Leprosy and Stigma in Hislop’s Maria’s Island

Abstract

In this article, we propose a reading of Victoria Hislop’s Maria’s Island through the lens of the medical humanities. The novel belongs to the literary genre of children’s literature and, thus, is meant to be read by children. However, its strong meanings make it an interesting read for the adult reader, as well as the scholar in the fields of literary studies, the medical humanities and medicine. The plot unfolds in the small Greek villages of Plaka and Spinalonga (in Crete) and revolves around a leprosy epidemic. As we are going to see, the locals viewed the disease as a “curse” and a “social stigma,” and not as a medical condition. After a historical account of the disease, its “shame” and “stigma,” we proceed with a detailed analysis of the novel and explain how these notions are manifested. We also analyse how Maria, Anna and Doctor Nikos Kyritsis (three key characters in the story) represent different values and perspectives. On the one hand, Anna reflects the mentality of a conservative society and the view that leprosy carries a social stigma. On the other hand, Maria and Nikos believe that leprosy should be seen like any other disease that needs treatment, and that the leprosy patient is not a “stigmatised” or a “cursed individual.” Maria and Nikos represent the medical community in the novel, as Maria becomes a nurse and Nikos is already a Doctor, and show how medicine, compassion and a feeling of understanding create a safe and secure environment for the patient. Memory and flashback are key elements in the story, as Maria, the main character of the novel, explains to her granddaughter what happened in her village many years ago.

Keywords

• leprosy
• stigma
• curse
• medical humanities
• literature