Burke and Hare: Chapters 1-4

One topic in Burke and Hare that is worthwhile to discuss is the the argument of whether Burke and Hare are madmen or whether Dr. Knox is a mad scientist in this story.  The argument for Burke and Hare being madmen is fairly obvious: They intoxicate and suffocate people of all genders and ages and sell their bodies to Dr. Knox for around 10 pounds a body.  Although they partake in this incredibly violent profession, Burke and Hare don't show any signs of being crazy and are appear to be in control of their thoughts and actions.  There also exists a reason for their murders, which is financial gain.  Dr. Knox, while not committing the murders, acts as a sort of instigator for Burke and Hare by offering them money and not asking questions about how they obtained the body.  Using this fact, one could argue that Dr. Knox is a madman because in a sense, he is the mastermind and motivation for these grotesque murders and for the fact that he has obtained about 6 dead bodies from these two men and now has them lying around his house.  Personally, I believe Dr. Knox is a mad doctor and Burke and Hare, though morally corrupt, aren't insane and act only as underlings to the madman himself.

Peter Cernak