Concepts of Madness in Literature - Research Paper Example

Concepts of Madness in Literature Introduction There are specific universal themes that are present in different novels and plays throughout time, each which the reader can continue to associate with. When comparing King Lear by William Shakespeare and A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, it can be seen that specific themes remain consistent, allowing the reader to connect with the principles. One of the universal themes that are present in the two stories are based on the idea of madness and what drives a character to move from sanity to a sense of being mad. The characters depict this specific theme in both stories, both which are able to provide a sense of relevance in how madness begins to come into one’s life as well as how it continues to exist over time. The concept of this theme then creates a universal theme that connects the reader to specific philosophies through both stories. Defining Madness in the Plot Line In King Lear by Shakespeare, the concept of madness is seen through King Lear. However, other characters display the same madness by showing a desire for death as well as complexities that are a part of their relationship to the king, specifically which begin to unfold as the plot line continues. The beginning display of madness from King Lear starts when he becomes helpless to the events that are taking place in the throne as well as through the desire to give the kingdom to his three daughters. When his wishes are overthrown, he begins to show a different side to his character, specifically which are outside of the main sets of leadership that he has displayed. This is followed by the eventual overthrow of the kingdom, which lead to his desire to stop his children from overtaking the kingdom. For instance, when he is speaking of the way that his daughter has responded to the offer for the kingdom, he states “I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad: I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell: We’ll no more meet, no more see one another: But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; Or rather a disease that’s in my flesh, Which I must need call mine” (Shakespeare, 41). This quote shows how the main plot line of taking the righteous steps as a king and for the kingdom leads to the eventual madness of King Lear. Specifically, he moves into a double minded conflict that shows his love for his daughter on one side as well as the disease that is a part of his family on the other because of the plot line and actions that they take. The concept of madness through the plot line and character can also be seen in A Thousand Acres through Larry Cook and the daughters that are in the household. There is a similar plot line to this specific story, which is based on giving the acres of Larry’s home to his three daughters. However, as this continues, deeper secrets are revealed about the household and abuse that has taken place over time through the home. As the daughters engage in speaking about their childhood and the steps that they have taken, it leads to the same double mindedness by Larry as well as a specific response that shows his love for his daughters is one that has the correct intention. However, the double plot of abuse and love eventually lead him into his own maddening thoughts. The concept of madness; however, is seen with the failing health of the father as well as his responses to specific ideals. For instance, the girls refer to their Daddy as not being able to do the same work and as needing to do more exercise to stay fit. They also attribute this to the final sale of closing the farm. However, when they describe the state of their father after the drama unfolds, they state: “I could not drive with Daddy, or even be in the same room with him, without a looming sense of his presence, but once he turned forward in the seat and began to look out the window, I noticed up my now habitual thoughts of Jess Clark” (Smiley, 181). The presence of the father, his silence and the way in which he relates to the household then shows his growing madness toward the situation, specifically because of the past that begins to come up with the transfer of the farm. Once this is completed, the madness is described as setting in and shows that there is a different element of the madness that has grown from the past double minded actions of the father. In both of these stories, the concept of madness has several prevalent themes that continue throughout the book. The first begins with both the father and King Lear as they make their final wishes for their kingdom or their farm. This creates a response from the characters, specifically with the daughters in each of the stories. The response, as well as the underlying intentions of the past from both characters, is what begins the cycle of madness and which leads to the psychological shifts in both stories. For King Lear, the idea of helplessness and the selfishness of his daughter make him believe two separate realities. One is based on the desire to leave his kingdom to his family while the other is based on the disease that he calls his daughters. For Larry, this same concept arises; however, the madness comes from his past actions and the background that he has created for his daughters. The idea of madness accumulates as his age takes over and as he realizes that he has lost everything over the actions that he has taken from the past. The idea of having a double mind and the insanities that it leads both characters to becomes a central focus in both the plot line and characters and creates a central universal theme in both books. The Universal Theme of Madness The concept of madness in both of these specific pieces of literature is not only depicted in the two main characters, as well as the plot line. The more important element that is noted is through the descriptions that allow this universal theme to be present and which provides a connection to the readers. By doing this, there is a deeper understanding of what it means to be maddened by a situation. The authors are able to construct a specific, psychological