Elective Mutism - Cultural References

Cultural References

Though elective mutism is no longer recognized by most psychiatrists, it is a popular character element or plot point in stories and movies. Many characters choose to stop speaking, for various reasons. Even more commonly, there are also characters who stop speaking after a traumatic incident. In both these cases, often, and almost always in the second, the character is silent in all situations. This is therefore not selective mutism, and anxiety is very rarely involved. Selective mutism itself is almost nonexistent in pop culture.

The following are a few references to stories including a character who does not speak despite being physically able to.

• In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character, Melinda, has trouble talking after being raped.

• In the book Cut by Patricia McCormick, the main character, Callie, is an elective mute. The popularity of Speak and Cut have most likely done a great deal to spread the conception of elective mutism as refusal to speak or a response to trauma.

• In The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, Clara Trueba is mute after witnessing her sisters molestation and autopsy. "She could not move until the first lights of dawn appeared. Only then did she slip back into her bed, feeling within her the silence of the entire world. Silence filled her utterly."

• In Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris, Hannibal Lecter is mute after witnessing his sister killed and eaten.

• In the book Flying Solo, the character Rachel is mute for six months after a classmate dies.

• In the film Little Miss Sunshine, the character of Dwayne has not spoken in nine months due to a vow of silence he has taken until he can get into the US Air force Academy.