Nellie Bly Research Paper

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Recommended: Effect of media on public opinion

At a time when muckrakers are running rampant in the major cities of America, stirring up trouble and pushing false claims, true journalism becomes increasingly hard to procure. Nellie Bly, however, is dedicated to reporting facts and uses writing to raise awareness for the welfare of those who are oppressed by society’s ignorance and indifference. She is an admirable woman because of several traits, including her intense passion and strong determination, and she proves her will-power in her renowned statement, “Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything.” Not only does Bly accomplish and succeed in most everything she puts her mind to, she does it all under the pseudonym of Nellie Bly, keeping her real identity a secret …show more content…

Bly’s great love for people and her passion for discovering the truth are major attributes motivating her decision to take on quite the job as a mental patient. Bly worries that it would be rather difficult pretending to be a mentally unstable person but rather finds it unbelievably easy to convince those around her that she needs immediate medical attention. Bly recalls practicing “crazy faces” in the mirror by opening her eyes as wide as they can possibly open and by changing the shape of her mouth. After she feels mildly confident with her new persona, Nellie Bly checks into a boarding house. Her questionable behavior raises concern from the staff, and they call in the police to take control of her and the situation. Surpassing the court by the decision of the judge, Bly finds herself on a boat, sailing to Blackwell’s Island, her new home for the next ten days. Nellie Bly is not only shocked, but she is also completely appalled by the harsh and insensitive treatments she and the other patients are subjected to undergo. As if her eyes are not already opened wide enough, they are completely opened once she realizes and experiences the dread filled place of Blackwell’s Island. She recounts the rancid and rotten foods used in the meals that are prepared for the patients to eat. Bly continues on to describe the freezing cold and dirty bath water they bathed in with the “help” of a nurse fiercely scrubbing every inch of her skin. She recalls being forced to sit hours on end on straight back benches being absolutely still and silent in fear of verbal and physical punishment, but the most shocking information she finds out is the amount of female patients being held there against their will who are

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