King George III was a respected and diligent monarch who reigned for almost 60 years. However, he is, rather unfairly, mostly remembered for his descent into madness during the final years of his life.

When George ranted and raved and attacked those attending him, Willis ordered the king’s servants to gag him and place him in a straitjacket. He was left that way, thrashing around and making incomprehensible noises until he tired himself out and calmed down. When the king behaved himself, he was rewarded by being allowed to see members of his family. When he misbehaved, it was back into the straitjacket. Even mealtimes became a carrot and stick exercise. When George was bad, he ate mushed-up food with a wooden spoon; when he was good, he was allowed to use cutlery.

I saw the film The Madness of King George with my parents when it was in theaters. I’m adding that to the list of movies to watch.

  • TheMadPhilosopher@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    5 days ago

    I think it’s honestly insane that King George III was the monarch during the American Revolution. Like—he literally watched his empire unravel while mentally deteriorating. The symbolism of that? Wild.

    And it makes perfect sense, too—he wasn’t just “mad” in the medical sense. He was a monarch at the edge of an era where people were starting to reject divine rule, hereditary power, and all the illusions that kept empires running. His madness almost feels like a metaphor for the collapse of monarchy itself.

    He’s one of those figures where the history feels mythic—like the universe couldn’t have picked a more poetic villain for the birth of a republic.