"I had, toward the last, been shut off from all visitors, and so when the lawyer, Peter A. Hendricks, came and told me that friends of mine were willing to take charge of me if I would rather be with them than in the asylum, I was only too glad to give my consent"

Nellie Bly's quote shows a considerable moment in her investigative journey into the conditions of psychological asylums, as portrayed in her innovative work, "Ten Days in a Mad-House". This passage highlights several layers of significance and emotion, which can be unpacked to comprehend the broader context of her experience and the implications of her findings.

At first, Bly explains a sense of seclusion, keeping in mind that she had been "shut off from all visitors". This phrase underscores the serious social and emotional deprivation experienced by patients in asylums during the late 19th century. It paints a picture of an environment where people were cut off from external contact, worsening feelings of desertion and vulnerability. Isolation was a typical punitive measure in asylums of the time, frequently utilized to handle or penalize clients considered uncooperative.

When Peter A. Hendricks, the attorney, arrives with the news that her friends want to "take charge" of her, Bly's reaction is among passion and relief, caught in the words "only too delighted to give my consent". This response recommends a desperation to get away the overbearing conditions of the asylum. It likewise symbolizes a turning point where Bly reclaims a sense of agency after a period where she likely felt helpless.

In addition, Bly's mention of "friends of mine were willing to take charge of me" can be analyzed as a commentary on the value of external assistance and advocacy for those who can not advocate for themselves. The idea of being "organized" implies a transfer of responsibility and care, highlighting the vulnerability of people captured within the asylum system.

In essence, this quote encapsulates the double styles of seclusion and rescue, illustrating both the extreme truths of asylum life and the crucial significance of human connection and intervention. Bly's work contributed in advocating for reforms in psychological health care, and this passage poignantly conveys the immediate need for change that her examination exposed.