Changing Times

Dr. Kreizler has a new way of looking at insanity. Rather than believing that all insane people are that way for unknowable reasons, Dr. Kreizler believes that insanity has its roots in a person's childhood. Dr. Kreizler believes that not all people who are deemed insane are truly insane. As an example of this, Dr. Kreizler testified at Cyrus' trial that Cyrus killed a police officer because his act of rape against a prostitute caused Cyrus to recall the stress of watching a mob kill his parents and he acted in a belated attempt to protect the people he loved. The judge continued to believe Cyrus was insane but Dr. Kreizler took Cyrus into his home and never experienced another homicidal episode at his hands.

Many people in the psychological world at the time this novel is set do not support Dr. Kreizler's beliefs. These people believe...