with no respect to lawful behavior that include stealing or pursuing illegal occupations (Diagnostic). Godfrey Ablewhite develops similar patterns of lying, lack of remorse, and harassment, which result in personal gain. He displays these behaviors that differ from those of ordinary society. Godfrey Ablewhite exhibits the sociopathic behaviors of amoral behavior, lack of empathy, and manipulation in Wilkie Collins’ novel The Moonstone.

Furthermore, sociopaths develop a pattern of amoral behavior. Mr. Ablewhite acts without knowing the difference between right and wrong. “If Mr. Godfrey chose to keep the diamond, he might do so with perfect impunity” (Collins 465).Godfrey believes that he deserves no punishment because he benefited from the ordeal, and considers himself innocent. The difference that lies between right and wrong continues to be absent from Godfrey’s lifestyle. He shows no right mind in his actions against his friends and colleagues because he benefits from these experiences. “Godfrey Ablewhite […] had […] betrayed the mercenary nature of the motive on his side (against Rachel)” (Collins 288). His amorality persists in his everyday life because in anybody else’s mind, betraying someone clearly goes against the principles of modern society. No event that Godfrey Ablewhite partakes in, in his mentality, shows signs of being wrong as long as he benefits from the matter. Thus, “Mr. Godfrey is all the readier to enter into the conspiracy (to have Mr. Blake drink laudanum)” (Collins 463). Mr. Blake eventually drinks the laudanum, steals the diamond, and gives it to Mr. Ablewhite. Because the diamond falls into the hands of Godfrey, the conspiracy to drug Mr. Blake contains no elements of foul play in the mind of Godfrey Ablewhite, further developing a pattern of amorality in his behavior. A typical sociopath develops amoral behavior, no different than in the case of Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite.

In addition, the modern day sociopath displays a serious lack of empathy for fellow human beings. Godfrey Ablewhite shows no remorse towards other beings due to the fact their sole purposes remain to make him content and see that he gets what he wants. “All (Godfrey) did when he heard what had happened was to hold up his hands in a state of bewilderment, which didn’t say much for his natural strength of mind” (Collins 102). Godfrey’s mind remains unbothered after hearing about the loss of the diamond because he already obtained what he wants; therefore Rachel’s feelings have no impact on him. Mr. Ablewhite scolds other individuals without remorse because in some way, shape, or form, they stand in between him, and what he wants. “On (Godfrey’s) side, he looked down at her with an indulgence so injudicious and so ill-deserved, that I really felt called on to interfere” (Collins 223). Rachel Verinder stands as an obstacle in the mind of Godfrey Ablewhite. He scolds her in an attempt to get her out of the way of obtaining what he wants, with no remorse for her at all. Mr. Ablewhite displays no intellect towards women because to him, they only exist as mere devices to help him acquire personal profit or pleasure. “Poor thing! the bare idea of (Godfrey Ablewhite) marrying (Rachel) for his own selfish and mercenary ends had never entered her head” (Collins 286). Mr. Ablewhite views Rachel as a device to