The Professor and the Madman

In the fog-laden streets of 1872 London’s tumultuous backdrop, retired United States Army surgeon Dr. William Chester Minor grapples with the haunting specters of his past. His reality is distorted by vivid hallucinations that blur the lines between what is real and what is not. A pivotal moment occurs when he tragically misidentifies an innocent stranger, George Merritt, as a threat and ends up ending his life—this catastrophic error leads to his classification as insane and subsequent confinement at Broadmoor.

Simultaneously, the esteemed Oxford University Press selects Professor James Murray to spearhead the monumental endeavor of creating the Oxford English Dictionary. This exhaustive work aims to document every word in the English language, tracing its origins and literary uses.

Within Broadmoor’s grim walls, Minor experiences fluctuating states of madness and clarity. Remarkably, during one of his lucid moments, he saves a guard’s life by executing a complex amputation. This unexpected display of surgical prowess captures the attention of the asylum’s director, Dr. Richard Brayne, who opts to allow Minor some freedom for self-expression, permitting him limited access to a library and an opportunity to paint.

Minor’s sense of guilt thickens as he reflects on the grief of George Merritt’s widow, Eliza Merrett. He extends his army pension to support her family, but her hatred initially leads her to reject his offer. Compelled by the desire to atone for his actions, he learns of Murray’s dictionary initiative and begins tirelessly submitting entries filled with invaluable citations and examples that transform the project’s prospects.

Murray’s visit to Broadmoor marks a turning point as he meets Minor and becomes deeply affected by his condition. A profound friendship develops between them, with Murray opting to keep Minor’s struggles private from his colleagues and wife, Ada. As Minor forms a connection with Eliza, who starts visiting him more often, she brings books and learns from him, enhancing their bond. Their relationship blossoms, much to Brayne’s encouragement, as he recognizes the positive impact it has on Minor’s mental well-being.

Amidst this emotional terrain, Murray faces mounting pressure from Oxford patrons to expedite the completion of the dictionary, while Minor finds comfort in his deepening friendships with both Murray and Eliza. As the first edition of the dictionary gets released, dissent arises among colleagues who question Murray’s accuracy and lament the omission of common words. Henry Bradley, a rival of Murray’s, seizes this moment as an opportunity to dethrone him as project manager.

The emotional complexities escalate when Eliza introduces Minor to her children, though the eldest daughter’s slap becomes a harsh reminder of his sinister past, leaving him in turmoil. Meanwhile, Minor’s grasp on reality begins to unravel as he confronts hallucinations of Eliza’s deceased husband. Confessing the oddity of “killing” him twice, his turmoil triggers a self-destructive spiral, ultimately leading Brayne to reassess the therapeutic approach, which results in the revocation of Minor’s privileges.

With the situation deteriorating, a journalist discovers the unsettling truth about Minor, prompting Murray to act quickly. He faces an onslaught from Bradley, who seeks to erase Minor’s contributions from the dictionary project. The intricacies of this challenge grow, with Ada recognizing her affection for Minor and stepping in to aid him.

Finally, Murray orchestrates a touching reunion between Eliza and a subdued Minor, whose emotional state starts to mend as he feels the weight of forgiveness. In this complicated drama, the bureaucratic streets of Oxford witness Freddie Furnivall’s navigation through obstacles to secure Minor’s release. Although Eliza’s heartfelt appeals do not yield immediate results, the jury upholds the insanity diagnosis, resulting in an appeal brought directly to the home secretary, Winston Churchill.

Moved by Murray’s fervent plea, Churchill decides to send Minor back to America, labeling him an unwanted alien. As Minor prepares for this departure, he shares a poignant farewell with Murray. In a bittersweet turn, Furnivall successfully reinstates Murray as the director of the Oxford Dictionary project, ensuring that Minor’s name is included among the collaborators.

As the curtain falls on the lives of these two brilliant men, their legacies intertwine with history’s fabric. The twilight of the 20th century brings the end of Murray, who succumbs to pleurisy in 1915. Simultaneously, Minor’s life fades under the grip of pneumonia in 1920. Against this backdrop of profound loss, the Oxford English Dictionary rises as a monumental literary achievement, finally realized in 1928—a testament spanning twelve volumes, featuring over 400,000 words and a remarkable one million citations, forever influencing the landscape of language.

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:25