Commentary for Yevamot 226:5

היכי דמי אילימא דיודעת לשמור גיטה ויודעת לשמור עצמה מי נהגי בה מנהג הפקר אלא דאין יודעת לשמור לא גיטה ולא עצמה

since her case is similar to that of a woman of sound senses [who may be divorced] without her consent. What then is the reason why it was stated that she may not be divorced? — In order that people should not treat her as a piece of ownerless property.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Were she left unprotected by a husband, unscrupulous men might take undue advantage of her. ');">¹¹</span> What kind [of imbecile, however, is here] to be understood? If it be suggested [that it is one] who is capable of taking care of her letter of divorce and who is also capable of taking care of herself, would people [it may be asked] treat her as if she were ownerless property! If, however, [she is one] who is unable to take care either of her letter of divorce or of herself, [how could it be said that] in accordance with the word of the Torah she may be divorced? Surely, it was stated at the school of R. Jannai, And giveth it in her hand<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXIV, 1 (hand = [H]. V. infra note 4). ');">¹²</span> [only to her] who is capable of accepting her divorce,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'who has a hand' (v. supra note 3). ');">¹³</span>

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