Misconceptions and Mistaken Treatments in Mrs. Dalloway - Literature Essay Samples

The horrors of war have, for centuries, tormented the human soul. Some veterans are able to re-acclimate themselves to normalcy, while others are crippled by trauma due to the gore and violence. In Virginia Woolfs novelistic masterpiece Mrs. Dalloway, Septimus Smith endured the gruesome events of World War I, but returned home severely scarred. Because of the lack of modern medical and psychiatric knowledge that society has today, Septimus’ battle scars killed him in the end. If his caregivers, Holmes (a physician) and Bradshaw (a psychiatrist), had been more attuned to the true nature of his mental incapacities, and had possessed modern, competent medical knowledge, Septimus might not have ended his life. Let’s first examine Holmes. Ignorance seems to be his basic nature; in fact, he sees distraction as a cure-all. He encourages Septimus to listen to music, play golf, and/or take sleeping pills (2206). He also recommends that Septimus take up some new hobbies, but discourages over-excitement. These distractions may stifle the symptoms temporarily, but they do not help solve the problem. Externally, Septimus is perfectly healthy, so Holmes thinks that there is â€Å"nothing whatever seriously the matter but was a little out of sorts† (2167) or â€Å"in a funk† (2238). He does not look past exterior ailments into the internal to understand the real issues. If he had, Septimus might have recovered. Holmes is generally dismissive of not only Septimus’ condition, but also other similar conditions as well. He sees no logical cause for conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, dreams, and headaches. He thinks that people mostly have control over their health (2206), s o perhaps he believes that we are only as sick as we let ourselves be. Bradshaw has a different approach. As a psychiatrist, he has far more knowledge of the mind than of the body, which is Holmes’ field of â€Å"expertise.† Since he is a psychiatrist, he knows that he is better equipped to treat Septimus than Holmes is. He disagrees with some of the treatment ideas that have been offered, specifically the suggestion to take bromide, because, for him, sedating someone doesn’t solve anything. He disagrees not simply with Holmes, but with physicians in general. â€Å"It took half his time to undo [their] blunders. Some were irreparable† (2209). Suicide is, tragically, a circumstance that is irreversible yet may result from such seemingly casual blunders. Bradshaw proposes a treatment plan that he believes is better than Holmes’ solution. He discourages over-excitement and thinks that Septimus should be relocated to a home in the country for a few months to rest. The only companions he would be allowed are nurses, with an occasional visit from Bradshaw himself because apparently, â€Å"‘[t]he people we are most fond of are not good for us when we are ill’† (2237). These premises, however, are highly suspect. This sort of plan certainly did no good for the narrator and protagonist in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. Being surrounded by the care and support of loved ones should be a necessity in any treatment plan. To make the healing process progress more smoothly, family members need to have a complete understanding of the circumstances. Bradshaw’s understanding of Septimus’ incapacities is, of course, in many ways sympathetic. He does see the internal concerns and is sensitive to them. â€Å"[H]e never spoke of ‘madness’; he called it not having a sense of proportion† (2209). Apparently, he has a greater awareness of the realities of depression than Holmes. That said, it is ironic that Rezia, perhaps the person closest to Septimus, likes Holmes, a man who is unaware of the seriousness of Septimus’ condition, and dislikes Bradshaw, who seems much more aware (2207 and 2211). Like Holmes, she must not have a full grasp on her husband’s condition because of her lack of knowledge in that area. Neither of the caregivers’ suggested treatment plans appears to provide enough hope for Septimus. Their treatments encourage Septimus to try to forget about his problems instead of bringing them into the light to thoroughly examine them. Both of them tell him to disregard himself. Bradshaw says, â€Å"[t]ry to think as little about yourself as possible† (2210); Holmes advises him to â€Å"take an interest in things outside himself† (2167). Yet veterans should think of themselves as much as possible; how else would they be able to fully recover? Talking openly about one’s insecurities helps lift the burden. Neither Holmes nor Bradshaw ever wanted to talk in depth about Septimus’ witnessing of the death of his commanding officer, Evans, or about his other experiences during the war (at least, that’s the impression left by Woolfs narration). If Holmes and Bradshaw had been more inquiring, Septimus might have been able to live the rest of his life. Instead, their misconceptions drove Septimus to his self-inflicted demise for reasons that Holmes himself â€Å"could not conceive† (2239).