relationship to the idea of madness while creating a deeper understanding of what it means to be driven into this state of mind. The similarity of the characters, including their actions, intent and responses all lead to this psychological understanding of what it means to be mad. The main concept that is applied to madness is one that is applied specifically to the psychological development of the characters and how they respond to specific situations. This begins with an internalization of the problem that occurs by the characters. When the problem arises, such as the selling of the land or the responses from the daughters, the characters are forced into specific actions, thoughts or reactions. The internalization that is noted in each of the books is then followed by a symbolic transformation of the characters. This is developed from events and relationships that occur and which show actions in response to what is occurring. As this happens, there is a set of signifiers that are able to point the reader in the direction of the madness that is beginning to be defined. Instead of the concept taking place over a short time frame, the madness develops as a symbol and as a set of psychological responses from the initial problem that is a part of the story. The thinking, behavior and actions at first may seem like a fake or pretend madness. However, by the end of the story, this turns into the reality of the characters and the specific response that they carry toward the situation (Feder, 14). The particular cycle that leads toward madness is one that is seen in both of the stories as a main component of the characters. The internalization begins at the beginning and is parallel in both stories as King Lear and Larry decide to leave their space to the daughters. The internalization that is noted is one that both define in the opening scenes, specifically with questions of what they should do in their last days as well as how this will affect their space. More importantly, the madness is internalized by the initial responses from the daughters and those that are involved in the specific matter. For Larry, this response comes from the daughters’ question of the land and what it should be used for as well as a lack of recognition of what he has done to build the specific farm. For King Lear, this comes from the responses from his daughters’ who don’t have a desire to keep the kingdom and which begin to alter the life work that he has left behind for them because of their own beliefs. The concept of madness that is seen is not presented with the initial internalization that occurs with the characters. Instead, it begins to be revealed as the different characters point out the flaws in each other and as they begin to fight over the internalization of the initial agreement. For King Lear, this is foreshadowed as he tells his daughter not to drive him mad by her rebellions and specific approach to the kingdom. As this continues, there is a struggle that is seen for the power over the kingdom as well as the different aspects and perspectives that are a part of this. Even though the psychological internalization is seen through the first struggle of King Lear, it is exemplified as ideas of power and corruption come into the play. At points, King Lear reflects this as he calls on others that he believes are mad. However, it is the same situation that King Lear finds himself in the end that drives him to his own madness. For instance, King Lear states: “What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy – dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer’s dog bark at a beggar?” (Shakespeare, 75). The madness that King Lear points out with not seeing justice or what is happening in a specific situation is what become his eventual madness as well. The foreshadowing of this is a way that shows that King Lear internalizes the madness that he is facing within his own kingdom and from his daughters. The same concept of madness is seen through Larry as he internalizes the problem with his daughters and the land. While he initially shows that this is the best option, there is also some hesitation that is seen from his response, as well as from the daughter’s response. The initial agreements that are drawn forward as well as the disagreements that arise from his desire to give his daughter’s the farm becomes the main way in which the internalization of madness occurs, similar to King Lear. As this develops, Larry responds with the belief that his daughters’ are unable to develop the land the way that he wants to. However, there is then a deeper understanding of the ill intents that were a part of the agreement as well as the household. This grows into a controversy that leads to Larry not initiating any talking or holding conversations. Questions of health, old age and responses from the daughters take place of what they believe are the problems with their father. However, by the end, the concept of madness from the internalization at the beginning shows how this has developed over time. Conclusion The concept of madness as depicted in different stories holds a universal theme that can be applied over time. The psychological development of madness is one that is based on an internalization of the concept of going mad by those that are in a specific situation. This is followed by actions, development and responses that eventually foreshadow the madness that the main character goes through within a story. In King Lear and in A Thousand Acres, King Lear and Larry Cook show the concept of madness and how it develops by carrying a double mind. The shift includes alternative intentions and beliefs that don’t match with actions and which eventually lead to the helplessness that is noted by both characters. By the end, both have moved into a sense of madness because of the double actions that are internalized throughout the stories. Works Cited Feder, Lillian. Madness in Literature. Princeton University Press: New Jersey, 1980. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Abe Books; New York, 1980. Smiley, Jane. A Thousand Acres. Ballantine Publishing Group: New York, 1991. Read More