Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Arts in English Literary Studies
Advisor
Laura D'Amore, Ph.D.
Abstract
Madness is often understood as poorly constructed representation of mental illness, or a plot device with no explanation. However, this paper argues that the Dark Urge of Baldur’s Gate 3 is an example of mad behavior and actions caused by a fantastical tumor. Not only that, but this madness is disabling. Though analysis of, and comparison to real-life accounts of diseaseinduced madness—in Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan and Parenthesis by Élodie Durand—the Dark Urge’s tendencies, including their violence, is shown to be a product of an external force hijacking their body.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Aelan, "A Disease of the Mind: The Dark Urge’s Tumor-Induced Madness in Baldur’s Gate 3" (2025). English Theses. 367.
https://docs.rwu.edu/english_theses/367