Hamlet and his battle with depression Essay examples

Hamlet: A Study of Depression? Hamlet, a Shakespearean character, constantly struggles in a battle with his mind. He leads a very trying life that becomes too much for him to handle. Hamlet experiences hardships so horrible and they affect him so greatly that he is unable escape his dispirited mood. In speaking what he feels, Hamlet reveals his many symptoms of depression, a psychological disorder. While others can move on with life, Hamlet remains in the past. People do not understand his behavior and some just assume he is insane. However, Hamlet is not insane. He only pretends to be mad. Because Hamlet never receives treatment for his disorder, it only gets worse and eventually contributes to his death. Hamlet, a young†¦show more content†¦He states, Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears/ had left the flushing of her galled eyes,/ she married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (Ham. 1.2.154-157). Depression is a disorder that can be caused by many factors. Stress, medication, other medical illnesses, and personality traits can all contribute to depression, but the most common cause, however, is heredity (yahoo.com 1). These are all theorized guesses as to what causes clinical depression. The actual cause has not yet been resolved (yahoo.com 1). It is considered that usually more than one factor causes the disorder (yahoo.com 2). Generally, anyone can develop a type of depression (yahoo.com 1). Most cases of depression go unrecognized and are just considered bad moods (depression 475). There are many types of depression and many severity levels of the disorder. Typically, a person who is depressed will have a unipolar or a bipolar disorder. Unipolars suffer only from depression. This can be major or dysthymia. Bipolars can have severe ups and downs in mood, clarity of the mind, and energy levels. They also experience manic episodes-, which are extreme highs and can have a low at the same time (Quinn 1). Symptoms of major depression are different than those of bipolar disorder. They are usually not as severe and do not show any signs of manic behaviors (depression 2). A depressed mood or attitude is the first sign; however, itShow MoreRelatedHamlet : Once A Man Of Reason1398 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet: Once a Man of Reason In today’s world, the word hero has been portrayed in many different ways. With each member of our society having their own creative imagination on what qualifies as a hero, the definition has changed immensely. Unfortunately, no matter how impeccable a hero may present himself, every fictional hero is indeed human. With that being said, the two share the same deficiencies as every human such as physical disabilities, internal ailments, and mental impairments. SocietyRead MoreEssay On Hamlet Mental Illness827 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet had a lot of things in his life gone wrong. For an example his father (the king at the time) was murdered by his own brother the new king. At the end of the book his mother and ophelia end up dead to. Hamlet was obsessed with his father being murdered and tried to seek revenge upon his murderer. At the end of the book hamlet ended up killing polonius because he thought it was Claudius (the new king). He was putting other people in harms way t oo make claudius too confess. Hamlet has Post TraumaticRead MoreThe Effects Of Insanity In The Story Of Hamlet1435 Words   |  6 Pagesand not in the common state of mind. During the story of Hamlet insanity is a major factor to many situations. Hamlet showed many of signs of being insane, which also led to the death of others. Many ask, was â€Å"Hamlets insanity real or fake† and if so how did it affect the story in the ways it did. 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Nutrition A Complex Aspect That Has Many Working Parts...

My Quirky Nutrition Nutrition is a complex aspect that has many working parts. Nutrition has to do with being healthy, fit, safe, and having a balanced diet. Nutrition starts at conception and does not stop from there. It is very important for people to be aware of different aspects that may affect their overall nutrition. We will discuss how my overall nutrition has been developed and formed since my birth throughout my entire life. My nutrition ultimately started with my mom being pregnant. She had a normal pregnancy and she gained an average amount of weight. She had me when I was full term through a natural birthing process. She chose to breastfeed because it was the best and healthiest option for her and I. My mother also felt that breastfeeding was a way to bond with her children. I was her first child, so she was inexperienced when it came to breastfeeding. She had an extremely tough time trying to get me to latch on. 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Streetcar named desire reality free essay sample

