Muhammad Awais Khan

ENGL 501

Dr. Qurratulaen Liaqat

December 2, 2024

Textual Analysis

Alicia’s denial to speak becomes a sign of resistance and repression, which embodies Glenn’s

ideology that silence is not merely the absence of voice, but a gendered construct shaped by

societal expectations and power dynamics. Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient is a strong

manifestation of engendered silence. In her book, Glenn mentioned “paradoxical properties of

silence” (Glenn 2) which emphasizes the powers and limitations of silence. This book provides the

base on which the notion of engendered silence is built “After analyzing Askew’s practice as

‘rhetoric of silence,’ I came to believe that silence may well be the most undervalued and under-

understood traditionally feminine site and concomitant rhetorical art” (Glenn 2). This notion

explores silence as a feminine site and concomitant rhetorical art is closely aligned with Alicia’s

silence as her muteness becomes a deliberate and multifaceted rhetorical strategy instead of a

passive state of silence. Through the lens of Glenn, Askew’s rhetoric of silence suggests that

silence itself can communicate. In Alicia’s case, it becomes the mirror for the reflection of others’

biases and expectations and displays the readers’ biases toward her silence “Not all of us, it, must

be said. Some people—myself included—continued to be fascinated by the mystery of Alicia

Berenson and her enduring silence” (Michaelides 14). Alicia’s silence compels Theo to unravel

her truth, “I wanted to help start her up again—help Alicia tell her story” (Michaelides 15), yet it
becomes the trap and ultimately projects his psyche and motivations. These dynamics highlight

silence as a rhetorical process that transforms power and control. By describing silence as

“undervalued” (Glenn 2) Alicia’s muteness can be taken as a form of defiance as she uses silence

“Alicia never spoke again” (Michaelides 9) to undermine societal expectations of women to justify

their actions rather than providing expected confessions.

Cheryl Glenn argues that “women's silence or silence of any traditionally disenfranchised group

often goes unremarked upon if noticed at all” (Glenn 11), this notion shows how Alicia’s silence

is misinterpreted and often ignored. Throughout the narrative, Alicia’s silence is taken as

“Professor Diomedes argued that Alicia’s refusal to speak was in itself evidence of profound

psychological distress – and she should be sentenced accordingly” (Michaelides 14), yet her

silence is not treated as a meaningful act but a mystery to be solved. Her denial of speech is

pathologized by others- around her which shows the profound significance of her silence being

misinterpreted. Theo’s statement “As a psychotherapist, it was obvious to me that she had suffered

a severe trauma surrounding Gabrial’s death; and this silence was a manifestation of that trauma”

(Michaelides 15) depicts his misunderstanding of taking Alicia’s silence as a symptom of trauma.

Like the silence of many other disenfranchised groups, Alicia’s silence is also undervalued as it is

viewed as stress, and trauma rather than a response to systematic oppression, highlighting Glenn’s

notion that the silence of demeaned individuals or groups is either ignored or misunderstood. “All

human silences are a form of communication, listeners and observers will attach various and

individualized meaning(s), to the silence regardless of the silent person’s intent” (Glenn 16).

The misinterpretation of her silence reflects her demeaned position in society which relates to the

broader theme of engendering silence within a marginalized society. As a victim of emotional

manipulation and betrayal by her husband, Alicia’s choice to become silent becomes symbolic of
how the voices of disenfranchised groups are suppressed. Alicia’s silence “All silence has a

meaning” (Glenn 11) exemplifies the tendency of society to overlook the silence of marginalized

individuals the way they want to, “Diomedes was saying Alicia was mad” (Michaelides 14). This

concept of Glenn is also aligned with “There was simply silence… the disappointed media

eventually lost interest in Alicia Berenson” (Michaelides 14), that how without noticing Alicia’s

silence as a symbol of repression or protest towards patriarchal society, media as a representative

of society lost interest in her. This explores on a broader level that there is no significance of

demeaned voices in front of a dominant patriarchal society. Based on these references, Alicia’s

silence could be regarded as a marker of disenfranchisement, demonstrating her as a marginalized

individual in a society whose voice remained constantly unnoticed.

We all are aware that silence is mostly considered disempowering, Glenn claims that it could be a

“strategic choice” (Alicia uses art as a medium to raise her voice) that allows victims to protest

against the oppressive system as “Alicia remained silent” (Michaelides 9). Silence, rather than

being merely passive or submissive, can function as an act of agency or resistance. By refusing to

engage or participate in the narrative imposed by others, silence can disrupt the flow of the story,

forcing others to confront its absence and its importance “Silence as a refusal to partake in the

story does sometimes provide us with a means to gain hearing” (Glenn 25-26). Through this lens

of Glenn, it is easy to conclude that Alicia's choice to become silent is a form of resistance because

in doing so silence can amplify a voice, forcing others to listen more deeply.

Alicia’s silence is viewed as how gendered power structures silence women. As a female

protagonist, her voice is submissive and demeaned through the institutional forces around her.

Patriarchal norms and institutional settings invite male figures, such as Theo, to interpret and

dominate her narrative, while Alicia’s silence ensures her removal from the conversation about her
own life. “She remained silent when she was placed under arrest, refusing to deny guilt or confess

it” (Michaelides 9), this explains how the narrator interpreted silence of Alicia in the beginning as

a result of guilt or confession.