Madness: By Whose Eyes Do They see Through Madness is a word, like many others, that can have multiple meanings depending on its use and context. The word “Mad,” or “Madness” can be used to describe an individual who has fallen into insanity, one who is different than the others, chaotic to an extreme, and etcetera. The spectrum of madness can span a great distance and can vary from one person to another. When it comes down to it, a definition is all based on perception and how one defines it. Typically, the definition will more often control how one may act, think, or what they will say at any moment's time. In some situations, a large group can share the same perception of madness and a perception to what is normal. Thus, more often than not, outcasting those who do not follow their beliefs, the structured normal, and labeled them as mad. As stated by George Orwell, a well known Novelist and author of the book “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” that,“Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority ” (“A quote from 1984”). Due to their size, it is fairly easy for the majority, to trample over what the new smaller population thinks. As they have power in numbers, they have the ability to shun or outcast those who are not the same since they are disposable due to how large the majority is. …show more content…
For the sake of the example, the group of ten would make a small and simplistic community. Theoretically, most members of the community will believe in the same concepts, logic, and maintain the same perception as a whole. Though, when one of its own leaves and returns, deviating from the majority's logic or ideas, the majority will consider the one who has returned to be different or mad for the change in mindset. In which it creates a small minority that leads to isolation or outcasting of the one who is “mad” due to how small they are and how easily disposable they are to the
Madness, madness, madness. It is but a word, yet those who possess it are capable of doing the most amazing or terrible of things. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, madness is defined as “a state of severe mental illness.” Perry Edward Smith is the best individual to depict this characteristic. Throughout Truman Capote's novel “In Cold Blood” the main character, Perry Smith, as Dr. Jones says “. shows definite signs of severe mental illness” (Capote 296).
A mentally insane person, according to psychologytoday.com, is defined as “a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality… or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive
“The ones who are insane enough to think that they can rule the world are always the ones who do.”- Stefan Molyneux. Insanity is an inherently foreign but ancient concept, it can be defined as when the mental processes of a person functions out of the social norm. An example of a person with such a mental state is Crake from Margaret Atwood’s book, “Oryx and Crake”. Crake is a mature and brilliant but unhinged person, who is responsible for the destruction of mankind, who believes that the root of all problems in the world is man himself. This could define Crake as a psychopath, with an askewed moral compass, as he knows what his actions are wrong but he continues with them. In the tale, the main character, Jimmy/Snowman, recounts his past
People fear what they do not know or understand. Madness, or insanity can be defined as severe mental illness or abnormal behavior. It can mean that one cannot conform to society or is simply foolish. Every definition of the word, however, pertains to some deficiency in one 's relationship with oneself or the world. If a man cannot get along with people in the world because he does not operate by the same set of logical principles, moral precepts, or social graces that the society around him accepts, that society might consider him insane. When people presume that someone is mad they begin to categorize them into groups and restrict some of their freedoms. This is illustrated in several books and films that depict how people are inhibited from doing what they
not completely mad but maybe disillusioned. There are times when they can be fine and times when the madness overtakes them. So in determining whether or not they are mad would be a difficult task. Although the causes of their madness differs, the end of both are the same.
Insanity is being lost, is being incapable to decide between right and wrong. We are all insane. We are ignorant to believe we’re normal. No one is normal, and no one is perfect.
Everyone is considered insane to a certain degree. Whether one defines it as mentally unstable or as someone that is being viewed wrong, there is no truly sane person. The Catcher in the Rye presents a conflict that leaves the reader pondering over the idea whether the main character, Holden Caulfield, is mad. They base his madness off of his behaviors and personality. Even though he could be considered insane, there is a reason behind his strange choice in actions. This misunderstood madness places an important role throughout the novel.
An insane person is one that demonstrates foolish acts because of their poor mental state. In the beginning of Macbeth, Macbeth is characterized as a brave soldier. His bravery on the battlefield earned him the titles of Thane of Cawdor and Glamis. The play leads the reader to believe that Macbeth is sane, but when he receives prophesy from the witches that he will be king, an insane character emerges from within. Macbeth demonstrates these characteristics when he claims to see a floating dagger and an illusionary ghost and also becomes obsessed with the idea of killing others, and not being completely human.
How is that even possible? The dictionary definition of the word insanity is the state of being seriously, mentally ill (“Definition of the Word Insanity”). Insanity is also classified as a medical diagnosis. Insanity came from the Latin word insanitatem (“History of the Word Insanity”). People started using this word in the 1580’s. The Latins interpreted insanity as unhealthy Modern day society uses the word insanity too loosely. Although the dictionary definition of insanity is not wrong, several cases that prove having “insanity” does not always mean “being seriously mentally ill” has came to surface.
Insanity is defined as a deranged state of mind or more commonly doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The word quixotic, based on the name of Don Quixote, means optimistic or idealistic in a way that is not real-world. This word came to be due to the multiple instances throughout the parody that Don Quixote presents himself as someone who is out of touch with reality, but at times not without rational thought.
What we see is not the truth, but rather our interpretation and distortion of the things we struggle to perceive. Our imagination, ideologies and perceptions fuse with our conception of reality, as we transform the world around us, give meanings to abstractions, and find order in a world programmed by madness. We are prone to madness, to nature, to the metaphorical forces that influence and envelop reality. In order to understand the metaphysical realm, we conceptualize these divine, omnipotent forces through our uses of symbols, thus creating an understandable world defined by rationality and philosophy thinking. Philosophical thinking and rationality enable us to both understand our world metaphorical and define what humanity is. These ideas
Madness feeds on people’s greed, taking hostage of their desires and controlling them. It drives people into doing things they otherwise wouldn’t have even thought about doing when they were sane. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet had overwhelming depression over the death of his father and his mother’s overly excitable attitude combined with the soon known knowledge of his father’s killer; he is fueled with hatred for both his mother and his uncle. Hamlet’s madness is indeed justified by the morbid disasters that are going on around him in the play.
History shows that signs of mental illness and abnormal behavior have been documented as far back as the early Greeks however, it was not viewed the same as it is today. The mentally ill were previously referred to as mad, insane, lunatics, or maniacs. W.B. Maher and B.A. Maher (1985) note how many of the terms use had roots in old English words that meant emotionally deranged, hurt, unhealthy, or diseased. Although early explanations were not accurate, the characteristics of the mentally ill have remained the same and these characteristics are used to diagnose disorders to date. Cultural norms have always been used to assess and define abnormal behavior. Currently, we have a decent understanding of the correlates and influences of mental illness. Although we do not have complete knowledge, psychopathologists have better resources, technology, and overall research skills than those in ancient times.
Madness is closely linked to social mores, it stems both from being isolated; forced to confront one’s inner demons as well as the realization that society itself is a mirror of human nature. The moral ambiguity of The Heart of Darkness is dominated by a society which corrupts human nature. (quotes) Me...
The experience of madness can both subvert and reinforce gender roles. Madness is commonly seen as an invasion of the self, which,