When I first heard the word 'feral', I thought it meant diseased or something. It doesn't. It actually means 'wild' children. The most notable example of a feral child in today's society is Genie. (I knew English Language would come in handy some day.) Genie was born in 1957 and spent the first 13 years of her life strapped to a potty in her windowless bedroom. She had no socialisation with the outside world, her father forbid Genie's brother and sister to communicate with her and most nights she was strapped into her sleeping back in a metal crib. If Genie attempted to vocalise her father communicated by grunting or making inaudible noises. To this day she can only string together two word sentences and nearly all are negative such as 'stop it' or 'no more'.This is very shocking I know, but unfortunately it happened. When her mother took Genie and escaped from her father they went to a welfare office. Genie was thought to be autistic until her mother explained everything. She was cared for for months in intensive care. her father committed suicide shortly after Genie was found. She underwent much psychotherapy but unfortunately is still unable to comprehend the English language and even struggles to walk properly.
Not sure what this will link to regarding a story from The Bloody Chamber collection though.
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