Polly, also known as “Torch,” suffered severe disfigurement due to a self-inflicted gasoline fire, which led to her being institutionalized in the psychiatric hospital where the story of “Girl, Interrupted” takes place.
In the memoir “Girl, Interrupted,” written by Susanna Kaysen, Polly Clark is one of the patients Susanna meets during her stay at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility. Polly earned the nickname “Torch” because of the scars she carries from setting herself on fire. The book describes Polly as a kind and gentle presence in the ward, despite her traumatic past and the severe burns that cover her face and body.
Polly’s character is portrayed as someone who has come to terms with her disfigurement and is often seen as a source of comfort and support to other patients. Her backstory, while not deeply explored in the memoir, suggests that her self-immolation was a result of her struggle with mental illness, which is a common thread among the patients in the institution.
The book, set in the late 1960s, provides a snapshot of the mental health care system of the time and the various reasons that young women like Polly were institutionalized. Polly’s story, along with the others in the book, highlights the complex nature of mental illness and the challenges faced by those who suffer from it, as well as the impact of institutionalization on their lives and identities.