Belmont, Massachusetts

Belmont is an affluent town in Massachusetts that houses McLean Hospital. The town is small enough that everyone knows about the hospital. Kaysen reports that the town is also home to a large contingent of members of the John Birch Society. Mentioned only in passing, the town provides a setting in time and place for the memoir.

McLean Hospital

McLean Hospital is a well-respected and famous hospital that provides treatment and care for mentally-ill patients. McLean Hospital is the general setting for most of the memoir. The hospital consists of a campus, which appears to be fairly extensive, though not described in detail. There are at least three wards on the campus—three are named—and the wards are divided into at least medium security and maximum security. The hospital consists of several independent buildings, which are joined by underground tunnels as well as...