Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy in Sharp Objects- Josh Williams

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy (MSBP) is a mental disorder in which a caregiver intentionally exaggerates a child's illness or causes a child to be ill.  The caregivers, most commonly mothers, usually do this to get attention and/ or get off on the hecticness of the situation.  MSBP was not recognized as a mental disorder until more recently because it was traditionally believed that all caregivers had the child's best interests at heart.  This disorder is an offshoot of Munchausen Syndrome.  This is when someone intentionally makes themselves ill for similar reasons to MSBP.  Both of these disorders were named after Baron Von Munchausen; a fictional character modeled after a German nobleman known for dramatically exaggerating stories of his own accomplishments.    

Sharp Objects is a novel that follows Camille Preaker, a reporter in Chicago, who must return to her hometown in Missouri to cover the murders of two girls.  Camille stays in her family’s victorian mansion along with her mother (Adora), her stepfather (Allen), and her much younger step sister (Amma).  Camille also had a step sister (Marian) around the same age as herself who had died when Camille was a child.  As the novel develops Camille makes significant discoveries from her past.  It therefore becomes apparent that Camille’s mother, Adora, suffers from Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy.

The inclusion of MSBP in Sharp Objects provides an interesting twist to the plot of the novel.  Camille discovers that Adora had been slowly poisoning Marian to make her sick.  Marian’s death, which occurred many years before this story took place, was subsequently caused by the poisoning.  This discovery, which was made by both Camille and a detective who was working the case, along with other evidence led to Adora being taken into custody as the suspect for the two young girls’ murders and Marian’s death.  Adora is eventually exonerated for the murders of the two girls after the real culprit was caught, but is still incarcerated for Marian’s death.  This changes the perspectives Camille, the rest of her family, and the community have of her.  This is especially devastating for Adora because of her previously quintessential public image.  Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy is an fascinating disease that provides an element of captivation in the plot.                       

(Artist rendering of Baron Von Munchausen)