Norman Mailer's Stabbing of Adele Morales
Background
Norman Mailer would often abuse many types of drugs and alcohol. Mailer also had a short temper and would happily engage in Head-butting, arm-wrestling, and random punch throwing. For much of the 50's he drifted, frequently drunk or stoned or both. * Mcgrath, Charles (2007). "Norman Mailer, Towering Writer with Matching Ego, Dies at 84".
The Incident
The Aftermath
Initially, Mailer plead “not guilty,” but later changed his plea to “guilty” in order to avoid harmful publicity for his family.[1] After the stabbing, Mailer was committed to Bellevue hospital. "I was very upset, because me feeling was I committed a crime." His criminal lawyer had suggested him going into the hospital. "He was thinking like a criminal lawyer" Mailer spoke. They used the mental hospital as a way to save him if his wife did end up dying from the injuries inflicted upon her. Mailer hated this, he felt he would go crazy if he'd be there any longer. [2]
Critical Response
Susan Mailer, when interviewed, spoke briefly about her father. She said that in her memoir, she wrote the chapter "Silent Spaces" which was about the unavoidable angst that the traumatic event caused for their family. Susan studied in psychoanalysis for many years. When she wrote her memoir, it was her "second analysis." She admits she was afraid of him, but she also understood her fears of him. "He had stabbed his wife, my stepmother, Adele."[3]
Personal Response
After being remanded to Bellevue, Mailer confessed to the judge: “I feel I did a lousy, dirty, cowardly thing.”[4] In an interview, Mailer was asked if he drank a lot (he was drunk when he stabbed her). Mailer went to say the only time he ever drank heavily was when a marriage was breaking up.[5] When asked why Mailer stabbed his second wife, Adele Morales, Mailer opts out of talking about it saying that he'd maybe write about it later. He was then asked if he hated women to which he responds that he doesn't hate them, however he did get irritated with them differently than he did with men.[6]
Citations
Norman Mailer's second wife survived his stabbing attack
- ↑ Lennon 2013, p. 269.
- ↑ Legs, 2020 & pg:51.
- ↑ Lennon, 2019 & pg:114.
- ↑ McKinley 2021, p. 3.
- ↑ Legs, 2020 & pg:50.
- ↑ Legs, 2020 & pg:52.
Bibliography
- Lennon, J. Michael (2013). Norman Mailer: A Double Life. New York: Simon and Schuster.
- McKinley, Maggie (2021). "Introduction". Norman Mailer in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. pp. 1–10.
- Moore, M.J. (February 21, 2020). "Blood in the Morning: The Turbulent Relationship of Norman Mailer and Adele Morales". Criminal Element. Retrieved September 21, 2022.