â€Å"Human kind cannot bear much reality† (Eliot 14). Tennessee Williams’ â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire† is an artistic demonstration of T. S. Eliot’s observation. In Streetcar, Blanche, a woman in crisis, visits her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley in New Orleans. Blanche is from an upper-class background but has fallen on hard times, both economically and emotionally. Stanley is from a lower-class background with a cruel streak a mile wide. What ensues is a conflict of epic proportions between Stanley and Blanche, with Stella torn between the two. Each character operates within his or her own alternate reality. Through Stella, Stanley and Blanche’s self-deception within this conflict, Williams demonstrates how and to what extent individuals create their own realities in order to maintain the facade of an existence they deem acceptable. Blanche, more so that any of character demonstrates an individual’s ability to live in an alternate reality. Blanche creates an illusion that helps her cope with the type of person she has become because of tragedy she experiences. Blanche’s husband commits suicide after she makes a cruel statement to him when she discovers his affair with a man. Blanche deals with her guilt and loneliness with destructive behavior: she drinks excessively and engages in sexually promiscuous behavior. Ultimately, Blanche is run out of town and comes to live with Stella with nowhere else to go. The facts behind Blanche’s story are sordid. But she does not acknowledge them or even live in a reality where they exist. After all, a womans charm is fifty percent illusion† (2. 129). Blanche creates an illusion where she remains a proper Southern lady who is wanted by rich gentlemen. She arrives at Stella’s house wearing pearls, white gloves and a hat, â€Å"looking as if she were arriving at a summer tea or cocktail party in the garden district† (1. 14). She clings to her Southern aristocratic roots and labels Stanley a â€Å"brute† because of his social status (4. 2). She will not acknowledge that she has fallen on hard times, but instead adopts a reality as it â€Å"ought to be† (9. 43). She strives to convince others to adopt her reality to reinforce her fantasy world (â€Å"I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell the truth, I tell what ought to be truth†) (9. 43). For Blanche, an alternate reality is not just desirable or more acceptable, it is necessary. Blanche needs the illusion because she cannot exist without it. She cannot see herself as she truly is and go on. When Stanley shatters the illusion, Blanche is destroyed along with it. Like Blanche, Stella also creates a false reality to make her existence acceptable. Stella’s alternate reality does not permeate her life like Blanche’s. But, it is equally destructive. Stella creates an illusion of Stanley as a loving husband to maintain her illusion that everything is fine in her marriage. Stella’s illusion of Stanley is evident on two occasions—when she returns to Stanley after he beats her and when she refuses to believe that Stanley has raped Blanche. When Stanley beats Stella, Stella’s self-deception becomes evident. It is clear at that point that Stanley’s cruelty extends to Stella in their marriage. Blanche tries to convince Stella to leave Stanley. Ironically, Blanche, who clings to illusion herself, tells Stella that she must, Pull (her)self together and face the facts (4. 48). Stella, however, opts for her illusion. She returns to Stanley and maintains the illusion of her happy marriage. Stella again opts for her alternate reality when she refuses to believe that Stanley raped Blanche. Stella recognizes that she cannot maintain the illusion of what her marriage is if she believes Blanche. So, she makes a conscious decision to reject Blanche’s story and maintain her illusion. At the end of the play, Stella explains her decision to her friend Eunice: I couldnt believe her story and go on living with Stanley (11. 40). In reply, Eunice states, Dont ever believe it. Life has got to go on. No matter what happens, youve got to keep going. (11. 41). Eunice’s reply suggests that she recognizes that Stella is deceiving herself about Stanley in order to maintain the illusion of her marriage. Stella’s statement also suggests a degree of awareness that the illusion of her marriage would be destroyed if she accepted Blanche’s story. Stella is only able to maintain her false reality by rejecting the truth about a brutal rape against her sister. Through Stella actions, Williams demonstrates the extent that an individual will go to in order to maintain an illusion. Both Stella and Blanche’s lives are mired in illusion. Williams suggests that perhaps Stanley’s is as well to a lesser degree. Williams betrays Stanley as a forthright man who speaks truthfully and plainly. From the time he meets Blanche, Stanley is obsessed with revealing Blanche’s lies and deceptions. But, ironically, even Stanley creates an alternate reality that he is better able to accept. After he has driven Blanche insane by his brutal rape, Stanley goes to his family and presents the image of a loving husband and father as Blanche is taken away. Stanley’s alternate reality mirrors the one that Stella has created. In his illusion he is a loving father and husband rather than a cruel bully. So, through Stanley, Williams demonstrates that even those who are firmly seated in reality engage in self-deception to maintain an acceptable facade. Williams’ message in Streetcar seems to be that humans tend to make their own reality when the real one is not to their liking. Blanche, Stella and even Stanley to a lesser degree create false realities. Their illusions cloak actual realities which they are unable or unwilling to bear. The illusions they create allow them to adopt an existence that is acceptable to them—one that is in no way similar to the truth of their lives. Works Cited